Well, ever since finding BME to learn how to properly take care of my new ear cartilage piercings, learning about body art and learning to understand my longstanding fascination with it, I've definitely felt 'the itch.' That itchy impatience for the next modification. This desire had become a lot more acute after I was forced to retire my nipple piercings while traveling because they hated the foreign water so much. I knew I was ready for my next addition, but I was concerned about my appearance because I graduate college and hit the job force in the next few months. After much reading and deliberation, and that ever-mod-friendly influx of holiday cash, I decided to get my septum pierced.
At A Glance Author Telmah Contact Telmah@bme.anon When N/A Artist Najwa Studio Black Hole Body Piercing Location Portland, OR All of my modifications have been undertaken as a solitary adventure, individual rites of passage not mediated by a hand-holder. My septum piercing was no exception, so I showed up alone to Black Hole Body Piercing on NE Glisan in Portland, OR. I revealed that my intention that day was to have my septum pierced, and that I wanted a straight barbell as jewelry. I thought (and still think) that being able to see the balls from one direction only (up my nose) would look really cool. The counter guy at Black Hole, who has never been particularly friendly with me, resisted this idea, and he and Najwa, the piercer on duty, argued that piercing with that jewelry originally would make it impossible to tell whether the piercing had been performed straight.
Not that it ended up mattering, because after I agreed to a 12g septum retainer, signed the forms, was shown upstairs to the very clean piercing chamber, and we sealed the deal with some technicare, a few breaths and the needle, it was not straight.
I had been concerned when Najwa declined to make any markings for the piercing. I'd seen pictures on BME of lines drawn across the outside septum skin as guides, and that seems like a pretty good aide to me. Anyway she preferred to just freehand it after feeling around for the shape of my 'sweet spot,' and sure enough the piercing came out high and back on the exit-side hole.
The piercing itself was nearly nothing. The first prick of the needle stung, but on a deep exhale the piercing felt like barely more than a sneeze. My eyes watered like a sneezy feeling from all the nose contact so one single tear ran down my cheek. The retainer was in before I knew it, and aside from the strange feeling of metal in my nose I felt no real pain at all. I decided to settle for the slightly crooked piercing because (a) I desperately wanted to believe Najwa's bullshit that twisting it straight while cleaning it would get it to heal straight, (b) I had no plans of wearing visible jewelry right away and enjoy the routine and project of healing piercings, and (c) I hoped and still do that by the time I have stretched it big enough the slight crookedness will be irrelevant against the large dimensions of the jewelry.
Healing my septum piercing was as easy as getting it. I used warm salt water soaks which felt lovely and removed crusties and boogers with a Q-tip. The first two cleanings revealed a tiny bit of dried blood, but after that it was nothing but your typical light greenish whitish. The most frustrating part was not being able to distinguish between crusties and boogers. I also really enjoyed the sensation and cleaning power of blowing nose bubbles of hot water from my cupped hands in the shower.
My septum healed so well that I was able to stretch it soon. I had intended to wait at least 2 months after the piercing to stretch it, but after my retainer fell out after some too vigorous nose bubble blowing, I realized I could insert my own jewelry... and it was not very long until I tried my 10 gauge taper, which slid through with lubrication without resistance. I have been wearing a 10-, and then an 8 gauge quartz plug as a retainer, which I find much more comfortable than having the 'legs' of the retainer up my nose. After stretching two sizes in under two months (unadvisable, but it hasn't caused me any problems), I am waiting a good long time for my septum to settle before the next (bigger) stretch and while my finances recover from the incredible tattoo I am planning!
If you are reading this because you're thinking about having your septum pierced, I encourage you to go for it! I have found it to be a relatively painless piercing to have to to stretch, plus it has been very easy to care for. I recommend checking that the piercer's portfolio has some nice straight septum piercings in it, I didn't do that because I was so anxious to get pierced that I didn't bother with the delay. Still I have no regrets for my piercing and I can't wait to wear a nice big organic piece in it.