The idea of getting a conch piercing was planted in my head at the end of this past January. It was then that I found out from Marea at Metamorphosis in Indianapolis that I wouldn't be able to get my left tragus repierced, because of the way it had rejected (she said that if she tried to do it, it would reject again, but faster this time). So much for that. However, she did change a couple of other pieces of jewelry for me, and as I was leaving, she asked me if I'd ever considered getting my conch pierced.
At A Glance Author d'Latta Contact d'Latta@bme.anon IAM d'Latta When Three months ago Artist Marea Studio Metamorphosis Location Indianapolis, Indiana As a matter of fact, no, I hadn't. I didn't like the look of the ring/CBR (especially on me, with my multiple ear piercings already). Then again, I didn't know anyone personally that had their conch pierced (I still don't, at least not in the little city that I live in), so it wasn't like I could ask them about it or anything. Most of the pictures that I'd seen (even here on BME) were of the aforementioned ring/CBR.
However, what came out of my mouth wasn't necessarily what I'd been thinking (at least consciously). I asked her if it could be done with a barbell (already knowing it could, sort of, but confirming it), and she said yes. I told her that I'd think about it and get back with her.
Over the course of the next two weeks, it was ALL I could think about. I did a lot more research online, both on the BME site and offsite. I tried to best determine what size would be best for me to start off with, knowing how much trouble I have with cartilage piercings. I'd read that for the best results, a piercing should be 14g or larger, so I decided on 12g, to have a bit added extra solidness, for lack of a better word.
I then had to decide on what sort of ends I wanted. At first I thought that I wanted flat disk ends, but I nixed that idea, thinking that while it might look okay on the backside, it wouldn't be aesthetically pleasing from the front (at least not to me). I finally decided on getting the largest balls that I could on the ends, for visual impact.
There was more to this, also.
Around the same time, I decided that I would be getting this piercing by myself I wouldn't be taking anyone with me for 'support' or anything like that. I briefly entertained the idea of taking my stuffed bear, but nixed that too, on the day of the procedure. I decided that I NEEDED to do this by myself, to prove to myself that I was capable of both the physical demands, as well as the emotional ones. I was scared as hell, but knew that I was right in that this was something that I needed to do this way, this time.
The day finally arrived. I'd worked that morning (overnight shift) at my job and had a splitting headache, but was determined to go through with it. I went home and took a nap (and overslept, of course). Once I finally got cleaned up and on my way, I called the studio and informed Marea that I was running a bit late, and apologized. Fortunately, it was the middle of the afternoon, so it wasn't terribly busy, and she didn't mind in fact, she told me NOT to rush (the drive up there is about 1.5 hours from here).
I got off the highway a few miles before my exit, and grabbed something to eat, knowing that I would be thankful for it later. A few minutes later, I was back on the highway, and before I knew it, was in Broad Ripple, parked about a block away from the studio.
Was I nervous? Yes, but strangely enough, I was calm, too. Maybe it was because I DIDN'T have someone else there with me; I didn't have to FORCE myself to feel or act a certain way. I could just be myself, and there was no one there to judge me. I rather liked that feeling. I finished my cigarette and walked into the studio. I barely remember going through the jewelry selection or having to wait my turn; before I knew it, Marea was calling for me to come back to the piercing room.
The piercing room there at Metamorphosis is awesome. The room itself is HUGE, but doesn't have a stadium feel to it. There is artwork on the walls, and the table is very comfortable, actually. Anyway, she gloved up, cleaned me up, etc., and asked me once again if the jewelry that we had selected was correct (12g 5/16" straight barbell). It was. She then told me to take as much time as I needed to 'get ready'. I closed my eyes and tried to breathe slowly to calm myself down. It worked, up until the point where the tattoo artist in the next room crashed something very loudly. At that point, I just told her she may as well get on with it, and she replied by telling me that she would pierce on the exhale (the first exhale). I took a deep breath, and the moment I started to let it out, she pushed the needle through.
It hurt. A lot.
It hurt so much that after it went through, I just kept breathing, because I was afraid that if I didn't, I'd start cursing, yelling, or whimpering. She asked if I was okay, and I had to take about three or four more breaths before I could answer her and tell her that yes, I would be okay. She then told me that she was putting the ends on my jewelry and would be done. It didn't take long ... maybe just over a minute, all told.
I lay on the table for a while, while she cleaned up, and then realized that I was very thirsty. I said so before I remembered my manners, but fortunately, Marea decided that she wanted some water also, so she got some for both of us. I finally sat up and drank my water, while I talked to her some more. She was very patient the entire time, and let me take my sweet old time (which is to say probably double the time that anyone else would take, most likely). She asked me about my aftercare, and I told her other than doing a soak about once a week, the best thing seemed to be was to just leave it alone, except for wiping off the crusties with a Q-Tip after showering). She was cool with that, and we went up front, where I paid and tipped her, and we went ahead and ordered a replacement bar (a 1/4" one to be inserted later, as well as a new daith barbell). She told me that they would call me when it was in. (Interestingly enough, my headache that I'd been sporting disappeared after I got pierced!)
Two weeks to the day later, the studio called and informed me that my jewelry was in. However, I couldn't make it up there until around the first of April or so. When I did, she not only changed the bar, but also put a smaller ball on the back of the piercing (at my request), so I could sleep easier. I retained the larger ball on the front of the piercing, though like I said before, the aesthetic pleases me.
About three weeks after that, the jewelry got squirrelly and loose, and the ball actually fell off. I managed to get it back on, but was worried that it wasn't on tight, or was on crooked, or whatever, and was worried about it until I made it up there again at the end of April. She took a look at it for me it was fine; I'd gotten it on okay.
I highly recommend seeing Marea at Metamorphosis in Indianapolis (Broad Ripple) for your piercing needs. She's patient, informed, and talented at what she does. Bedside manner to me is just as important as a piercer's technical skill, and she definitely has both in abundance.
I've had this piercing now for three months. The average healing time is 3 5 months, according to their care sheet. I know that for me personally, it takes about a year to heal cartilage piercings (Marea has been informed of this, in case any problems arise). It is crusting a LOT, and is still tender, but is otherwise not causing my many problems. If you have been considering this piercing, but have been reluctant to do so because of the pain or healing factor, I would recommend that you do your research. I would also suggest that initially you get pierced with a barbell; you can always switch out to a ring/CBR later. But as for the rest: don't let the fear of pain stop you. I am personally always afraid of the 'ouch' factor, yet I managed to get it done. A few seconds' pain is worth the end result.