I've wanted a cartilage piercing since I was about 12, I asked if I could get it done for my 13th birthday, but my dad didn't agree, so I settled with getting my lobes done a second time.
At A Glance Author Heather When Three months ago Artist I can't remember his name, but he was very friendly Studio Body Works Location West Croydon A few months later one of my mates got her cartilage pierced, I was so jealous! So as soon as I got home I started begging my mum to let me have it done.
She said I could, but that I would have to ask my dad because well you know, men must be in charge at all times, and he was head of the household! I kept asking him and he kept saying no, I then tried the "what if I get good grades at school?" nope, didn't work either, until I asked if I could get it done if I paid for it, my dad looked at me like I was on crack (I never pay for really expensive things) but he decided to give me a chance and said "O.K". I was shocked; I really thought he would say no. So I promptly picked up the Yellow Pages and started looking for a decent place to go.
I found this place called "Raymondo" which cost about a tenner, and did the piercing with a gun. I decided to go the following week when I was off for half term.
Later that night I heard my mum telling my dad that she didn't want me going to Raymondo, and that one of her friends got their belly pierced at Body Works, and that it was very clean and hygienic.
When she told me herself, I went onto the website and found the price, it was going to cost just over £30, I felt like crying, I wanted to get it done really soon and explained to her that I wouldn't be able to save up 30 quid in a few days, so she said she would pay it.
I ran them up to make an appointment, but the woman on the other end of the line said that I didn't need an appointment and that I could just show up, I was cool with that!
The day came when I was going to get my cartilage pierced, I was so excited!
My excitement died a little, whilst I sat on a bus stop bench for half an hour waiting for the 60 to come!
We got there and I told the woman what I wanted. She said that the piercing would take 8-12 weeks to heal and that they pierce with needles (I have got to admit, I nearly screamed, I thought it was going to be soo painful) she also said, that I could either have a ring or a barbell. I picked a gem barbell for £5 extra, my mum filled out some forms then we just sat in the waiting area.
The guy came out and called my name, I went into the room, and sat in this dentist like chair and just looked around, he chatted to me for a little bit to calm me down, because I was a little nervous, then he showed me a mirror and I pointed out where I wanted the bar bell. He marked it out with a cross and went over to get the needle and clamp.
I kept my eyes tightly shut and just waited for the pain to come, I felt something really cold touch my ear (which was the clamp), then some gentle tugging, I felt really confused and was thinking "why the hell is this guy tugging my ear?!" and asked "why are you tugging my ear", he answered "I'm taking the needle out!". As he took the needle out, he put the bar bell in as to prevent infection.
"All done" he said, I looked at him thinking "wait, this can't be right I should have been able to feel the needle TOUCH my ear!" I jumped up and looked in the mirror, low and behold there was the bar bell, sitting in my ear twinkling as the light caught it, I grinned from ear to ear as I stared in a trance at my new piercing IT WAS SO NICE! It was very red, and was slightly swollen for the next 2 weeks or so, this is normal! Don't start getting scared if it's a little puffy.
I've had my piercing for about 4 months now, and I love it, I'm always changing the stud and making sure it's on show. I have absolutely no regrets about getting it.
Never get a cartilage piercing with a gun! You really do feel the pain, and also there's a 60% chance you could shatter all the bone in your ear and have serious problems with it in later life.
Also try not sleep it, it's quite tender for a few weeks, and if it starts sapping NOT PUSSING, SAPPING that's O.K, it's just getting rid of all the gunk that's building up inside.