I had been thinking about my next piercing for a few months. Cruising
At A Glance Author Apples Contact Apples@bme.anon IAM Apples When A month ago Artist Lori Studio Vogue Body Piercing Location Darwin, Australia around the BME galleries in search of "the one". Then I found it, neat, tidy perfectly placed, snug. It was decided then and there that my newest edition would be a snug piercing.
The next day I phoned my pal Lori, who owns Darwin's best professional body piercing studio to book the appointment for later that afternoon. Work that day was steady, but of course it seemed a bit slow because I was eager to get out of there to go get pierced. As soon as my shift was finished I was gone in a flash. Racing to the bus stop, I boarded the bus that went into the city. For a while I forgot about my reasoning for taking the half hour trip. Caught up in watching the houses and cars go by.
I pressed the bell to signal the driver that I wanted to get off at the next stop. The air was warm but with a slight hint of cool as I left the bus. I started my trek across town, passing a few bars, and the tattoo parlor, then down the small corridor through the air raid arcade, which is one of Darwin's oldest buildings (it survived the infamous Cyclone Tracy of the early 70's) anyway, down the corridor I went. I could already smell the familiar scent of the disinfectant as I approached the studio. peering through the doors I could see Lori at the front desk. I pushed open the doors and walked in.
Lori and I chatted for a while. I love all the new things she gets in, and it's always great to catch up with her. As we talked, I went though all the usual but necessary paperwork, and then we headed for the piercing room.
I sat down and Lori cleaned up the area to be pierced, measured and marked up my ear. All the while we were still chatting. I got up to have a look at where she had marked, and decided that I was happy with the placement. I got up on the table and made myself comfortable whilst I watched Lori get everything ready. She showed me that the jewelry had been autoclaved and that all the piercing equipment was single use only. I lay back on the table and prepared myself.
Lori explained that she likes to do this piercing free hand, just because its a little easier and less painful without the clamps. I said I was fine with that and I was sure she knew what she was doing. Then Lori lined up the needle and asked me to take a few deep breaths. As I did I tried to keep calm. Theres nothing like having a sharp needle millimeters away from your face to stir up the nerves. I told her I was ready and took a really deep breath, as I released I felt the needle penetrate my skin. I gripped the side of the table hard and closed my eyes tight as I felt the needle continue through the cartilage, I felt the crackle, the pop and then I felt the needle poke through the other side. Then the jewelry was put in and we were finished.
This was defidently one of the most intense and painful piercing I have had done. Not to put anyone considering this piercing off. But it is cartilage, and it did hurt. I let out a sigh of relief as Lori soaked my ear with some cold saline. Thats the best part.
I got off the table and checked out my new addition in the mirror. It
looked fantastic. I was really happy with it, and I still am.
After that I went on my merry way home. Sleeping was fine for the first and second night, however by the third I was in a fair bit of pain. So much so that I decided to take out the piercing. (I don't recommend this unless you have consulted your piercer) which didn't seem to help anyway. I was really disappointed and decided the next morning to put the jewelry back in. I was really surprised and relieved that I was actually able to salvage my piercing, I didn't really want to give up so easily. Lori made it clear to me she wasn't impressed that I had played with it so much. and made it clear not to do it again, which I faithfully obeyed.
Anyway, since then my snug has been doing really well. It's still a bit tender and crusty, but other than that, seems to be healing well.
Yet again Lori did a fantastic job and I recommend going to Vogue Body
Piercing if you are ever in Darwin.