At A Glance
Author	cath
Contact	cath@bme.anon
When	It just happened
Artist	Scott
Studio	Iron Age Studio
Location	St. Louis, MO

So for the few months, I've been flirting with the idea of getting my septum pierced. It really appealed to me because it's super easy to hide, and I can't have any "outrageous" piercings for my job. Plus, I think it can look really cute in a smaller gauge on a girl. Another reason why I liked the concept of flipping it up is that I have some friends who hate septum piercings and would no doubt give me grief. It also helps when you go to church every sunday and would rather not have the little old ladies look at you as if you suddenly grew two heads. Heh, I'm 21 years old and still can't do anything I want just because.

I finally got sick of my lack of piercings, so I decided to skip class and get my septum pierced. The first studio I went to wouldn't pierce me with a retainer, and his reasoning was that because you needed to wear it down and twist it to aid in cleaning in healing. I've had a couple friends get theirs pierced, and this puzzled me, so I left. I drove to the next studio I knew, and asked the lady if I could get my septum pierced with a retainer. Apparently they didn't have an autoclave because she said they didn't have any sterilized because they didn't get many requests for a retainer.

I made a mental note not to return to either of those places, although the lady at the second shop was very nice. It really sucked that I skipped class (albeit a class I hated) for a piercing that I didn't actually get.

Absolutely frustrated at this point I went home. I was actually crying, because I wanted to get pierced so badly and because I hated my job and the fact that I couldn't get any of the piercings I wanted except regular helixes. So I looked up the email address of the studio in St. Louis that I got my cartilage pierced at. I should have gone to Iron Age Studio in the first place because they're simply amazing, but I was lazy and didn't want to cross the river. Scott promptly emailed me back to say they only pierce with retainers and that it wouldn't be a problem to flip up.

Of course, it would be the last place I wanted to go (I'm not too keen on driving to St. Louis). I decided to go in the afternoon when it wouldn't be too crazy with college students trolling the loop and so I might actually find a parking space. I planned on going the next sunday, but found out I was working very early the next day and therefore would be able to leave to get to U.City around one. Perfect time to get pierced, I'd say.

Newly excited, I drove to St. Louis the next day after work and told them what I wanted. The guy who checked my ID said it was one of the most painless piercings he'd gotten. I paid and Scott took me back to the same partition where I got my cartilage done. He went over the procedure and after care. Despite what the guy at the counter said, I prepared myself for some pain. I'm iffy about my nose and I can only imagine what it's going to be like when I get my nostril done. Anyway, Scott cleaned out my nose and felt around. Having a thing about needles, I looked up at the ceiling and felt more pain than I was expecting as he shoved the needle through. My eyes were watering like crazy, and Scott said that he'd get me a paper towel to dry them in a minute. I felt like I was crying and was rather amused. I even had to take off my glasses my eyes were watering so badly. Scott showed me the needle thrust through my nose and I felt kind of giggly at the thought of wearing THAT to work.

He inserted the jewelry, the process of which ached more than it stung, and flipped it up. He went over aftercare again, and I tipped and left, totally happy in spite of the bruised feeling. On the way home as I crossed the river, I totally wanted to flip it down when I stopped to get gas, but I didn't want to touch it with my dirty fingers, so I left it alone. It was still a little sore after awhile, but it was totally worth it. It was a bit pricy (55 bucks including jewelry), but everything's expensive on the Loop so I was expecting it. Scott made me feel very comfortable and explained what he was doing as he was doing it.