I've been interested in body modifications for quite a while now. After not being able to actually do any modifications for a while, I I started to consider a septum piercing. Now, the first time I saw a septum piercing was when I was about 12 years old. To be perfectly honest, I wasn't too attracted to them. But when I recently started looking at pictures on BME, I had a change of heart. They began to catch my attention more and more. So after a couple of days of debating, I decided to go ahead and do it.
At A Glance Author Alex Contact astephens1989@yahoo.com When A week ago Artist Autumn Studio Warlocks Location Raleigh, North Carolina My main concerns were about work and my parents. My parents allowed me to get my tattoos and my frenulum piercing with little argument, but I knew they weren't going to be so understanding about this piercing. Work was an even bigger concern. Facial Jewelery is not allowed and is grounds for immediate termination. But since I could get it pierced with the retainer I wasn't too worried about my parents or my job.
The day after I decided to have it pierced was when I went down to Warlocks and spoke with Autumn, who did my frenulum about a month ago. Autumn is a very talented piercer and did a great job with my last piercing. I completely trusted her to do my piercing. When I got there I started asking her questions about the initial piercing and the aftercare. She was very knowledgeable and answered all of my questions.
So, I filled out the paperwork after about 20 minutes of talking with Autumn and went back to piercing room. I decided not to go with a retainer but rather a 12ga CBB. Autumn put everything in the autoclave for about 5 minutes and went to help another customer pick out some jewelery for a piercing while it was cleaning. When she was finished and the tools were cleaned we were on our way.
I laid back in huge chair and prepared for the piercing. Before we got started she told me "it's going to feel like someone hit you in the face with a brick for a few seconds". That didn't make me feel too good but nonetheless we started with the piercing. She took a receiving tube and and the dull end of the needle to find my "sweet spot". When she found it she told me to take a deep breath in and then out. Then she told me to do it again and this time she'd pierce. IN...And OUT. As I breathed out I felt the needle slide through my septum (No, she did not use a septum clamp, she did freehand and i'm extremely pleased with the placement, it's perfectly symmetrical). My eyes immediately watered but the pain was not nearly as bad as I had expected. She then slid the jewelery in and it was all done.
That night it was really tender and sore. Cleaning it for the first time was not a very pleasurable experience. I gently applied an antimicrobial soap while I showered and twisted the ring back and forth 5-6 times, which hurt like a bitch. I hit it a couple of times in my sleep because I usually sleep on my stomach and had to keep reminding myself to lay on my stomach. The next morning it was still sore but not as much and cleaning it was actually not that bad.
It's been nearly a week now and it feels pretty normal now. Cleaning it has become virtually pain free and my nose has never received so much attention. It's almost like it's been there forever, until someone accidentally bumps me in the face and my eyes water up (which has happened a couple of times, and is really embarrassing). Other than that, I love my new piercing and the reactions I get from my friends and complete strangers. It seems that everywhere I go everyone takes a double take. I like the attention though. The piercing has also heightened my sense of smell, which has been a little problematic. I work in a coffee shop and before I didn't mind the smell of coffee. But now every time I work I end up getting a serious headache. Autumn told me that when she had her septum pierced (which was a while ago as hers is now at a 2ga) she worked in a coffee shop as well and that the headaches would stop in a few weeks. I plan on stretching it from a 12ga to a 10ga in about 3 months and then to an 8ga. I don't plan on keeping a CBB in for too long, I want to put in flesh tunnels the first time I stretch it. Anyone considering a facial piercing should definitely look into septum piercings. They're not too painful and it's the only facial piercing that can be completely hidden.