The idea of getting my septum pierced had always intrigued me. I remember as a little child seeing a man on a bus with a big septum piercing and being totally amazed, and I guess since then I've always found them really interesting (and attractive, but that's another story!) but I never actually did anything about it, even though I intended to eventually get it done, I wasn't in any rush. But when I found myself with some spare cash and an hour to fill last week while waiting for a train I decided that getting a piercing might be a fun way to kill some time and I headed to the studio.
At A Glance Author anon When A week ago On the way to the piercing place I was more excited about the actual experience of getting my septum pierced rather than how I would look when it was done. Although I always liked the look of septum piercings, I was more intrigued about how if would feel to have a needle pushed through my septum and whether it would hurt much or not. I don't know why but I really wanted to see what it would feel like, I wasn't that bothered about the jewelry or how it would look on me.
Once I filled out the forms I was brought into the back room and I talked to the piercer about jewelry. I opted for a keeper as I'm looking for a job and unfortunately need to look as employable as possible for the moment!
The piercer told me that the piercing would be quite painless and that it was a great piercing to do. The fact that he seemed excited about it made me even more enthusiastic about getting it done. He examined my nose (I was glad I had checked before I went in that there was nothing of the snot variety lurking about!) and then laughed, telling me that it was going to be incredibly easy.
He swabbed my nose with anti septic and gave me a wad of tissues as he said I would need to wipe my eyes while he was piercing. He then prepared his equipment and I lay down on the table. I was told to inhale deeply (and stop laughing because he was taking the piss out of me!) and then as I exhaled he pushed the needle through.
All I felt was a sharp pinch on one side (the same as pinching your arm, nothing drastic) and didn't even feel the needle exit on the other. I could feel the sensation of the needle passing through rather than pain. It was a sliding feeling and kind of weird but was over in about 5 seconds. I then sat up while he inserted the jewelry, which was also painless, but just a bit uncomfortable while he was placing it in.
My eyes barely watered during it and the only pain I experienced was the tiny pinch. I was really surprised (and maybe a little disappointed!!!!) at how painless it was, no more painful than my nostril piercings were -which weren't painful at all.
Immediately after leaving the shop I was feeling fine, and certainly not like I had just had a needle shoved through the middle of my face and a fresh wound! A few hours after getting it done it still wasn't sore in the slightest. I expected it to get a bit sore a few days after while it's starting to heal but I still have had no pain at all. The only place where it is a bit tender is in the middle of the piercing, so if I accidentally hit my nose from the front it hurts, but thankful I'm not in the habit of punching myself in the face too often. Sometimes it gets a little bit itchy but that's all.
I was told that it will take care of itself and that I didn't even have to clean it for the first few days if I didn't want to, but I cleaned it the night after just to be sure. The aftercare is incredibly easy, I soak it once every two days with sea salt in warm water. I use a cotton swab to remove any crust that's softened from the soaking but there has been hardly any so far, except for some dried blood the day after which easily removed after soaking. I was told to expect this and was told to just it alone and the scab would fall off itself.
I would recommend this piercing to anyone and although maybe I have a higher pain tolerance than other people, I can honestly say that the experience was completely painless for me. Because I can't see the jewelry I sometimes forget it's even there! It is healing already and it has been so easy to take care of and is completely hassle free.
A good way to kill some time if you're waiting for a train!! : P