Over the last four years or so, my journey with body modification has been a very interesting one. It's also one which if you'd told me 5 years ago where I'd be now, I wouldn't believe you in a month of Sundays!
At A Glance Author ChiliFreak Contact ChiliFreak@bme.anon IAM ChiliFreak When A week ago Artist Gizzi Studio Cold Steel Location Camden, London I already had my labret pierced (my first venture into non-ear piercings) and since then have had varying parts of my body pierced. My septum however was something I wanted, but wasn't sure would suit me. To be honest, I don't think this was my opinion, but one forced upon me by society, as it's seen as a very "out there" piercing, and very in your face – or in mine, as the case may be!
Since leaving university and moving back to Jersey in the Channel Islands, I've constantly got the hankering for visits back to the mainland. Now I've been on IAM and BME for a few months, and gotten to know a lot of people, the thought of a BBQ & IAM meet in London sounded like the ideal excuse to spread my legs to England again, and also to meet some of the wonderful people I've met online! We also planned to have a mass invasion of Cold Steel in Camden on the Sunday of that weekend, and all get pierced, which seemed like a great idea to me.
I'd been thinking for the month beforehand about the possibility of a septum piercing – I've wanted one for a long time, and after the usual testings of putting a BCR without the ball in up my nose (and trying NOT to lose it up there) I decided "what the hell" and committed myself to getting it done while in London.
In my line of work I can't wear my piercings (although my tongue barbell and tragus piercings stay in) I realized I'd need a retainer for my septum which was easily doable.
So, the day of the piercing came, and I'd had a fantastic weekend. We were all geared up (about 10 of us stayed on the Sunday to go to Cold Steel) and all ready to be pierced. I'd never been there before, but am a moderator on the Cold Steel forums, so knew from many people that they had an excellent reputation, so I was perfectly happy about them performing the piercing on me.
After filling out the forms, chatting to the exceptionally friendly guy on reception (Coz) and feeling the butterflies starting to go in my stomach, Gizzi came down to fetch me for my piercing. Gizzi is a lovely woman, and puts anyone instantly at ease. I felt so at home there, it was quite unbelievable!
Upstairs we went to her piercing room (each practitioner has their own room there) and sat down for a little chat first about it all. A friend came with me to take photos (they're uploaded, so should be under the septum section in BME) which I think made me feel quite at ease too.
After explaining where I'd be lying down, and with my head over the back of the table (nose pointing skyward!) Gizzi began to clean my nose (yummy!) with alcohol wipes and sterilizing agents. These did their thing in 30 seconds, and also cleared out my sinuses which was an extra bonus! She had a good feel around in my nose, changing her gloves frequently, and found my sweet spot, proclaiming "this is going to be SO easy, you have a wonderful sweet spot" which made me feel a lot better, as I was apprehensive about the thickness.
For those of you who don't know, the sweet spot is where you want to be pierced for your septum. Feel the middle of your nose, and find the hard cartilage up the middle, and go down – that gap between the hard bit, and the bottom skin on your nose (you can wiggle it side to side etc) is yours sweet spot... Makes for swift piercing, and all good piercers should find it, if you're told you haven't got one, seek a second opinion!
No clamps required on this, just a receiving tube on one side of my nose, and Gizzi using the other end of a large cotton wool bud for placement checking, and then the needle came... Now, I've only ever been pierced with cannula needles before. These leave a plastic tube through the piercing where the jewellery is then passed through. The "blades" which are used at Cold Steel (and almost everywhere in the USA) are a metal tube, which is hollow, and the needle tip on one end. I have to say I was apprehensive about this, but I was pleasantly surprised!
She held the needle by the side of my nose, and told me to take a nice deep breath. As per usual with piercings, it's on the exhale that you pierce. To be honest with you, I felt nothing except a pleasant sliding sensation going through my septum! No pinching, no sharpness, no "little prick" as they say, nothing! Utterly painless!
Gizzi corked the needle (that made a great picture!) and got the retainer. This went in with a little pushing, as it's a horseshoe shaped piece of metal, and has to go around to get in. This wasn't painful either, just slightly uncomfortable.
So, there I was, sat there with a lovely new septum piercing! Gizzi turned it up into my nose, and asked me if I wanted to go sit down on the couch for a few minutes. This is did, beaming from ear to ear! I was so happy! I'd been so scared of the piercing for such a long time – everyone says it really hurts etc etc.. To be honest, as you read, there was no pain for me at all. I honestly think the only people who had it bad either had incredibly think septums (although mine's thick I'm told) or they were pierced through the hard cartilage.
We went downstairs, and Gizzi gave me some excellent aftercare advice. Apart from your regular cleaning with cotton buds and aftercare solution (or saline if you prefer) you can also make up a little mug of saline, and blow bubbles through your nose in it. Works a treat!
This was done last Sunday, and it's Friday today. Since Sunday, it's been a little sore, and as usual, you never really notice that there's swelling until it goes down. Be careful not to knock the underside of your nose, as that's quite sore! It's been no problems whatsoever, and Gizzi was right, blades are a lot more comfortable for piercings than cannula needles! I'm getting a slight amount of crust, but nothing to worry about. I can't wait to go on holiday next month, and hopefully it'll be healed enough to change the jewellery to something you can see!
I'd recommend to anyone that they go to Cold Steel – I am very particular about who pierces me, and from what I've seen, heard and experienced, Cold Steel is THE place to go in London. Gizzi was absolutely wonderful, and I'd let her near me any day with sharp implements! I'd also recommend that if you're thinking about a septum piercing, then go for it. At the end of the day, it's a piercing, and can be taken out, and also a retainer means that you don't have to wear it 24/7 if the occasion doesn't call for it.
Anyway, thanks for reading, and I hope this has been informative for you! Enjoy your body mods, future or present!
Be safe, and be yourself!