08.10.2005.
At A Glance Author Linda Marwood Contact Linda Marwood@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Emma Studio Medway Tattoo and body Piercing. Location Rochester, England My Tragus piercing really was a spur of the moment decision, On Thursday evening I was looking on BME, purely out of boredom at all the different Piercings, and recognized a tragus piercing as one the same one my friend has, and then got on to the idea that as it is my birthday this coming Wednesday, then maybe I should buy myself a present.
I decided to find out a bit more about the piercing, for example the healing time, how much it was likely to cost, and the different types of jewellery available etc... and after speaking to two different piercing shops, i decided that it was definitely the piercing for me, adding to my belly button piercing and my lobes.
So, I got up this morning, had a shower and some breakfast, and me and my brother walked through to Rochester. I had to pick up a parcel that was at the post office before, so we did that and then carried on through. When we got to the shop, and looked through the glass door, it looked like it was really busy, so I prepared myself for a long wait, and waited for the nerves to start. I took a deep breath and walked in, I smiled at the receptionist and told her that I wanted my tragus piercing please. She called over Emma, and said, "This young lady would like her tragus pierced," I was handed a consent form, asked for ID and was then left for a few minutes to fill out the form while Emma went and got ready. Apparently I wouldn't have to wait that long at all, the queue of people had been waiting to discuss getting tattoos with the tattoo artists.
Once I had filled in the form and my ID checked, I was shown through the back to the piercing room, and told to make myself comfortable on the huge black dentist chair. At this point I still wasn't feeling nervous!! Emma and I chatted for a while, while she get the stuff out of the drawers that she needed, she asked me to look at the packets, which were all sealed and pointed out that they were all totally sterile, and then she showed me the sharps bin that the needle would be chucked into once I got pierced. She then cleaned up my ear, marked it and asked me to look in the mirror to make sure I was happy with the placement. I gave the thumbs up and climbed back into the chair, all the time still waiting to feel nervous or scared, but instead I just felt calm, relaxed and excited.
Emma then changed her gloves, and popped the receiving tube into my ear, all the time making sure I was comfortable with what was going on, when she was happy with the location of the receiving tube; she changed her gloves again, asked me to turn me head away from her slightly. She picked up the needle and told me to take a deep breath and breathe out slowly but firmly, and then again, on the second breath out she pushed the needle through my ear, which was when I got an urge to laugh, it really didn't hurt, what I felt was more like an intense pressure, then I was aware of something trickling down the side of my face, which I later realized was blood. After the needle had gone through and Emma wiped away the blood, she changed her gloves, and with more deep breathing from me, put in the jewellery, I think this bit was maybe the most uncomfortable part, but again not painful.
After changing her gloves again, and while she screwed the ball on, Emma talked me through the after care, and made me repeat it back to her, handed me a sheet with a re-cap of what we'd just spoke about and told me it was all done, and said I could have a look in the mirror. I love it!!
We walked out back into the waiting room and I paid, and left with my brother, admittedly I felt a bit terrible as I didn't leave a tip, I didn't have enough cash, but im going back in two weeks, to get it checked so I'll give her a fiver then.
So I've been pierced now for around five hours, I am still so pleased with it, it looks like its always been there, and the only time it hurts is when, like just a minute ago, I answer the phone and without thinking and put it to my left ear!
All in all, I think the tragus is a fantastic piercing, and from what I can gather is a really easy piercing to look after.
And I would really recommend anybody in the Medway area, to go to Emma at Medway tattoo and body piercing to get pierced, she is great.