So this is my first experience with piercing. I got my right lobe pierced at 14 gauge, but I'll go into detail later. For now, I'll do a little background.
At A Glance Author Tyler Contact Tyler@bme.anon When A month ago Artist Can't remember his name, awesome guy though Studio Chaos Apex Piercing Location Lapeer, Michigan I don't know or can remember at what age or estimated time I got into the idea of piercing, but in hindsight, whenever I would see somebody in real life or even on TV, I would be fascinated, but because of my shyness, wouldn't dare ask about it to anyone. So I went my whole life (well, 16 years, and about half of that was truly conscious and real thinking) without pursuing the piercing ideal.
But as of late, about the last few months, I have been thinking more and more about them, and with my new girlfriend, now ex-girlfriend, she told me about gauges (technically they were plugs, but you know what I mean). That excited me and gave me the boost of courage to get one, at least. And don't think I got them for her, while I did want to impress her, I truly wanted it for myself and to express who I am. So after weeks of anticipation I went on vacation with my mom back to Lapeer, Michigan, where my grandparents lived. They are awesome, and I have more freedom there thanks to my grandma. So after a few days over there, I popped the question to my mom. As would be expected, there was resistance. And I gave all the logical arguments I could think of, and I could tell she was wearing down, but it was the fact that I wanted big (not huge by some standards, but huge to her) plugs. Eventually she said she would let me get them (which I took as both lobes, but just one) but there was one more obstacle, my dad.
Now, I am close with my dad, we have a good relationship, better than any of my friends, but we still have our disagreements like most father-son relationships. So I called him back in California dreading the expected ordeal. He answered, and I asked him. To my complete utter amazement, he was fine with it. The gist of what he said was "You are a young adult, and can make decisions for yourself". So I was ecstatic for this. I told my mom Dad was fine with it. And she was surprised as much as I was. So it was decided that the next day, we would go into town (this is a relatively small town compared to my home town San Diego) and look at the two tattoo/piercing places there. So with an anxious and happy mind, I drifted to sleep.
I awoke at about 8 in the morning and helped with the normal routine of tearing down my grandma's shed (her friend was gonna build a bigger and better shed, so the old one had to be torn down). After we finished at around noon, I got dressed, brushed my teeth and the normal stuff. Then my mom got ready while I played solitaire on the computer. So my mother finished and we were off to get step one done. We headed into town (only about a five minute drive if that) and checked out the closest one, Tribal Imagery Tattoo. There was a sign saying they had moved to some place off the freeway, no big deal, only about 20 minutes away. But before heading there, we stopped to check out option number 2, Chaos Apex Piercing. We walked in, and I was just basking in the metal they were playing on the stereo. We walked up to the counter and looked at some of the jewelry, I pointed out the largest size I would go, but even that was still too big. And then this guy (I feel slightly bad for not getting his name, but I never did believe names were that important) came from this group of people looking over some sketches, and asked if we could be helped. So we presented what I wanted, and my mom proceeded to ask the normal questions, "What size is normal?" "How do you do it?" "Is everything sterilized?". While she was asking some of those, I was browsing through some of the tattoo sketches they had on display (I've been interested in tattoos for longer than piercing I would say). So everything was asked and he showed us the equipment, and a couple of sites (including this site). So we left and I was excited as hell. We got back and talked about it with me, my mom, and my grandma.
Fast Forward to the Next Day
This was it.
I know it's just a lobe piercing but I'm weird like that.
We walked to the counter and talked to a different guy, I was slightly disappointed cause I wanted to be pierced by the other guy, but thankfully he walked in right as I thought that. I asked if it was $35 for just one lobe or both, and unfortunately, just one. But one is better than none. So the forms were signed, ID was showed, and we went into the back into one of the booths. He put on gloves, got out the tools and needle and stuff, explaining all the time what it was, how he cleaned it and everything. He asked if I was nervous and I said only for the pain part, cause I wasn't sure what it would be like, and he settled my fears down by talking to me. So he cleaned the place, marked it, I approved, then told me to breath in, and out. On the out he pierced it, which was literally just a small moment where I felt a pinch, but that was it. He fiddled around with it and BAM, I'm done, I look in the mirror and I love it. My mom takes a picture of me and the guy, I pay, and I leave. There was only a small discomfort all day, and it's been about 3 weeks. It only hurts if I catch it on something, which is rare, but it hurts like bitch when I do.
The next step is either the other lobe when this one heals, or my septum, which I REALLY like to get, but I'll write about that when I get it.
Thanks for reading, goodbye!