At A Glance Author liddles Contact liddles@bme.anon When A week ago Artist its a bit taboo Studio la la land Location now closed It all really started on August 9th '02...I was working late as I usually do on a Friday and wishing to get out of work early to get to a Bme meet at Rawhide piercing and tattoos in Fitzroy, Vic, (Australia). Doxgukka, a few friends and I were on our way to our first Bme meet. While there we met a lot of really great people, such as Aaron. Aaron has a 0g septum and I was fascinated, in awe.
A week later I was talking to Dox about it, "I think I want to get my septum pierced similar to Aaron's not as big though..." So I started my research (with the help of Bme of course).
Around October, Nina was telling me about a Dermal punch she performed on Max another iamer who had his septum dermal punched at a 0g. After looking at Nina's portfolio for a while I decided I'd do it but at a 6g and if I wanted to I could always stretch it to suit what I wanted. I spoke to Nina about it. Asking her opinion about it all; wether to pierce with a needle or to dermal because of the size I had wanted; If she thought it was too big, too small, and too risky.
After boring her to death with all my questions we finally agreed to dermal punch at an 8g, then stretch it to a 6g, place a glass plug in it and see how we go from there.
In December Dox hosted a Bme bbq which Max attended. We spoke about everything, including his dermal punch, of course.
I went to see Nina and booked my piercing for Jan 24th, after my trip to Brisbane. (Nina recommended not to travel, too soon after any piercing, as it's too complicated to care for.)
Finally the day came. I caught a bus home to Melbourne and arrived at 8:30 am. I fooled around until it was time to head to the studio.
Step 1: get on the train. Step 2: Have a few smokes. Step 3: Catch a tram. Step 4: Have a few more smokes Step 5: Remember to breathe and open the door.
I walked in and started talking to Nina like usual. I mentioned I was a bit nervous. Nina being Nina put me at ease. So I sucked it up and walked out the back. I sat on the table, as Nina got ready.
As usual she was quite organised. As they always should, everything came from those little sterile packets. After putting on gloves Nina started to mark me with her trusty black felt tip. After 5-10 minutes of Nina marking me up and looking up my nose she told me she was ready to go if I was.
It was now or never. Nina asked Caleb (one of the tattooist at Rawhide) if he wanted to watch. He said "Hell yeah." So as I lay down on the table Nina placed the clamp on my septum which was like picking your nose with your big toe... a bit uncomfortable... and a bit tight as I have a pretty small nose. Then I closed my eyes and tried to remember to breathe... ok here goes a part of my nose.
Caleb squeezed my hand as I screwed up my face, preparing for the worst. Nina knows that I don't like to know what's coming, I just let her do her thing and I really don't want to know when she is going to pierce me, basically just do it and get it over with. After a bit of placement with the clamp and a bit of clanging of metal... the dermal went through "CRUNCH" ok, ok fuck blood running down my throat... LOTS of blood, running down my throat.
"Will I feel the taper?" I asked like a shocked animal
"No you should be fine"... taper through.... ok, didn't feel that...
"Now I'm going to put the jewellery in"...
"Ok"
In went the jewellery
"Lie there for a few minutes if you want to" So what do I do... I sit up and open my eyes and tears I didn't even know were there started to stream down my face.
"You took that better than I thought you would," said Nina
Caleb added "Fuck that I'd never do that"
It was done, woo hooooooooo. After about 1/2 an hour I left Nina and Caleb at the studio and headed home.
It has nearly been a week now since my dermal punch and it feels great. The only thing is, it's still a bit crooked from the swelling.
What I have learnt since I have been getting myself mods is, you have to find a piercer you can trust. You have to be sure everything they use is sterile, don't just ask, look. If you're using a new piercer, check that they have marked you evenly it's better to check it for yourself than to regret it later (as I have).
After talking to Nina for a while she told me about her opinion on dermal punching. She told me that it was a complicated procedure and it was a big deal. It's taking out a percentage of a person's body, no matter how small, it's still a percentage. Also it's not like it will be able to be fixed easily so if it's crooked, it's crooked.
Hearing all this from Nina reassured me about having it done by her. (Not that I ever had doubted her.)
I don't know everything but if I would have known what I know now when I first started getting tattoos and piercings, I would have been a lot better off. Bme has helped me in achieving a greater understanding of every aspect of my life, not just body mod, and in talking to other people in a similar situation to me it has made a lot of things clearer. That is why I have written this experience to share it.