On March 17th 2001 I went to A1 Tattoos in Gladstone Missouri with my friend who was getting her inner conch pierced. I had wanted to get my septum pierced but Chris; the piercer at A1 tattoos, had to order the jewelry that I wanted, 14 gauge internally threaded circular barbell. So my friend got her inner conch pierced and we went home.
At A Glance Author anonymous Artist Chris Studio A1 Tattoos Location Gladstone Mo About two weeks later, March 31st 2001 to be exact; I went back to A1 Tattoos with another friend who was unsure of what he wanted to get pierced. On this occasion Chris did have the 14 gauge circular barbell that I had wanted. Chris checked my id and I filled out all of the paperwork. When we were done with all the paperwork Chris went to prepare the room. When Chris was done preparing the room my friend and I went in. The first thing Chris did was ask if I had any specific questions, I did not, so he started explaining the procedure, he was very detailed in his explanation. He also stated that septum piercings are one of the hardest piercing to do and that they many times come out slightly crooked, but if it did come out crooked and I ever wanted it re-pierced he would do it at no charge. He assured me that only five to ten of the ninety or so septums he had done had ever come out crooked. When he was done explaining the procedure he asked if I had any questions and once again I did not. At this time he got out all the instruments that were required for my septum piercing, he got out a new needle and all of the other items were autoclaved. He was very professional and he explained everything as he was doing it. He changed his gloves about eighty times, which is a great thing, better safe than sorry.
When he pierced my septum it was very quick and it really didn't hurt, just felt a bit uncomfortable and it made my eyes water a lot. When Chris put the 14 gauge circular barbell in and took the needle out he noted that it was a little bit horizontally crooked, the needle went in closer to the tip of my nose yet came out a little more towards the center of my nose, he offered to re-pierce it then, but I declined, I couldn't really even tell it was crooked. It is not off by much. But Chris stated it might be more apparently crooked when it is healed and I start wearing a porcupine quill through it. He said that if I ever feel like it needs to be pierced straight he would do it at no charge. Now that I had the circular barbell in he used ring opening pliers to widen it a little bit so that I could flip it up into my nose just like a septum retainer, I have to do that because of my employer does not think kindly of guys having any piercings. Chris then explained the aftercare instructions to me again, and discussed the pros and cons of saline solution vs. sea salt soaks. We then walked back out to the front where I paid and tipped and he gave me an aftercare instruction sheet.
Then my friend decided he was going to get his nipple pierced again, he already had a 14 gauge horizontal nipple ring and wanted a 14 gauge vertical barbell to pass behind his existing nipple. So after he filled out the paperwork and Chris prepared the room we went in. Chris explained the procedure and the aftercare for my friends nipple piercing just as he had for my septum. He then got out his tools and pierced my friend's nipple. The piecing of my friends nipple did not seem to take as long, but maybe mine just seemed to take longer and really didn't. Once again during the nipple procedure Chris changed gloves many times. When he was done, he went over the aftercare again. Then we went back to the front and paid. Then we left.
It has been less than a week since I got my septum pierced but Chris was really great and did a good job of making sure everything was sterile. Although it is very early in the healing process my septum seems to be healing very nicely so far. When it heals I think I am going to go back to A1 tattoos and have Chris stretch it, I think I want to get to a 10 gauge or maybe even an 8 gauge but I am not sure yet. I would definitely recommend anyone in the area who wants a piercing to go to Chris at A1 Tattoos in Gladstone Mo he was great.