Ive been at the Off Ya Tree stores for over 3 years and as a piercer, sometimes I tire of the standard navel, nostril and nipple piercings that flow through our doors (No complaints though, they taught me my profession). I use my piercing as a creative outlet, as do many other piercers, and was feeling a little jaded with the lack of demand for something exciting to perform. So I decided to stretch my septum ... I have a stretching obsession some might say. Ive stretched most of my piercings after tiring of them being the same as most other peoples..
At A Glance Author Bianca Contact kingbianca@hotmail.com When N/A Artist Myself Studio Off Ya Tree Highpoint and City Location Melbourne, Australia I have one set of 12mm stretched ear lobes, another set of 8ga holes in my ears, a 10ga labret (which was self performed), a 4ga tongue, a 6ga hood piercing, 2 12ga nipple piercings and my septum. I have recently taken out a few other piercings including cheek piercings, low-brets, nipples (again) and 2 10ga lip piercings.
My septum was pierced by a fellow staff member and about 3mths after the piercing, I decided to stretch up to a 10ga. I did this myself, in my studio at work with professional tapers and no numbing was used whatsoever. From then onwards, all I wanted was to be able to put a small flesh tunnel through my nose. So I continued stretching at intervals of about 8 weeks until I reached 8mm.
I always performed the stretching alone and in a perfectly sterile studio with tapers.. What an experience. The stretching of such an area made me continually sneeze while the taper was in my nose, making it difficult to concentrate. My eyes obviously watered constantly and I am prepared to admit that once I reached 6mm, stretching up again was agony. I remained at 8mm for about 6mths, too scared of the pain to go any further. Eventually, stretching any larger was forgotten about and I concentrated on stretching other body parts. (On both myself and clients)
But on one fateful evening after work I was again compelled to try just one last stretch. And I managed to reach 10mm. In agony. And in tears!
I layed out all the tools necessary and prepared myself mentally for what I was about to inflict on my body. This last stretch took the longest of all my previous stretchings, hood included, and was by far the most painful thing I have ever experienced in my WHOLE LIFE! There was a small amount of blood which scared me to no end (as there had never been blood before) and I felt so light headed after the procedure. Getting the 10mm flesh tunnel in my septum after the taper was through was the worst part of the whole experience (from piercing to now).
It was not threaded but still caused me numerous hassles. And I think the fact that my hands were shaking may have had something to do with it also.
I now wear a 10mm flesh tunnel through my septum and have had it at this size for about 8mths now. It certainly gets a lot of attention from customers and clients who come in for standard piercings!
I do find when I knock my nose or touch it roughly, my eyes water immediately. I have warned all my friends to be careful when play fighting with me as it is so sensitive still. Occassionally when I wake up in the morning it may have bleed a little, but I think this is to do with the fact that Im a violent sleeper and often wake up with scratches all over me.
Most people who have had some experience with piercings and stretched piercings ask me if it smells bad, like all other piercings do. It does.. But Im used to it now I suppose, which sounds horrible. I clean it every morning in the shower and every evening after work. It can get annoying sometimes and taking it out feels amazing but Im leaving it in there until I cant live with it anymore.
Having my septum stretched has changed the shape of my nose quite a bit which is pretty interesting. Quite a few people comment on how visible the tunnel is - the lower part of my nose has been pulled down slightly past my nostrils so when I stand side on you can see straight through it. Im fascinated by this but obviously cant see exactly what everyone else is seeing when they look at me. I havent been able to take a good photo of it yet either which is frustrating.
Im waiting patiently for a client who wants me to perform such an exciting and painful procedure on them.. so if anyone in Melbourne wants to experience for them selves what Ive just described, please contact me!