My First Facial Piercing - Nostril
With in one week I had lost five piercings – my first needled one, a fourteen gauge industrial, and four lobes: two six gauges and two eight gauges. So what better way to start feeling better than to get some new, unplanned metal? Even better, new unplanned metal paid for by your mother? It sounded good to me.
After losing some of my favorite piercings, this was my situation. Before the disasters, as I refer to them, I had been considering a few random ear piercings. A rook, or a conch, or something similar but not overly special. I had discussed it with my mother and she agreed to pay for whichever I decided on. But thinking about it, I wasn't sure if one little conch or one little rook would really help me get over my loss.
Then it hit me – a perfect opportunity for my first facial piercing! I immediately went over my options. My piercer doesn't perform oral piercings on those under sixteen years of age, so forget a vertical labret or medusa, some of my favorites. I had not quite convinced my mother of septum yet, and I felt it might be a bad idea to spring it on her this soon. Eyebrow, I was not so sure if I could convince her of that either on such short notice. However, I did recall her saying one time that she thought nostril piercings were cute.
It would have to work. I started planning. Nostril piercings are fairly common, so I immediately was trying to think of ways to make mine a little different. After some research I found most nostril piercings were commonly done at an eighteen gauge or a twenty gauge. I would have mine pierced at a sixteen gauge. Nose screws – the little studs – were also very common, so I decided on having a captive bead ring. My mother cringed at the idea, but finally relented. (Gotta love my mom!)
I had a slight cold at this time, so we decided to wait another day before going into the piercer – not to mention I still needed to get my State ID so that I could actually get pierced. The next day we went in early to the DMV, got my photo ID, and headed to the piercer. Just my luck, the man behind the desk informed us that the senior piercer was out of town for the week and the other piercer was having surgery. Crestfallen, we left, my mom promising that we'd come back the next day.
The next morning I was feeling much better, although slightly anxious. I had my mother call in first to make sure the piercer was there – which he was – ate some food, and off we went. When we finally arrived and found a parking spot, I was much more nervous than I expected. It had not quite hit me until then that this really was my first facial piercing, and suddenly I was worried. None the less, in we went. I had a few minutes to collect myself while the piercer finished with another client. Once he was done we filled out paperwork and told him what I wanted, what size, and what jewelry.
Into the piercing room we went. My mother and sister sat down to watch while I climbed onto the table (is that a table? You know what I mean.) and the piercer finished setting up. I told him what side I wanted it on and he proceeded to clean out my nose with iodine. Quite honestly, it did not smell bad as I had been told to expect. After the area was cleaned, he asked a few questions about placement – did I want it farther back or forward? I told him back farther. He said since the tissue was thicker there it might hurt a bit more, but I told him to go ahead. He made a few markings and handed me the mirror. I immediately agreed. He opened the ring we would be using and slid it on to make sure it would work, which it did.
Once this was done he showed me everything he'd be using – the needle, receiving tube, etc. He explained that because there are tear ducts in your nose one or both eyes might water, and gave me a small tissue to use in case this happened. With my tissue in hand, he told me to close my eyes since he'd be close into my face and it would most likely make the experience more uncomfortable for me. Eyes closed, he had me focus on my breathing.
I felt the receiving tube stuck up my nose and then the poke of the needle on my skin. Breathe in, breathe out, and in went the needle. The pain was not excruciating, but not unnoticeable either. I felt him move away and he said I could go ahead and wipe my eyes if I needed, which I did. Just my right eye (side of my nose that was being pierced, as well) watered. Next he proceeded to put in the jewelry. I'm not sure of the order of things, but I do recall a lot of tugging at my nose which I find slightly painful. I wiped my eyes again, then he put the bead in my ring and I hopped off the table to take a look in the mirror.
Perfect! I loved it, and now that he wasn't tugging at it I could barely even feel it. He went over aftercare, gave some advice, then we paid up and left. Outside I still couldn't feel it. We drove to Walmart and by that point it was starting to feel a little warm.
Over the first few days my nose was a little sore but my nose was not red, swollen, no was there any blood. Nearing a month later, it's steal healing but doing so nicely. I had an issue with a case of the bump, but it's all cleared up now. I absolutely love my nose ring! In a few weeks I'm going back to the piercer to get my belly button pierced and have the ring changed to a stud in time for a family reunion (you know how grandparents are) and job finding time (yep, you know how employers are.) Either way, I love it very much and I'm so glad I have it.
Disclaimer: The experience above was submitted by a BME reader and has not
been edited. We can not guarantee that the experience is accurate, truthful,
or contains valid or even safe advice. We strongly urge you to use BME and
other resources to educate yourself so you can make safe informed decisions.
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