The first time I had my tragus pierced, I was only 18- it was my third real body piercing and I guess I was in such a rush to do it, I didn't really plan or think it out too well. I was in my first year of college, liberated from my parent's grasp and feeling good from the freedom of no longer being a minor. I had already gotten my long-awaited septum pierced the week after my 18th birthday and it was about 3 months later that I decided I wanted to have another piercing done. Because my septum piercing experience went so well, I decided to go back to the same studio, Incognito Tattoo and Piercing (now, 4 years later, they only specialize in tattooing). The piercer there, Chad (at the time), was friendly and I walked in expecting it would be a positive experience.
At A Glance Author anonymous When Three months ago Artist Edd Studio Prix Body Piercing Location Pasadena, CA At the front of the shop, I talked with Chad about what I wanted done, which ear and what size. I was leaning toward a larger gauge, maybe 16 or 14, but he kept insisting it would look better at a small, delicate gauge. He finally talked me into getting it done at 18 gauge. I filled out the necessary paperwork and was led back into the piercing room. Everything was going fine, I had my reservations about getting the piercing done at such a small gauge, but trusted the instincts of the piercer.
He did all the preparation and then it was time for the moment of no return. He brought the needle to my ear and asked me to breathe in, and then when I breathed out he would pierce me. Breathe in, breathe out. No lie, it was pretty painful, like getting your finger bit off. But I liked it in the end- it looked great- sitting there on my right tragus, looking very dainty and shiny. Eight months later- after agitation after frustration, I ended up removing the tiny ring. It wouldn't heal properly, it seemed to be migrating slightly in the front and it just didn't look right- all angry and red all the time, weepy. Even though I diligently cleaned my ear once a day with a warm sea salt soak, didn't play with it or sleep on the right side of my head, it just wouldn't heal.
Four years later, I'm now 22, more informed and not afraid to speak my mind. I decided that it was time for another piercing- the right tragus done 4 years ago had been my last. I headed to a different shop, where the piercer Edd had removed some large stainless steel rings from my ears once. I walked in and spoke with Edd- I told him that I wanted both of my traguses pierced and at 14 gauge. He looked them over, said that should be fine and quoted me a price- $50 with rings or $80 with barbells. Like before, I choose the cbrs, because I just like the aesthetic better- it looks more natural in your ear.
He went upstairs to the piercing room and did all the preparation- about 25 minutes later he called me up. I sat down, apprehensively in the chair and looked around. It was a nice environment, very white and chrome, lots of glass to enjoy the outside weather and spotlessly clean. Edd had an ipod mini docked in a speaker set and was playing some classic folk rock that was very calming. He talked about the whole procedure, how he wanted to proceed and took a closer look at my ears. After looking at my right ear- he said scarring was a little strange- that it looked like my previous piercer had pierced it at too much of an angle and too far forward. I'm not sure if it was pierced wrong, or just ended up migrating to a worse position.
Finally, it came down to the needles. Edd said he wanted to do my right ear first, because it might be more painful due to the pre-existing scarring. That sounded fine to me, I'd much rather get that over with. It was a similar procedure as before, with a breath in and then the needle through with the exhale. It hurt a lot more than I remember from before- but at the same time the pain was oh so good! He inserted the jewelry, closed the ring and got ready to pierce my left ear. There was a breath in and then a new needle again on the exhale- it was much less painful that my right ear and just as painfully delicious. At this point, I was riding high on endorphins and ecstatic that I had both of my traguses pierced. I looked in the mirror he had hanging on the wall- and they looked great. The larger 14 gauge rings just looked such more solid and like they belonged there than the 18 gauge rind my right ear once supported.
After tipping Edd- I floated out of the studio, happy to feel the old familiar throb in my ears- the pain coinciding with my heartbeat. Now, 3 months later- the piercings have finished their first stage of healing, they no longer crust up and bleed. The outside skin surrounding them looks good and in general they're happy and healthy. I know I have a lot longer to go for them to be fully healed, but I'm ecstatic that they are looking so good!