I decided a while back that I wanted to start getting more piercings again, and that I would focus on symmetry across my face. I have gradually begun working my way down my face with symmetrical piercings: eyebrows, bridge, ears, and now was time to get my nostrils, one on each side (again for symmetry).
At A Glance Author mudsown Contact mudsown@bme.anon IAM mudsown When A week ago Artist Noah Babcock Studio Evolution Location Albuquerque, NM I had originally wanted my septum first, but instead decided to get my nostrils first, because I figured that it would be easier to get a septum later, while my nostrils are still healing, than it would be to try to get nostril piercings with a healing septum.
So I went over to Evolution and talked with the worker in the waiting area. I had a few questions for her and Noah before I got the piercings done. Mainly, how do nostril screws sit inside your nose, were nostril screw piercings and nostril ring piercings interchangeable (that is, can you put a ring into a piercing that healed with a nostril screw and have the ring still look okay, or vice versa), and for Noah I wanted to know about swelling and how to do sea salt soaks properly.
The worker in the waiting room explained to me how nose screws work: basically they put it into your nose, and bend it just right so it rests snugly (or a little loosely for healing piercings) inside your nose. She also told me that I should be able to easily change between a ring and a nostril screw and it would look okay.
So then I decided that I wanted to go with nostril screws, because I saw little spike nostril screws that they had available. Then I filled out the required paperwork and waited until it was my turn to get my piercings. As I waited, I talked more with the worker, asking about other piercings I was thinking about getting.
When Noah got to me (which took maybe 5-10 minutes max), he went to prepare the procedure room. He quickly came out and mentioned that he had bad news. They didn't have any of the jewelry I wanted autoclaved, so I wouldn't be able to get those. So I decided that I still really wanted the piercings and that I would just get 18 gauge captive bead rings instead. Noah went back into the room and finished preparing then came out and said he was ready.
We went back and made small talk as he marked my nose. Noah has a way with people, he makes you feel very comfortable, even as he's about to stick a needle in your skin. After he was done marking, I asked him the questions I had. His answers were, there will be some swelling, but it probably won't be noticeable, and to do sea salt soaks, use cotton balls and kind of wrap it around the piercing.
After he had finished marking the spots for the two piercings and I liked where they were placed, he put a receiving tube in my left nostril and had me do the usual "breathe a deep breath in, then a deep breath out" and he put the 18 gauge needle through my left nostril. It hurt a little bit, and immediately made my left eye water, which worried me a little because I was wearing contacts so I tried my best to make sure my contact didn't fall out. After he put the jewelry in, he had to bend the ring to get the captive bead in. This hurt more than the piercing for some reason, maybe because it put pressure on the now very annoyed piercing. He asked if I was okay and I said yes, I was and that I was ready for the next one. I commented that it was kind of funny that it only affected one eye, because I figured it would affect both. He said yea, but that the right eye will tear up soon.
Noah then put the receiving tube in my right nostril and then once again the "breathe in, breathe out" thing and before I knew it, I had the 2nd piercing finished.
The rest of the day, the piercings hurt, but not too much. I can safely say that these piercings have been the most painful piercings though, and I think it's just because they go through cartilage. All my other piercings have hurt for a day or two and then quickly the pain went away. But these, it's taking longer for the pain to go away.
Cleaning has been pretty simple. The first few days, there was a lot of bleeding from my left nostril and mostly just pain from the right nostril. There was also a lot of blood inside my nose on both piercings, which took a few days to completely get out of my nose. I do sea salt water soaks once or twice a day, usually once before every shower. I then try to wipe away any crusty stuff from the rings, because if any of that is left on and the ring gets rotated so that the crusty stuff goes through the piercing, the piercing hurts for a while. Then, while taking a shower, I wash the piercings with liquid soap and slowly rotate the rings a little to try to clean all around the rings.
Overall, the piercings were a great experience and I really enjoy them. I was a little skeptical about them the first day or two because I was worried they looked too big, but from looking in a mirror at my face some, I realized they actually look just right. There was minimal swelling the first few days but it quickly went away. Now the piercings just seem to "fit" and I really like them.