Ever since I can remember I've been fascinated with large piercings. This stems from, like most, reading old National Geographic magazines. I find this ironic as the people that push National Geographic magazines are almost always hyper conservative, so it almost seems along the lines of heresy that the conservative pave the way for more modded people. The images of wondrously large ear loops, pieces of bone or wood wedged into the septums of tribesmen, the outrageously large lip disks, these all sparked an interest that would never stop tugging at my views of social acceptance. What must it have been like to endure such a process? These processes almost always signified a passing into adulthood and a status in the tribe's society. I knew one day, I must have one. I set out on my search for who would punch my septum.
At A Glance Author Code Zero Contact Code Zero@bme.anon IAM Code Zero When It just happened Artist Marty McPherson -IAM MWM416 Studio Miller Cotton's Location Worcester, Ma The 28th of February my dreams started to play into reality. Marty McPherson mwm416 responded to one of many IM's I sent out. BME and IAM provided me with the tools I needed to first officially decide that a 0ga punch is what I wanted and where to find the individuals to do the procedure. On the 17th of March I visited Marty to get my 6ga lobes and to talk more about my punching. We decided on jewelry and an approximate placement. Now I had to sit and wait for everything to be shipped. The wait was a long one. Each day I would look at my face and envision what the new adornment would look like, how would it effect my life, my job search, my social standing with my peers as well as with myself. How would I feel once it was over? Ever day these questions ricocheted through my thoughts.
April 18th came with a very big surprise for me. I got an IM from Marty, my jewelry was in. We set a date for the 21st. Now I had the weekend to savor the anxiousness that comes with almost anything you've waited almost your whole life for. Like a kid going to Disneyland, I was giddy beyond belief. I would view the jewelry and imagine it going into my nose. What I thought it would feel like was very far from reality.
April 21st came and it was a beautiful day. I was worried because the weather was supposed to be bad, but I was given a gorgeous day. Today was going to involve not only my 0ga punch, but my wife was getting 14ga lobes and a 14ga custom spiraled industrial and my brother in law was getting a 14ga labret. A fun day of needle holes and blood stretched out before us. I was amazingly anxious and my brother in law being late did not help matters. Even though we didn't hit the road till about 30minutes after I wanted to, we arrived at Miller Cotton's with a few minutes to spare. We greeted the shop owner and Marty and sat down to fill out our release forms. I had decided to go first and get it over with. Marty informed us that we still had about 30 minutes before the equipment would be done sterilizing. I sat down and tried my best to calm myself. I popped a few glucose tablets. I take these everywhere, I don't risk anything.
Marty called me back. My little entourage followed me back, camera in hand. I sat down and Marty started to figure out placement and procedure. He confessed that he has never done a 0ga septum punch before. Having seen his work, I had 100% confidence in his abilities even if he has never done this one procedure before. He tried a few dry runs to see how things would fit, where he would need to hold what, and if there was an easier way. I've read at least 50 different experiences on septum punches so I gave him what inputs I could and we talked about everything. Marty found a method he was comfortable with and I started my breathing. I popped a few glucose tabs and I heard the famous "hard slow breath out" queue and I knew what was next. At least I thought I knew what was next. I felt the punch pass through the 1st layer of skin, this didn't really hurt. Next I felt the punch make its way into the cartilage, at this point I still didn't feel what I could describe a s pain, it was an immense pressure and I fell inward. I guess it was like reverse out of body experience, I wasn't floating, I was inside myself I could almost see what was happening inside my nose. The punch passed through a thicker part of the cartilage at the center and before I could even detect where the blade was it was buried in the cork. The feeling then was like I had my nose broken, which I have had before and it felt almost exactly the same, the only difference with this is that I felt as if my nose was stuck. Marty removed the cork, swabbed up some blood. I then popped yet another glucose tab. I could feel that I blood sugar and blood pressure was very low. My heart was pounding hard. After a few moments Marty inserted the jewelry while pulling out the punch. This is when the "stuck" feeling went away. The pain was almost all gone. Left was a dull throb and a little heat. I popped yet another glucose tab and drank like 6 glasses of cold water and som e soda. I was sweating and shaky but I wasn't going to pass out or hu rl. I sat there for what felt like 40 minute, but it was only like 10 – 15. Within 30 minutes I was almost 100% again. About a hour later I no longer had any pain at all, only a constant feeling of needing to pick a booger.
Of course we discussed aftercare and everything. Marty was surprised at how well I took it. Everyone was really. Marty expressed that he could not have done it with out yelling something. The people watching said that they were getting sick just watching. Marty reset for the next set of piercings, but that is a difference experience. Today, the day after I got my 0ga punch, I don't feel any pain. I have blood crusties but those will subside. After years of dreaming, I finally have made a dream come true. I have 0 regrets and I would suggest anyone who is too scared to get this done to just realize that the pain is only momentary. A few seconds of pain for a lifetime of enjoyment, I'll make that trade any day.
Thanks for reading and thanks to Marty – MWM416 for being the professional he is.