I had my right nostril pierced a couple of years ago, and I won't bore you with the details of why it came out... next thing I knew, it'd been about 2 years and I simply HAD to have it done again!
At A Glance Author PaintedGemini Contact PaintedGemini@bme.anon When N/A Artist Shon Studio Blue Lotus Location San Rafael, CA I tried it myself first, at home - I had re-pierced one of my nipples on my own and thought I'd give the nostril a try. No such luck! I could get jewelry and needles through the front, but I couldn't get through the scar tissue inside to save my life. After a couple of attempts with a sterile needle, and given that I'm not a piercer by trade, I realized I was gonna need some help with this one.
Two days ago, I called The Blue Lotus shop in San Rafael and was told to come on it whenever, no appointment necessary (oh how I love that!). As it so happens, the shop is located in the same place where I got my first 3 tattoos (Area 51) and navel piercing some 10 years ago. Come to think of it, that's probably how I ended up going to them... anyway... I grabbed my friend and brought him along for company, and off we went.
I got to the shop and chatted with the tattoo artist for a while as I had to wait for Shon to finish up with another customer. The giddiness was setting in quite nicely (yay adrenaline & endorphins!!) and I felt like a total dork, but I couldn't get myself to shut up. No matter how used to getting ink or metal I am, I always get nervous and chatty just beforehand. I tried looking through some tattoo pictures, but that just made me want more ink really really bad, and I have to wait on that.
Finally after what seemed like forever and a day it was my turn. I brought in my old silver screw, and after just a glance at it, he told me it had been bent wrong. This would explain why I was always VERY aware of the post inside my nose, not to mention why the tip used to show just a little. He said he could try and reshape it for me if I really wanted to use the same jewelry, but as soon as I saw the little clear cz stud in the case, I told him to forget the old one, I wanted the sparkles - not to mention the stone is smaller than the steel ball I had before, and therefore somewhat more subtle (wonder what the boss will say when I go back to work... hmm).
Shon told me he was really good at massaging an old piercing open again, and we decided to try that before breaking out the needle. It's more gentle and reduces the whole healing process. Fine by me!He cleaned my nose and used the old scar as a mark, then had me lay down on a table while he started lightly probing the hole with a taper. There wasn't any pain, really, just some minor discomfort that made my breathing a little ragged and I could feel myself arching off the table just the slightest bit the harder he pushed - much to the enjoyment of my friend sitting next to me, who later told me I was making some more than interesting noises at the same time. Well... I WAS thoroughly enjoying myself, laying there with some good looking stranger pushing foreign objects through me.
I could feel Shon trying to get the taper through the scar tissue, pushing steadily, twisting the taper ever so slightly - and nothing. Every time it seemed like it was just about to come through, we'd have to stop. Less than a minute later, we'd try again. And again. And then again. I think we tried this method for about 10 minutes or so - and still barely any pain to speak of.
Shon told me we'd have to go through with a needle instead, which was just fine with me! He had me go wait outside while he ran the autoclave, at which point I was really wishing I hadn't quit smoking last month... all that waiting and getting so close and then having to stop and wait for 20 minutes. Oy. Shon has a magnificently gentle touch and personality, and is obviously an expert in anticipatory torture.
At last, it was time for me to lay on the table again and focus on my breathing (after receiving procedure and after-care info). Slow deep breaths in through the nose, out through the mouth a few times, something against my septum to block the needle, and before the needle touched me, I found myself cracking up. I have no idea what I thought was funny, but whatever it was, damn I was laughing hard! I got myself under control with a few good breaths, closed my eyes and clasped my hands over my belly, and then I could feel the needle pushing it's way through my nostril. I took one more deep breath in, and as I let it out slowly, a little increase of pressure and OH! release! A looong breath out, then Shon pulled his hands away to get the jewelry (custom bent, I might add) and I could feel the needle going across my face and wished like hell I'd told my friend to bring a camera.
I just kept on breathing as he put the jewelry in, and in no time at all, I was done. The piercing was so much more gentle and easy than the first time I had it done; maybe it was the probing massage earlier, or maybe it's just because Shon is that good. Either way, I'm absolutely thrilled with my little piercing!
It's been a couple of days, and there hasn't been any blood, crusties are barely there, and no swelling :)
And true to form, I'm ready for more!