I had been wanting and industrial for a few years, but as a theatre major, it's not recommended that we get any obvious or non-traditional body modifications. In high school I got my cartilage pierced three times in each ear, but didn't know anything about any piercing other than the typical captive bead ring in your ear. When I learned about all the options available to me, I immediately wanted an industrial, but was afraid that the earrings I already had would get in the way. Fast forward to last month.
At A Glance Author Sonic Contact Sonic@bme.anon When A month ago Studio Impaled Location Marquette, MI My friend Becky and I had lunch together and I mentioned that I wanted to run into the piercing studio to check out a special they were having ($25 for any piercing, including specialties) and see if it was possible for me to get an industrial with my current ring. We walked in and were greeted by the very friendly Impaled staff, who proceeded to ask what we were interested in. Before I had a chance to say anything, Becky answered for me.
"He wants an industrial."
"No problem," was the reply, and they began sizing up jewelry to my ear. "We'll need a little bit longer of a bar, but you have great ears for this!"
"Wait, now?!" I said, my eyes wide at what Becky had just pulled on me.
"Sure, why not?" She replied.
I began to fill out the requisite paperwork, pausing only long enough to look at her and say "you're a bad influence, you know that, right?"
A few minutes later, I was back in the piercing booth, sitting on the edge of the chair.
The piercer, who's name I have forgotten, regrettably, explained to me about the sterilization procedures they used, told me what the procedure for piercing me would involve, and showed me each of the sterile packages that held the equipment he would be using. Once he had marked the position on my ear with a Sharpie, then gave me the marker (that's how big they are on sterile) he asked if I liked the positioning. I said I did and we got down to business.
Becky took my hand.
"Are you ready?" They asked.
"Ready as I'll ever be," I replied, and took a deep breath.
"Do you want a countdown or should I just do it?" My piercer asked.
"Count, please," I opted, wanting to be able to prepare for the shock.
On three, there was pressure and a pinch.
"One down," he said, threading the barbell into my ear. "One to go."
Another count of three, another small pinch, and before I knew it, I had a brand new industrial.
"How do you feel?"
"Interesting," I replied. "Kind of like the left side of my head is blushing."
"I've never heard it described that way," my piercer laughed. I shrugged, grinning. "Make sure you tighten the balls before you shower, and don't hesitate to call us if there are any problems." I got off the chair, shook his hand, paid for my new piercing ($65 including jewelry and tip) and was on my way out the door.
"My roommates are going to kill you," I said to Becky as we got into her car.
"That's fine," she replied. "That looks awesome in your ear."
Aftercare was relatively straightforward. It didn't bleed much and the swelling was minimal. Nothing like the cartilage piercings years before. With those I couldn't even talk on the phone because I was so swollen. One gentle washing with some Dial soap took care of the large clots of blood on the actual holes of my piercing and I was in business.
Taking great care to not get it caught on my shirt when I changed for bed and making sure that I didn't lie on it to go to sleep, I went to bed thoroughly contented with my choice to get pierced.
The next day at the gym, I amused my self by making my earrings clack on the barbell while playing racquetball. That night I took out the surrounding earrings in order to give the swelling a little more room.
In a few days, it had healed enough that I could sleep on it, although I'm still getting some crusties and a tiny bit of discharge even over a month later. The only real problem I've had (other than the required showing to my relatives and having one of my cousins accidentally hit it in the pool) is not playing with it. For me, nothing is more gratifying than being able to feel the jewelry moving around in my ear.
Not counting accidentally catching it on my shirt or bumping it while scratching my head, I've had minimal pain and my favorite piercing to date! I would highly recommend it to anyone considering something a little more exotic than a basic cartilage piercing.