At A Glance Author ScabBoy Contact thescabboy@yahoo.com IAM ScabBoy When Six months ago Artist Jakk Cook/self done Studio Express Yourself Body Piercing Location Lackawanna,NY
I have always wanted my nostrils pierced. Dating back to when I had my first one done way back in 1991, then piercing the other side myself shortly after. The years went by and due to jobs I removed them, re-pierced them, removed them, and so on.
Just last year I re-pierced them for the 4th time, and then out of boredom I moved them once again. The nostril piercing bug came over me once again about 8 months ago.. but this time after sifting through the BME big nostrils gallery, I decided I wanted my nostrils dermal punched. Then it would be permanent, right? Not exactly (I later found out).
I started off by running this idea by a local piercer (Daniel of Uprize Ink in Fredonia,NY, but then he was at Stylin') who I wanted to do this. He was the only piercer in town who I trusted enough to put big holes in my nose. He was up to doing it and very psyched about it. We went over the details, measured the thickness of my nostrils, and then he put in an oder to Anatometal for some high polish black titanium plugs. The size then was going to be 6g.
After a few weeks, he received the plugs, and let me know he was ready. At that time my life was a bit chaotic, and days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to 2 months... Daniel ended up quitting Stylin' for various good reasons. That kinda bummed me out, because I thought he was moving back to Conneticut. With that idea in my head, I decided to do this myself, and here is the story of how I messed my shit up.
The piercings went perfect, and looked perfect... I just did a couple things I should not have.
The day came to do them. I did them on a Sunday, because my shop is closed, and I needed a little privacy. I chose the jewelry I wanted 2 4g flared tunnels, claved them, and then started my set-up.
-5mm punch
-sterile packet (included gauze, corks,tooth pick, bands, swabs, etc..)
-more gauze
-more swabs
-a 4g taper pin
-gentian violet
-and a set of sponge forceps
After the jewelry was done cooking, I was set to go. I was a bit scared, so I decided to use some Xylocaine I traded some jewelry for to numb, or partially numb my nose. (I would NOT suggest using any kind of anesthetic unless you are qualified to use it. Using it once without any error doesn't make you qualified). I then studied my numbed nose in the mirror carefully marking it until I was very satisfied.
When it came time to get down to business, I got the sponge forceps and taped a tongue depressor onto the bottom loop of the forceps so I had something to secure the skin and stabilize it so I could easily punch onto it. That was set, and I was ready.
I secured the forceps and lined up the punch at the angle I wanted, then pushed, turned, and then puched again. I heard a loud crass crunching noise. Blood then started to pour out like I was just gutted, running down my lips into mt mouth and down my chest. Much to my amusement, I really liked that. I took out the punch, ran the taper through and then slid in the tunnel. Viola.
I repeated the same step on the second nostril, and there was even more blood from this one. I slid in the jewelry, and it was done. I cleaned up my mess, cleaned myself up, disposed of my waste, and scrubbed the area with some Sanicloth HBs. I was done. I was very pleased and excited.
Days later, weeks later, and a month later the punches were doing fine, healing great. I was happy, and itching to stretch them to 2g. You may be wondering how is this disasterous? I am about to get there.
Well, the day came that I decided to stretch them to 2g. I was all ready, got my jewelry ready, and the taper ready, and I was somewhat ready. I knew it was going to hurt like a motherfucker, but it is well worth it. Besides, big piercings rock... I had to do this!
Stretching the first one, the left side to be exact was HORRIBLY painful. I thought I was going to die, but it was over and done. I was very pleased with that side, but I didn't want to endure that pain again. I am not willing to walk around with one side bigger than the other, so I knew I had to endure that pain once more. I wasn't ready for that.
I ended up doing something I wish I never had. I got some Xylocaine out, and filled up a very small bit to at least take the edge off of stretching and injected a drop or two, one drop too much. At that second I kinda felt my heart race, my hands got very clammy, and I felt very short of breath. For all I knew I was having a heart attack. I am aware of the side effects of anesthetic, and I know the potential dangers of it, that didn't help at all. I had myself a major panic attack (my first of MANYMANYMANY). After that subsided I inserted the plug, and cleaned up feeling like shit
Days went by, weeks went by, and everything was good. One night I woke up in the middle of the night feeling the same way I did when I had that panic attack. I freaked out. The only thing that was on my mind was that I really fucked myself up with the anesthetic... When you have these panic attacks the worse case scenario runs through your brain constantly.
After a trip to the ER, one of many, and doctor visits, prescription drugs, and alot more panic attacks, I removed my nostril punches because I was sick of them, and I never used Anesthetic again.
I am not sure if anesthetic was 100% responsible for my panic attacks, but it pretty much fucked my life up. I have frequent panic attacks, and I am no longer able to take in caffeine (which I don't miss much). I had to rely on prescriptions to slow down my heart and to calm my nerves, but I ditched those.
In conclusion. Don't be a pussy. Unless you are getting a subincision,(or something that painful) the pain isn't that great. it's not worth risking shit like this over a second of pain.