My first opinion of the septum piercing was that, although it didn't look too bad, it would be the most painful experience in the world getting. I realised this was due to my misunderstanding of the piercing as I thought the needle would go through the cartilage, not the soft part of the nose. This realisation, and the fact that I was having a hard time studying for my exams and felt that a piercing would make me happier, made me decide a septum piercing was for me. As it could be easily hidden with a retainer, I reckoned I could hide it for work and from my narrow-minded parents. As I had recently lost my sub-tragus piercing, not realising it slipped out, I felt the need for another piercing. In my town the septum isn't a common piercing, which also endeared it to me. I played around with different sized rings in my nose before I actually got the piercing, which helped me decide if I would suit the septum piercing. I was a little scared it would overwhelm my face as its quite small, but felt a small gauge ring would be ok.
At A Glance Author pandoras666 Contact pandoras666@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Jason Studio Inverness Tattoo Centre Location Inverness So, sometime after my first exam, I decided to let off steam by going to the piercing studio and at the very least enquiring about the septum. I asked if I could get the retainer put in first, and get it changed later, which I could. Even with my piercing experience of nose, nipple, tongue, Monroe, navelx3, industrial and ears, stretched to 10mm, I was nervous about this piercing. The experiences I had read on BME didn't agree on the pain of the septum piercing, and as I am a bit of a perfectionist I was scared of it coming out crooked. Knowing that I would rather have it done then rather than later, I followed Jason into the piercing room, bringing my pierced friend for support. Turns out she wasn't much help, as she spent most of the time in the corner refusing to watch!
Jason felt around in my nose, with rubber gloves on of course, for the placement of the piercing, which was a strange sensation to say the least. Then came the clamps. I have to say that they were the worst part of the experience! Jason explained that to ensure a the piercing wouldn't be crooked, the clamps would hang straight if left in the nose. As any unnatural object in the nose is bound to make the nose water, the clamps were quite uncomfortable, especially as I think they got caught on a hair in my nose! I actually thought he had pierced me when he tightened the clamps, and almost considered backing out when he said he hadn't!
I could see the needle out of the corner of my eye, and knew how much I wanted the piercing, so I said I was ready and through my nose it went. I felt a sting, and the needle passing smoothly through my septum, and was amazed-that was it! It must have been the least sore of all my piercing s, which was a surprise to me. Jason slipped the retainer in my nose and pushed it up, telling me how to take it down when it healed. I find it a bit strange that I haven't seen my new piercing properly yet, only with the receiving tube in. I was also surprised when I looked in the mirror to see my makeup smudged and tears running down my face, the only adverse reaction my body had to the needle.
There was no bleeding at all, and I listened in a daze while Jason told me how to look after my new septum: clean with savlon daily. As he had his septum pierced, he said that sometimes leaving it alone can be best for it to heal. Constantly feeling like there's a booger in your nose makes leaving it alone hard, but I've tried! He also told me that as it isn't cartilage the piercing is through, its possible to leave the jewellery out for periods of time and not have it close up. Its probably too much of a risk for me, as I would be heartbroken if I lost this piercing!
Two days later, its not sore at all, although it does feel a bit strange, like there's something in my nose-which there is! The retainer has proved its usefulness, as my parents haven't noticed it yet. I've been cleaning it with savlon spray, and it seems clean enough considering its location! The only problem is I cant stop touching it, as I don't know if its straight yet, and want to ensure it doesn't heal crooked! The retainer doesn't fall out when I sleep, and the only pain I have felt is when I forgot it was in there and squeezed my nose! I actually looked up my nose with a torch to try and get a better idea of what it would look like when it was down.
If you are thinking about the septum piercing, my advice is to go for it; its easily hidden and not painful at all. I cant wait to see my piercing when it's healed!