Let me start off by saying that among all my piercings, this has by far been the most troublesome. Not to mention it was my first done by a professional (with exception to my retired navel). Yes, like so many of you, I went the "get pierced at the kiosk in the mall with a gun" route for the first 17 or so years of my life. That adds up to 3 holes in each lobe that have healed, countless others failed. Strange that never once did I bother to think that maybe the method in which I was being pierced was the root of my healing issues.
At A Glance Author Tami Contact tcl753@gmail.com When A year ago Artist Chantal DeLioncourt Studio Evolution Body Piercing Location Providence, RI I was introduced to Evolution Body Piercing by my best friend Alice, who had been getting pierced and purchasing her jewelry there since she had come to Providence for school. She also introduced me to BME, and informed me that I had trouble healing my lobe piercings because they'd been done with guns. I owe so much to that friend of mine :-). Since I had come to school here (it was my freshman year) and become friends with Alice, I was fascinated with modifications of all sorts. Countless hours were spent on this very site, browsing images and experiences and adding modifications to my list of things I wanted done. One day I happened across one of the prettiest piercings I had ever seen: a snug piercing. It was adorable!!! Even the name of it was cute. I already had a list a mile long of other piercings I wanted, but suddenly this was at the top. I had never seen one in person, and the rarity of it added to its appeal.
One random day after class, my friend Jon had decided that he wanted his single cartilage piercing turned into an orbital. So off we went, headed for the only place in town we knew to be safe and friendly. Jon had his piercing done and we left, for I was short on funds and couldn't possibly afford a piercing right then. A couple hours later however, Jon offered to let me borrow the money due to the fact that he was so excited about his new work that he wanted someone to share it with him. So we went back to Evolution, with me being terribly nervous this time.
We were greeted with a smile, and I informed Wes that I was after a snug piercing that day. He took my ID and walked me through the aftercare utterly magnificently, as he always does. After signing the form and deciding on jewelry, it was time to go back to the piercing room with Chantal. She was absolutely wonderful, calming me down and explaining each and every step of the process as she went. The marks were made, and I was satisfied. I lay down and breathed as instructed, 1...2....3.... OUCH!!!! By far one of the most intense sorts of pain I had ever felt. I didn't even have time to think between the needle and the jewelry change, she was so efficient. The whole thing took maybe a minute tops. Once my CBR was in, Chantal asked me if I was alright and gave me some time to breathe whole she wiped off my ear. When she was satisfied I wasn't going to pass out, it came time to insert the ball. After some fumbling (those damn things are so tricky when they're that small!!) and wiping me off again, I was all set. I looked in the mirror and I was positively glowing. It hurt, and continued to sting for the next few hours until it turned into a dull soreness, but oh, how I loved it!
The first few weeks it looked wonderful, minimal swelling or redness, very few crusties, and I was ecstatic. I was diligent with my aftercare, and it seemed to be paying off. After that it turned into somewhat of a battle. To this day, about a year later, it still gets irritated very easily and needs to be babied, but even through all that I still adore my lovely little snug. I recently had the ring changed out for a 16g curved barbell and that's helped things progress a great deal; it gets knocked around a whole lot less now. My biggest recommendation for healing this pierce is to keep up on your aftercare. While everyone heals differently, I've personally found warm saline compresses to be a godsend. Whenever it begins to show signs of crankiness, I treat my snug to some warm saline as often as possible until it clears up. If you're not willing to work for a new piercing, then this is not for you, IT IS TOUGH! It is, however, absolutely adorable, and worth all the effort I've put forth.
Through all the trouble, my snug has and always will hold a special place in my heart. It was my first experience at Evolution, and I've gone back for absolutely everything since. For all my questions, new piercings, and new jewelry, the staff at Evolution has been wonderful, and I've developed a very close relationship with them, that I would say goes beyond a mere professional relationship and into a friendship.
If anyone is in the Providence, RI area and looking for a place to be pierced, Evolution is the only place I let pierce me anymore, and Joe and Chantal are the most experienced piercers I have ever met. Not to mention that Wes is by far one of the most entertaining conversationalists I know. And a master at the aftercare spiel. :-)