I have had my nostril pierced previously, at a 12g, when I was 18 years old and I currently (at the ripe old age of 26) have a labret and both my nipples and various tattoos - but the urge to pierce my septum was driving me crazy. I would decide to get it done, then get busy and forget or have conflicting plans ... it was always something. I kept hearing horror stories from other people about the terrible pain and the bleeding, or about how it would make me look "butch". Since I will be looking for a new job soon I thought it would be better than a nostril piercing because it is so easy to hide when needed and my labret is old enough I can take it out for periods of time without problems with it growing back.
At A Glance Author Halemarry Contact halemarry@aol.com When It just happened Artist Beau Cousins Studio Black Dragon Location Fayetteville, Arkansas I wanted it done very badly though, and since my boyfriend is a liscenced piercer in my area I had no excuses not to - except my squeamishness. I had a very bad experience with my nostril when I was younger and ended up passing out during that whole ordeal, so I was not eager to push my luck again. I kept seeing lovely girls with labret and septum in the magazines around the shop though, and the temptation became unbearable when I realized how good a face looks with both a labret and a septum right in the center, when it's all well balanced. I finally broke down and went into the shop last night about an hour before close. I had dabbed a little EMLA we had lying around the house on it just in case, even though I had never numbed any of my other piercings OR experienced real pain with any of them. My labret had felt slightly strange and my nipples were a vague pinching pressure feeling, nothing bad at all. I still can't decide why my septum seemed to be the hardest one to have done!
When I arrived I was directed into the piercing room as is standard, I even had to sign a release and have my ID photocopied like everyone else - just because you are on intimate terms with your piercer does NOT mean they shouldn't treat you with the same professionalism and cleanliness as any other customer! - and I Beau placed his pinkies in my nostrils to find the "sweet spot" when my nose is thinner inside, and they can pierce through skin instead of cartilage. It feels very strange and makes you want to sneeze. It might seem odd to have a stranger do this, but I wasn't any more excited about having my live-in boyfriend do it either, I assure you! I was then marked and had clamps attached to my septum. The clamps really are quite possibly the most annoying part of the whole procedure, but they have a tube inside to assure the piercer has a straight guide to follow even if he can't see into your nose as he slides the needle through. Resist the urge to make "stretchy" faces as the piercer attaches the clamps. I kept trying to "help" by giving him easier access to my nose, but in reality I was making odd faces and making his job harder!
After the clamps I was asked to inhale and then "pop", I heard a little noise and the needle was in my nose. The clamps were carefully removed and the jewelry slid into place smoothly with no snagging or pulling at all. Beau tightened the balls on the end of the horseshoe I had selected and then asked if I was "OK". I assured him I had had very little discomfort and that as soon as he was ready for me to get down off the bench that I could. I then left the room and drank some soda and sat and chatted with the staff for a while to make sure I felt fine while Beau clean the room and disposed of the hazardous needles and all the waste properly. Then I went to see a great band called The Body and had a few beers.
I barely bled at all (in fact I didn't see any blood at all, although I was told there had been a drop or two) and the whole procedure took less than 5 minutes. I have had no swelling that I can tell, and not a bit of pain this morning or last night while I was sleeping (and I am a rough sleeper, I wake up on my face most mornings). I can swing it freely already, although I haven't tried to tuck it up and hide it yet!
It was a very satisfying experience and I plan to stretch it out later to at least a 10.