This experience is unlike most because my reasons for getting my inner conches punched were not the deep, soulful ones I am usually so fond of writing about. My intent on getting dermal punched had to do with pure aesthetics. I suppose this is a good a reason as any, when you come down to it.
At A Glance Author Anne Contact Anne@bme.anon IAM kleptesvirgo When It just happened Artist Brian Decker Studio Pure Body Arts Location 134 Boerum Avenue, Brooklyn NY I have a single 10 gauge inner conch piercing that is two years old. It means a lot to me, but it was done with a needle and healed with a bit of scar tissue that has always bothered me. I decided to get this inner conch punched at 5mm (4g), therefore removing the lump of scar tissue. I was also intent on getting my other ear punched to match it; the lack of symmetry had always bothered me.
My friend Shayna sent me beautiful 5mm pyrex jewelry to put in my piercings. They were long, single-flared, hollow plugs -- perfect to wear in my newly punched ears. The day I received the package, I knew the time had finally come. The next day I called up Brian Decker of Pure Body Arts and asked if I could drop by to get my inner conches punched. He agreed, so after work and a quick dinner, I biked over to the shop with my boyfriend and basis of moral support, Atom.
We schmoozed with shop friends for a bit before Brian donned a fresh pair of gloves and I entered the spotless piercing room. I took the 12 gauge captive ring out of my left inner conch and had him examine the scar tissue. We ran into a problem: the previous piercer (not Brian) had placed the ring in the far outer corner of my inner conch. Brian couldn't find a spot he felt comfortable with to place the dermal punch; the 12 gauge piercing had been placed too far out. I was bothered by this, because I wanted badly to cut out the lump of scar tissue. But if Brian attempted this, the flare of my new glass jewelry would press uncomfortably against the "snug" part of my ear, causing problems with healing. So after many markings with toothpicks and gentian violet (and infinite patience on Brian's part) we reached a compromise. Brian placed the punch about halfway through the bump of scar tissue. When he punched through, he would cut the bump in half. Brian promised that eventually, the tiny bit of remaining scar tissue would eventually go away, especially since I was no longer wearing the captive jewelry. I agreed.
Brian autoclaved lots of gauze, carefully cleaned out my ears, and Atom readied his camera. As I gazed at the dermal punches lying on their bed of sterile paper, I had some panicky second thoughts. I worried about the pain, I'll admit. But ultimately (like all my modification procedures) I easily calmed down. I remembered how much I truly wanted this. Like the trite age-old saying, beauty is pain. And I was willing to suffer the pain to get the beautiful ears I wanted.
Brian firmly massaged the inner part of my ear to help ease some of the coming discomfort, and then readied the first dermal punch. I took a deep breath and relaxed every fiber of my being. I didn't think about anything – my mind was truly blank. That, I believe, is the secret to getting a painful modification done. So many people tense their bodies up in anticipation of the pain, and who can blame them? But when you relax, you just flow with the pain instead of fighting it. Your body accepts it and the whole situation is more meaningful
So I flowed, and Brian carefully inserted the dermal punch into my ear through the scar tissue with three neat twists. I felt a burning, throbbing sensation and lots of pressure. It was over in two seconds and I felt a sense of quiet release.
Unfortunately, the release I felt had somewhat to do with the enormous release of blood traveling down the paper bib tucked into the neck of my tee shirt. After putting pressure on the fresh punch with gauze, Brian carefully tapped coagulant powder around the wound and the bleeding slowed for a while. Atom snapped lots of pictures gleefully.
Brian inserted the jewelry, which was utterly painless. I honestly didn't even feel it slide into the fresh hole in my body. This was because Brian punched my ears at 5mm and inserted the 5mm jewelry – no tapering required. I rested for a few minutes while Brian autoclaved more gauze for the second punch and happily admired my ear in the hand mirror. The scar tissue had been mostly removed as Brian promised, and I could tell that with time and some oil rubs, it would pretty much vanish completely.
Now for the other ear. I was tired and my dreadlocks were stiff and gooey with blood, but there was no way I was leaving that shop with one punched ear. I took another breath in and felt the punch make its way through layers of my flesh. Brian repeated the same routine of pressing gauze into the wound and then applying the coagulant powder. After the jewelry insertion and moment more of rest, I carefully got up.
I was thrilled with the results (as I always am with Brian's work) and pleased that I handled myself so well. I was one step closer to reaching a sense of self-image that I loved and embraced. The pain and blood was pretty intense, but it was well worth it. All you have to do is feel the flow.