While I've had numerous piercings (around twenty), almost all of which are now gone for work reasons except those that are easily hidden, and even one dermal punch before, I was really nervous about getting my left conch done. As a long time enthusiast of body modifications and someone that cannot get enough of tattoos and piercings (and hopefully soon other body mods), though, I knew that I had to do it. After knowing some pretty scary piercers that did not know what they were doing, the only piercer I'll let touch me anymore is Jeremy at Freaks on 39th, so I called him a few hours before I wanted to get my conch done, called a friend, cashed my paycheck, and headed down. After having two series of treatments for depression, my memory has been mostly erased, which did not help my nerves at all. I rode silently most of the way to the shop.
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Jeremy Studio Freaks on 39th Location Kansas City, Missouri Every time I see Jeremy he is always really friendly yet very professional, which puts me at ease. My nervousness subsided quite a bit as he guided me to the back of the shop and examined my ear. Now, I had had my right conch punched and then stretched to a 0 gauge and wanted it re-done, but there was too much scar tissue right now and I was told to do sea salt soaks to help break down the scar tissue. But I was just really in the mood so I asked him to do my left ear instead. My ears are shaped quite differently so Jeremy said the punch would have to be at 5mm then stretched to a 2 gauge. I said that was cool so he had me fill out some paperwork while he set up in the piercing room. Everything was sterile and packaged and he changed gloves frequently to keep things that way. After copying my ID it was finally time.
The nerves started flooding in again as he marked my ear after cleaning it thoroughly. I checked the mark in the mirror then lay down on the table. My heart was banging through my chest, I think, and I had my hands clasped together on my stomach. But Jeremy was really cool and kept talking me through the process, making me take big, slow breaths. He prepared his tools on the rolling table and I had calmed down quite a bit until I actually saw the dermal punch. The thing was fairly big and it had been a very long time since I had had anything done except some work on my left sleeve. I have a pretty high tolerance for pain. I was a cutter for ten years and somewhat enjoyed my plethora of piercings. The adrenaline rush is great. This time, due mainly to the fact that it felt like my first piercing, the others like smoke in my memory, I was really rethinking the whole situation, especially when I noticed the huge pile of paper towels ready to absorb my blood. But I knew I wanted it – I knew I could handle the pain and it would be well worth it. He got the instruments ready and told me to take a deep breath in and then out, then on the next deep breath he told me he was going to pierce me, then stretch the hole, then insert the jewelry. I breathed in and out and felt a sting then a burn then it was over and he was holding some paper towels against my ear. I could feel the blood running down the side of my neck and into my hair but he had put a wad of cotton into my ear so that blood wouldn't drip down inside it. The feeling of blood running down me was really creepy. But him putting pressure on my ear hurt more then the punch, the whole thing was so smooth. I couldn't believe it was through. From my vague recollections it seems like the other one was much more painful, but then again it was a bigger stretch. It took quite a while to get the thing to form a clot and stop bleeding but once it did I lay on the table for a minute or two before Jeremy told me I could sit up if I was ready.
When I slowly sat up I got a little dizzy, my head swimming slightly. After a minute I was fine and I got up and walked over to the mirror to inspect my new piercing. However, there was so much blood that I couldn't get a very good view. Still, it looked good, from what I could tell. I was stoked.
I paid Jeremy, so happy and excited I was practically bouncing around the front of the shop. Carefully bouncing, that is, since I didn't want to knock off the scab. The whole thing was actually fairly inexpensive, all things considered. I had him use a glass eyelet instead of a surgical stainless steel eyelet, mostly due to the fact that I might have to have more treatments and cannot have metal in my body for the treatments and partly because glass is cheaper. Steel looks better, in my opinion, but I wanted to be able to tip well for such a good job. Even Jeremy said it went really smooth; he told the tattoo artist about it, who has both of his conches done, and let us see the cartilage that came out. It was perfectly smooth on the outside and looked quite strange. I was looking at it pretty close and Jeremy asked me if I was going to eat it. I kind of pulled away – not that he would have let me if I had been so inclined. But eating my own flesh is not my thing.
So, I managed to get all the way home without touching or knocking my ear. But then as I was walking through the dark house, pulling off my coat, trying to be quiet so as not to wake my parents (yes, I am 23 and living with my folks) and I bumped my ear and blood started gushing everywhere: down my neck, on my shirt, my coat, the floor. I rushed to the bathroom, my friend almost passed out, and I woke up everyone in the house. But since then my ear is healing great and I'm so happy with it. A totally great experience.