I have always wanted my anti-tragus pierced, and with my 21st birthday right around the corner, now seemed like a great time to get it. It's my "Happy Birthday to Me" present to myself.
At A Glance Author L.S When It just happened Artist Michelle Studio Blue Wallace Skate Shop I went to my favorite piercing shop in town. The in-house artist there, Michelle is so cool and helpful. She's done two of my piercings so far, and I plan on going back to her if I decide to get anymore.
I went it, took care of all the paperwork and legal stuff and she made a copy of my license. She asked what I wanted done, and I told her. She said that it shouldn't be a problem because I had a good shaped ear. I decided to go with my right ear. I already have a helix piercing in my left ear. I'm all about some symmetry!
We went upstairs to the piercing room. It was very clean and bright. It even had that weird/clean dentist office smell to it!!
I sat down on the chair while she cleaned off all the surfaces and got her supplies ready. She asked if I had any questions about anything. I asked if she knew about the pain of an anti-tragus piercing. Of course she said that everyone was different and that it would just depend on my threshold for pain. Well, I always thought that I was kind of a sissy, but I've come to find out that I actually handle pain very well. So that gave me some assurance.
She showed me what everything was, what needle she was going to use, and let me pick out what jewelry I wanted. She asked me earlier if I wanted a barbell, or a hoop. I asked her what she would recommend. She said that having a hoop would be easier to clean and that it wouldn't swell that much. So, needless to say, I picked out the little 16g silver hoop.
Well, by this time my heart was starting to beat faster, and my breathing was getting heavier. I had taken some Advil earlier before I went to the shop. She cleaned the area all around, and down inside my ear. She placed a little dot on my ear and asked if I wanted it there or if I wanted to move it. She even held the hoop up to the area so I could get an idea of what it would look like once it was in there.
She told me to take a deep breathe in and to release slowly. I took in a huge breathe, and let it all release. I didn't really hear any noise at all, I just felt alot of heavy pressure being put on my ear, and then a lot of heat. It really didn't hurt as much as I thought it would. It was a bit uncomfortable, but it wasn't unbearable.
The part that probably hurt the most was when she put the jewelry in, because she had to close the hoop and was tugging on it and trying to be as quick as possible without being too clumsy about it. I felt some of my blood start to dribble down inside my ear! It felt so weird!! She stopped it and cleaned it up before it got far enough down inside my ear though.
She cleaned the area again, and cleaned up some dried blood on my ear. After she got everything cleaned, she gave me the mirror again and let me see my new piercing. It looked so good!! I couldn't get over how nice it looked. It wasn't puffy or red at all. Of course she told me about the aftercare and to take a couple of ibuprofens to help with swelling and tenderness and gave me some seasalt.
It's about a day old now, and I still am in love with it!! I clean it with a seasalt mixture in the morning before I go to work, and then I scrub it really good with Dial soap at night in the shower. It really didn't hurt last night when I went to sleep either. I even rolled over on my side and it didn't hurt.
Sometimes it kinda hurts when I smile, or when I eat. I take a few ibuprofen to help with the pain and swelling. I also try and keep my hair pulled back on that side.
I also take a multi-vitamin to help give my body the nutrients it needs to repair itself faster. When I got my helix in my ear, I took a vitamin and it healed in no time. I also try not to drink alot of caffinated drinks, I know that can sometimes hinder the healing process. I drink water instead. It really, really helps! Even if you do have to run to the bathroom 15+ times a day! Ha ha.
All in all, it was such a thrill and a good birthday present and I love, LOVE, LOVE it!!!