At A Glance Author Skip Contact Skip@bme.anon IAM Skip3s When It just happened Artist Molly Studio Warrior Location Levittown, Bucks County, Pa The beginning of this piercing, like many others, occurred on a whim after seeing several septum piercings, in photos and up close. I knew I wanted one, but was not completely sure if of actually going and getting it pierced. I thoroughly discussed it with my girlfriend Diane, whom I always consult before getting something since I consider her someone who helps to keep me balanced. Her first reaction (as has been to most of my suggestions and ideas) was no of course. This was basically the ending point in outward discussion and I let it settle in the back of my mind.
Lets fast-forward about 6 months later to Friday March 10, 2005. The idea has recently resurfaced, and I again brought it up with Diane, whom at first shot it down, but after showing her that it could be hidden, that it wouldn't always be visible, and showing her exactly what it is (she isn't too knowledgeable on piercings), she agreed that it was an ok idea. After looking through the Septum section here on BME I completely decided on getting the piercing done the next day, Friday the 11th.
Let's skip forward some more, to today (well technically yesterday as it is 12:04am EST right now). After a long day of class, and being excited the whole day knowing I was going to get a new piercing, I came home and took a nap to catch up on some lost sleep. After waking I researched the shop a bit more that I had wanted to go to. Warrior, one of the oldest shops in Philadelphia, has a shop in my area, and after researching some background info and looking through their gallery, decided this was the one I wanted to try.
I have been too two different piercers. The first at Bristol Tattoo, the local tattoo shop, which is very sanitary, and also very helpful, but I was not completely satisfied since he would only pierce my septum at 14ga. The other is my friend Brian, who was apprenticed at Mouse and Poncho's in MD, near White Marsh. I also enjoyed his work, he was extremely sanitary, and is very knowledgeable. However, because piercing is a side job for him, he is not always available. So trying out Warrior was a great experience.
After getting ready, making sure my nose was clear, I had everything I needed (Debit card and license) I went on my way to the shop. Getting there, I was greeted very kindly by the three lady's who were working there. I mentioned I had called earlier, and introduced to Molly who set me up to have everything done. Going back to the piercing area, I sat down a bit nervous. Molly prepared by washing up, preparing the instruments, and gloving up. She adjusted the headrest to angle my head back in the correct position, and cleaned my septum with saline solution, and also calmed me down with some small talk. She then explored a bit to find the correct place to pierce at. After moving the clamps around a bit to find the "non-crunchy" area, she prepared for the actual piercing.
Doing as I was told, I closed my eyes, and started to take some deep breathes, she lined up the needle, which she had previously prepared, and began to count, "1....2..." as usual, 3 never came and she pushed the needle through straight and true. "3". Now, I thought I had a pretty good threshold for pain, and I have always been pierced with a 14ga, or a 16 ga. The 12ga needle used on my septum cause a much greater amount of pain than I had expected. Involuntarily, I let out with a yell of "WOOOOAAA...THERE IT IS.... MOTHER FUCKER... WOOOOOOO". Being asked if I was ok, I realized my eyes were tearing up. I was sort of embarrassed, especially since the other two ladies were outside of the area in the front of warrior, and I knew they were joking about it (which was later confirmed my brother who was also upfront, but assured me it was just some ribbing).
After the needle had been put through and the clamps removed, Molly got the retainer, and pushed it through carefully. She then carefully put on the O rings to keep it in place, and was extremely careful not to push, pull, or pivot the jewelry too much as to cause the clotting to delay, and to keep the pain down a bit. She cleaned up the blood and cleaned the area with a couple squirts of saline solution and made sure everything looked ok. Afterwards, she changed gloves, and offered to change the new tongue bars for my venoms for free. I gratefully accepted, she put on a fresh pair of gloves, and changed the jewelry without a problem.
Looking in the mirror, I loved the look of it at first sight, I had made a very good decision not only to get my septum piercing, but also to go to Warrior to have it pierced. They provided very detailed information on the aftercare, gave me a copy of the instructions, and also provided me with a free bar of ivory soap to clean the piercing with. Overall it was a great experience, and they will definitely be seeing return business for future piercings when I am not able to make it down to Maryland. Also, in the future, I will definitely not make assumptions about the pain.