Before I even start with my experience, I would like to say that being pierced by anyone other than a professional piercer is potentially very dangerous. I do not advocate this procedure.
At A Glance Author Zerstoerte Contact Zerstoerte@bme.anon IAM Zerstoerte When Six months ago Artist My boyfriend, Justin Studio My room Location Ontario, Canada Two months after I got my industrial piercing, I began to feel the need for a new piercing. I did not want to stress my body any more by choosing one of the surface piercings I lust after, but I was very anxious to get a new piercing. As a result, I decided on a simple, completely standard 16-gauge lobe piercing in my left ear. I definitely had plenty of room – just a 12-gauge industrial and a 6-gauge lobe piercing to contend with.
The only problem was that I live in a small town that's about an hour away from the closest piercing studio, I don't drive, and my parents don't approve of piercings (and therefore definitely wouldn't take me in). I wouldn't consider having my lobe gunned – I've had it done in the past but after discovering BME and learning about this procedure I would never have it done again. These factors are what provoked my final decision: I would have my boyfriend, Justin, do it.
While Justin is not a professional piercer, he has spent years finding out everything he can about anatomy and piercing. He had (and still has) needles, clamps, pliers, and jewellery. However, he did not have an autoclave. After reading the DIY section in the BME encyclopaedia, I decided that I was still comfortable going ahead with the procedure. We would sterilize the tools and jewellery as best as we could (according to the encyclopaedia, rubbing alcohol, while not perfect, would do an acceptable job). I decided that I would like one of my old piercing studs for the jewellery, as my body seems much happier with those than CBRs in lobe piercings.
We chose a weekend that Justin was sleeping over to do the piercing. That way, if anything went wrong or I had any sort of reaction, he'd be there to help me deal with it.
This was his first time piercing anyone but himself (although he'd pierced himself extensively), and I think he was more nervous than I was. I'm always fairly comfortable being pierced, at smaller gauges at least. Dermal punching is another story... but the thought of a standard lobe piercing was not at all frightening to me.
We decided that the best place to do it was in my room, because it was very clean and, being a place we both spend a lot of time in, familiar to us. I chose to mark the placement myself. After that, Justin washed his hands, and then with alcohol, we carefully cleaned the jewellery. (The 16-gauge needle and his gloves were sterile.) Justin didn't want to use clamps; for most piercings, he's more comfortable working freehand. He put on a pair of gloves. I pulled a chair over beside my bed and sat on that, while he sat on my bed. He asked me if I was ready, and I said yes.
"I'm going to pierce you now," he told me.
"Okay," I replied.
I waited a second... a few more... no piercing. I looked at him, and he laughed and said, "I don't want to hurt you. Are you sure about this?"
I told him, "Of course." We had been dating long enough at that point for him to know that I wouldn't say that unless I really meant it, so he said, "Okay."
I turned my head forward again and asked, "Are you going to do it?"
He told me that he was, and a second later I felt the needle slide through. I must say, it was a lot less painful than having it gunned! It went through so easily that it didn't even strike me as painful – a little uncomfortable, but nowhere near any of my other piercings. In retrospect, it might have just felt like nothing because the last piercing I'd had before it was an industrial, which, while definitely being bearable, I would describe as painful.
Justin told me he was putting the jewellery in, and I didn't feel it. I feel like I'm missing out on something – in almost every experience I've read, having the jewellery put in is described as painful or a relief or at least some sort of sensation, but I've never felt it in any of my piercings.
My lobe was bleeding a little bit, but not heavily. I asked Justin if the backing was on, and he said, "Not yet." I felt that I'd be more comfortable doing it myself (I have this inherent fear of stud backings ever since I had a very, very bad ear piercing experience when I was 11), so I went into the bathroom, washed my hands, and put on a pair of sterile gloves. The backing went on very easily, and I left plenty of room in case my lobe swelled (which it didn't). I wiped off the blood with an alcohol-soaked Q-Tip (my body seems to react very well to alcohol on piercings, but once again, I am not advocating its use) and gave Justin a kiss. Then we went out for Chinese food with my dad.
The whole time we were at the restaurant, I couldn't believe how much the piercing didn't hurt. All my other lobe piercings have burned slightly for a few hours afterward, but this one didn't hurt at all. My guess is because it was done with a needle, while the others were gunned, but I really don't know.
For the next month I used sea salt soaks and antibacterial soap to clean it. Although I marked the placement a bit too close to my 6-gauge lobe for my liking, it still looks good.
All in all, it was a very rewarding and positive experience for both of us. Justin, who hopes to get an apprenticeship, was happy to gain the experience and happy that I had been the first person he pierced (as his girlfriend and someone who was very comfortable being pierced). I really enjoyed being pierced by someone I knew and trusted so well... and it was nice to be able to express that gratitude by kissing my piercer afterward! However, I am not advocating this procedure. It is essential that anyone who wants to be pierced by someone who is not a professional piercer is fully aware and accepting of the risks involved.