Yep, you read it right, I am 53, female. I already had 2 ear, 1 ear cartledge pierced. Also have 2 tattoos. To look at me, you would never think I would, as I am pretty conservative looking, ( and younger than my years! :).
At A Glance Author Isis-1250 Contact Isis-1250@bme.anon When A month ago Artist Shannon Studio Beyond your ears twin sisters Location GA
I had wanted this done for 10 years, but did not because I worked in office settings and such. Now that I don't work anymore I thought it was the perfect time to do it. I had the 2 tattoos 3 yrs. ago, and love them. One is an Ankh on my left ankle and a symbol that I just thought was interesting looking, on my right shoulder. We also ride motorbikes, and are a little more openminded to this kind of stuff, as well. My hubby has two tattoos on each arm.
I also guess you might say I was a bit unusual for my time; when I was in 7th grade, a new girl came to school, and she had pierced ears. I was totally fascinated! No one else anywhere around had pierced ears. I got venturesome, and we gathered up a large sewing needle, and some thread and alcohol and she pierced them for me. My parents didn't say much, thank god. I just kept them clean, and put alcohol on them, and turned the strings around a little several times a day.
Everyone at school were amazed and curious. About 2 years later, the piercing craze hit, and loads of people were doing it. So, I can say my friend and I were piercing pioneers!
My hubby, and two friends and I stopped at a local Tattoo-piercing studio near home to look at flashes, and decided then and there I was going for it! Hubby says "go for it"! My girlfriend decided to do her navel at the same time. I first asked the owner a thousand
questions, and saw the girl who did them, she had several facial piercings, and quite a few tattoos. The room where it was done looked like a Dr's office, very neat and clean. The girl who did it, was very neat and clean, and looked almost conservative herself.
BTW, I have 3 grown sons, only one has seen it so far, and didn't think it was unusual for me! The other 2 live out of town, and they will be surprised when they see me for sure. They are all fairly conservative with no piercings or tattoos, etc. They have learned by this time to not be surprised at anything I do!
My experience was totally not what I thought it might be. I had the usual prep work, swabs inside and out on my nose, gloves, etc., She opened the pack with the needle in it in front of me then grasped my nose with the tong things and asked me to take a deep breath and exhale, and before I could exhale, she did it. It only hurt for about 3 seconds, and my eye only watered for a second. It did not hurt when she put the screw in. It bled only a few drops. I had a screw with a small crystal, 16 gauge.
She was very quick and efficient and I could tell she knew what she was doing and seemed to have a lot of experience with the procedure. I was thrilled with it. My hubby took digital pics during, and it was pretty comical to see them later, with my eyes all squinched!! That will be something to keep!
We hopped back on our bikes and rode to a restaurant to get something to eat, and I couldn't really feel much by then, except some mild stinging-like. By the time we got home a little later, it was all gone.
It was just barely tender for 2 days, and by week 2, I could hardly tell I had had it done. In fact, this was easier than the ear cartledge I had done several years. That's probably due to the fact you don't sleep on your nose and put pressure on it!
Then, a couple of weeks later, I noticed the little set had fallen out, and I didn't like the way it looked, just like a dark spot on my nose, I did not want to look at that for the next couple of months and went back to see her, and she replaced it with a new one, only a purple one this time. It did feel pinchy, and felt sore for a day or two. I kept up the cleaning with Dial soap.
THEN, last week, I got the dreaded "red bump" on one side of the hole. It freaked me out, thinking it was the beginning of an infection. Then I got online and read everything I could about it. Seems it was probably a hypertrophic scar. I hated the thought of having this for several months, maybe longer. I felt sure it happened because I had taken it out and had it replaced it so quickly after piercing. I don't recommend doing that so soon at all, unless you really have to for some reason.
The best course of action for me I felt, was this: use sea salt, hot compresses 2x a day, and some cortisone ointment on it. I also read that I was probably over cleaning it with the soap. The next day it was nearly gone! I think from now on, I will probably just use the sea salt sometimes, with a saline rinse here and there. And probably the ointment if needed again. I was thrilled to say the least. Hopefully this could work for others with this problem.
The only other panicky time happened several days ago when, I accidently pulled it out when I was washing my face. I freaked out and called my hubby in to put it quickly back in for me. He had no problem; it slid right in. I breathed a sigh of relief on that one!
So, far so good. I say, no matter what your age, if you want to do it, do it, just go for it! Just do all the necessary research first, and use a piercer with a good reputation. Ask around if need be, and I highly recommend that. Also, make sure they use needles only! No guns.
BTW, when I read all the stories on here of the ones who did it themselves, I shudder to think of all the consequences that could have happened! I would never have the guts for that. I guess you could chalk that up to youthfulness enthusiasm.
Happy piercing to everyone!
Isis