Currently, I am 14 years of age, 8 days shy of my 15th Birthday. I've been interested in Body Modification for years. I always loved the idea of being different; and being able to change myself the way I wanted to.
At A Glance Author Anonymous When Three months ago Artist Andy Studio Live Once Tattoo & Body Piercing Location North bay, Ontario My fascination of altering my appearance blossomed when I was approximately 10 years of age. I began dying my hair 'strange' colours, as well as dressing in anything out of the ordinary.
Technically, piercings came into my life when I was around 7 years old. I had the typical Lobe piercings, as most do. However, the cheap studs were removed from my ears after approximately a week, due to an unfortunate, yet expected, infection.
Fast-forward 3 years, me being 10 years old. My style was pertaining to the "Goth" image, yet changing and growing into my own adaptation. I, unlike most children, was becoming mature, and knew what I was passionate for. I was itching for something...different. Piercings caught my eye.
Fast-forward through 4 more years, and 8 (one retired) piercings later. My Mods consisted of a 14 gauge eyebrow piercing, two 14 gauge lip piercings (snakebites), one (retired) Helix, and 4 consecutive lobe piercings in my left ear.
Around 5 months ago, I had my heart set on a little Septum piercing. I had always loved this piercing, and decided that it was time for me to get one of my own.
My mother is the most understanding woman. She encourages and embraces my Mods, and doesn't shun them like most parents. I discussed with her my idea of a Septum piercing, and of course she supported me. The only problem was, the only shop in my area (a tiny secluded town) did not perform Septum piercings. I was crushed. I began searching for other shops, doing continuous research on Google, in phone books, etc. Finally, I found my answer; Live Once Tattoo & Piercing Shop.
The Live Once shop is located over an hour away from where I reside. Seeing as I am obviously not old enough to drive yet, I was yet again forced to wait until the opportunity arrived where I would be able to travel to North Bay.
That was answered one night, around 4 months ago, as I was told my Grandmother needed to travel to North Bay the following month in order to see a Specialist. My mother would be the one to transport her there, and so that meant I would take a day off of school to travel there, as well. My piercing looked plausible!
Finally, the day came 2 months ago when we travelled to North Bay. I had been exceptionally nervous, seeing as all of my research told me that the Septum piercing was one of THE most painful. Why do I always choose painful fun?
I was nervous. The entire ride, I could not contain myself. From the backseat of my Mother's car I had been energetic, anxious, and just completely off the wall. I had to wait atleast 4 HOURS before I could even inquire at the shop about a piercing! Yes, I had NOT made an appointment, seeing as walk-ins for piercings were allowed.
After getting lost several times, we finally arrived at my Grandmother's Specialist. My mother and I waited while my Grandmother engaged in her appointment, however we walked to a local corner store for Pop.
After my Grandmother was finished, I made my mother call Live Once to inquire about getting my piercing. The man who answered the phone happily told my mother that I could indeed be pierced, their shop opened in around 20 minutes, and it was First Come, First Serve. It was actually going to happen...
I began to panic. I was acting completely irrational, and I knew that I should NOT be acting in such a manner. My mother decided we ought to eat first, and there was a McDonald's located right next to the piercing shop. I decided, 'Hey why not, more time maybe I'll relax a little'. I was completely wrong. Maybe I should have gotten it over-with sooner, because I was absolutely nerve-stricken. I was a complete and utter mess, over a simple procedure I had been through 8 times before.
Finally, we finished eating. I had finished before my Grandmother, and so I had more time to sit and become more nervous. After all, I was in for PAIN, right?
We travelled to Live Once, and it was finally about to happen. As we entered the shop, I observed the pictures of tattoos hung on the walls, and the portfolios available on tables for the customers to view. It was a very nice shop, and I felt completely comfortable there.
We told the man at the counter (who's name I just can't remember) that I was interested in having my Septum pierced. He told us the price, and as we went to pay, we were informed that they only accepted cash. Damn it!
My mother, never carrying cash, informed the man that we would be back shortly. Her and I walked to a near store in order to get some cash from a bank machine. I was still, and getting even more, nervous at this point.
FINALLY we returned to the shop. Other people, 2 girls, had arrived, and were speaking to the man at the counter. My mother gave him the money, and was handed forms to be signed. I signed my portion after she did, and we handed them in. We were told we would have to wait a short while, and so my mother and I took a seat in the leathery chairs they had. After a few minutes, I got up and ran around the shop a bit, admiring once again the tattoos they had for display.
After sitting back down, finally, my piercer Andy called me up. He looked at my nose, and told me which size of jewellery he would be using. He asked if I wanted a retainer, or a CBR, and I chose a CBR because my intention of getting this piercing was definitely NOT to hide it.
I was led into the cozy piercing room, where I was instructed to have a seat on the infamous dentist-looking black leather chair. Uh, easier said than done Andy, the chair was about as high as my hips! Yes, I'm a little short. Andy left the room to retrieve something, and I, after much attempts, ran and hopped up onto the chair. Haha, take that, chair!
I instructed my mother that she would have to hold my hand during the process! Andy returned with his supplies, and everything was sterile. He continuously changed is gloves, and was completely professional. He cleaned my nose, got everything ready, and began marking me with the toothpick and purple dye. When I was all marked up, he put the clamps in the proper position.
It was almost time! I really wasn't paying attention to what he was doing, I was too nervous to concentrate. He raised something (what I didn't know was just the toothpick at the time) to my nose, and I tensed up and closed my eyes, just to realize...he was NOT about to pierce me. Embarassing. As I was laughing that off with my Mom, I looked and realized "Oh shit! He's about to pierce me RIGHT NOW!" so I assumed the tensed position, and 1, 2, 3....the needle was shoved through my nose.
I grinned like a complete idiot. It really didn't hurt all that much. It was the most painful of all of my piercings, but it wasn't bad at all. I was sitting in the chair with the needle shoved in, when I hear Andy mumble something, and quickly grab some paper towels. Apparently, I was bleeding all over the poor guy. Ooops. My Mom gets extremely nauseous around blood, so she turned away and was mumbling. I was laughing, hey, I don't mind a little blood. ;)
Andy inserted the CBR after I was cleaned up, and stared at me for a few seconds. He was absolutely satisfied. He breathed, "Perfect..." In awe, and I was absolutely ecstatic!
I tend to be a complete perfectionist, and the only doubt I had about this piercing was the fact that it might come out crooked!
I was done! I hopped down off the chair, completely in a trance, completely happy. I walked out to the front where everyone was surprised to see me in such a happy mood after such a 'tough' piercing! I tipped around 10-15 dollars, I can't really remember, and talked to the girls who entered the shop previously, before I had my piercing done. They ran to me, talking about my piercing, and looked totally horrified at how much 'pain' I must have just gone through. I was given an aftercare sheet, and told that I should just do sea salt soaks (even though I already knew all of this XP).
The entire way home, I was so happy. Yet, a little sleepy. I kept checking to see if it was indeed straight, which it was, and then I settled down and dozed off.
As I sit here now, looking at it, I am still absolutely proud to have gotten this piercing. It has healed wonderfully, hasn't given me any problems, and does not hurt at all. I will be travelling back to Live Once in 8 days, and will be completing my next Mod, an Industrial. I can't wait to further my experience in the wonderful world of Body Modification.
If anybody is looking in to getting a Septum, they should definitely go for it! It's definitely worth getting. ;D