I know it's a bit tricky of a title to put, but i literally had septum pierced three times, in one session. I didn't kept jewelery in all those three, but anyway, it was a nice story and there is my piercing to confirm.
At A Glance Author superfuzz Contact superfuzz@bme.anon When Six months ago Artist Puerco Studio Puerco's place down in Exarhia Location Athens, Greece How it all began: weird international company somehow got together in Athens, Greece - me & my pal Alex and Alazne (friend and a great person from Euskadi) and a bunch of other cool people from Spain and Greece. It was the second time for me and Alex hit the road together to see favorite bands of ours somewhere around Bulgaria. Last year we hitch- hiked from Sofia (Bulgaria, where we are from), to Istanbul (Turkey) to see Sonic Youth, and in may this year we went to see two living legends – Mudhoney and Buzzcocks in Athens.
It was a memorable thing for me and it was all right to have it marked with something so personal like a new piercing. But I just wasn't thinking about doing one while I was there.
Not surprising Alazne wasn't thinking like me. She had some work done in Sofia, and wanted to get some more while she was in Athens. She wanted to get two more nostril piercings by her Spanish friend Jorje (known as Puerco, who was in Greece by the time. Puerco and Alazne was sharing the same art student exchange program, which led her to Sofia and Puerco to Athens.
I was not quite disturbed when I knew they are not going to do the procedure in a studio, but in Puerco's place, somewhere in Exarhia. While Exarhia is a punk area itself I wasn't surprised about the idea of DIY piercing at all. The spirit just makes you go ahead without thinking too much (not a thing that I would advice anyone with desire of a body mod, (especially for a first timer). I've "been-there-done-that" lots of times and seen a lot too. I got my first tattoo in similar 'home' studio, but before that
I was familiar with how the artist works and how is sterilization and hygiene. I knew I'm safe there. When we entered there I knew i'm going to watch, not to get piercing done.
I was surprised about the care and professionalism Puerco showed during the pre-piercing preparation. He had one of these little surgical tables to put the needles and stuff on, covered with hygiene pads, some antibacterial liquid, sterile needles, etc. His place was clean in general nd was turned into a real surgery room (or a tattoo studio if you want) within less than 10 minutes. He had all gauges vacuumed jewelery, branded by some Spanish pierce team- it looked no lower quality than all that great metal I've seen in the good tattoo shops in Sofia.
Puerco was ready, but Alazne was not. She wanted to have her work done a bit later to calm down and set herself. That was the time he made the mistake asking me "Do you want to get one too?". I answered 'yes' before I even realized what he did asked me. He said 'where' and there was no turning back. I'm not quite sure if I have ever been thinking to get this piercing. I remember once I told someone it would be a cool one to have done, but not more. By the time it was that natural and fast I didn't thought it could be a wrong decision (and six months later I am 100% sure it's worth.)
Puerco was good to explain a lot even though he wasn't that good in English, and looked confident in what he does. This is something so good for an artist! I got work done by people being more nervous than me. When a confident person works on you it makes you enjoy the work process.
He dotted where I wanted the needle, and I agreed with the placement. He used gloves, pads, and all this stuff. I had never searched on septum piercings before that time, so I didn't knew what to expect when it comes to pain. When he popped the needle in my nose it was really terrible for maybe two seconds. Your nose runs all down, tons tears start to flush and you just couldn't stop. The harsh pain goes for less than 2-3 seconds, but the feeling and especially the shock is really bad at the time. Puerco was very gentle in general (except for the moment he inserted the needle, which is great for the receiver) After the needle was in and the pain was out I found myself trying to tell him I'm really, really OK. I looked quite funny, brushed in tears and with that HUGE needle stuck down my nose. Alazne had some real fun watching us.
Unfortunately something not so nice had happened when I had the jewelery put. One of the ends was appearing very high in my nostril while the other was down. Puerco wasn't using the clamps and after that we both agreed it was stupid. Surprisingly it was more funny than upsetting for me. I totally loved how a septum would look on me, but it just had to be done one more time. Puerco was angry about how it was done, because it wasn't his first septum piercing done and to miss the cute clamps catch someone's nose seemed pretty lame to him. I wasn't feeling bad about this, I got too much adrenalin after the insert. . No damn weed or speed could make you want a needle stuck THERE again! I just told him go on for a second time.
Once again Puerco cleaned everything carefully and I smoked a cigarette before I had my septum done for the second time. It was bleeding a little and didn't hurt, only was a little itchy. It was okay, but I was already kind of paranoid about the placing and appearance, so I wasn't glad with number two. It was bearable, not more than a millimeter difference than what I need for perfect piercing. Second hole wasn't that painful at all, so I wanted to make things really perfect (now say piercing isn't addictive!) The last 'pop' was done very good, I loved it and it is how it is since then.
Now, six months later on, I am very happy with my septum. I had problems only once – new jewelery and salty sea-water just didn't mixed well at the time. Lately I even think about stretching it a bit. There are two main things I'd like to tell those who desire a septum piercing. Now I think it's been better for me that I didn't knew about this weird bursting in tears while septum pierced. I got myself pierced with having no clue about the specifics of the place i chose. In my case it was a good experience, but I wouldn't give that as sn advice for someone who's getting work done.
I didn't knew nothing about getting septum pierced and so I had no idea about how should my body react. It turned out great and I'm happy with everything (though some people were shocked about getting needled three times in a row). Other thing I just need to say is BE CAREFUL when you are getting work done in a regular room and NOT a tattoo studio. I read some harsh stories here and there that deal with results you really don't want to see on yourself. I didn't knew the artist before, so I did my septum on my own risk. I was lucky enough to have an artist so good enough to make everything 'by the book'.
Having that kind of surprise for myself - getting a piercing without planning it before is great and the pleasure is as twice as much. It's funny, but since then when I enter a tattoo/piercing shop I feel like a junkie that was gone clear for some time, but knows he's going to get some if it's around.
Ten days after I got my septum done I was back in Sofia totally high about the trip, the smashing gigs, meeting bands backstage, many new friends and a great, almost healed new body mod. It was the first one my parents weren't really upset about (after years of rants and raves about my tattoos, etc.). I was a bit worried about how my boss and co-workers would react about it. I am a journalist and most people think I should look what they call normal. From my day one as a journo I didn't hide my piercings and tattoos, so it wasn't really a surprise for anyone. I'm pretty sure that if I kept my jewellery and ink hidden things could be worse. Now my co-workers just got used with it, and one of them already tried my tattoo artist's work on himself;).