| At A Glance | |
| Author | Bex |
| When | It just happened |
| Location | Dublin |
Because this experience of getting a new anti tragus was such a big deal to me, I decided to share it here. I mean, everybody gets even a little nervous about getting a new piercing, but this was the one that had me the most nervous out of all of mine.
I'm sixteen, and my parents won't allow me to get ANY facial piercings, well, not at the moment anyway. I really really wanted a vertical labret but I could see there was no way this would happen. My parents, especially my dad, know absolutely nothing about piercings and I think they think that I know nothing about them either! It took me long enough to convince them to let me get my navel pierced [Like about 3 years!] so I decided, fine, I'll get an ear piercing. If they don't like it, I can just cover it with my hair. I've a good few in my ear already anyway. I researched ear piercings of all kinds and thought I'll get an industrial but then figured out, nah I don't actually have the guts for that right now :P Since seeing how much blood came from my friend's one when she got it pierced, I was kind of put off by the idea of a new industrial.
Before I narrowed it down to either a conch or an anti tragus. After much thought and MORE research [hehe], I decided to get a new anti tragus piercing. I don't have a problem with needles [well not much of a problem], but for some reason I was horrified at the concept of a needle being pushed through my solid cartilage. Not so much about the pain factor, but about the crack or the pop you're supposed to hear when your cartilage gets pierced. I sat and thought for ages "OMG what if it gushes blood for ages? What if it rejects? What if it gets infected?" etc even though I know about piercings and I know how to clean them! I was completely working myself up about it. I was trying to imagine what it would be like, but obviously you won't actually know till it's happening. Still, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I don't know why I was so nervous because I already have a good few piercings! I suppose this one is quite different to all the others I have... But I really wanted this piercing, so I silenced my doubts [and tried to silence my nerves] and went to a local piercing studio the next day, bringing one of my friends for support.
The guy was friendly [he didn't tell me his name :P] and told me to take a seat while he got the equipment ready. I was asking him loads of questions at this stage, jabbering on because I was starting to get nervous- "Will it bleed? Is my anti tragus big enough to be pierced? What gauge are you piercing it with? Will you tell me when you're putting the needle though?"- And more stupid questions that I already knew the answer to! He cleaned and marked my ear and asked me was the placement ok. I said it was fine. I closed my eyes and I thought he was clamping my anti tragus very very tightly but he was actually piercing it! So much for "Yeah I'll tell you when I'm piercing you." It felt like a sharp pinch. He put the jewellery in [a 1.2mm curved barbell], which felt uncomfortable and a little strange but all in all, it wasn't that painful. And no dreaded pop or crunch noise, much to my satisfaction! I paid him [obviously] and left.
I felt a little bit weak and shaky even though I had eaten and drank [water and coke] before hand, but maybe that was down to the excitement of "WOW! I can't believe I did it!"? I'm not sure! Feeling good with my new piercing and accomplishment, I went off home.
Later on, when I was it bed, I found that lying on it was actually fine. Naturally I like sleeping on my right side where my piercing is. But it got a little uncomfortable after a while so I decided I'd turn over and give my new piercing a chance to breathe. I had a dull headache, which may have been coincidence but I think it was from the piercing. It was only very slight, so I didn't take any painkillers because I could tolerate it.
For anybody who wants an anti tragus, I'd say go for it. In my experience it's not that painful, it looks good [I love mine!], and in my opinion, it is a little more unusual than other ear piercings. Well I don't know anybody who has one :P