About seven or eight months ago, I was in the bus on my way back home and seeing my reflection on the window made me think: "What a plain face, something is missing... a piercing would be nice... a nostril piercing!". I wasn't really serious at the beginning, since my parents (specially my dad) are a little conservative against piercings.
At A Glance Author Zwara Contact Zwara@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Cris Mofatto Studio Marchioni Tattoos & Piercings Location Campinas - SP - Brazil A few weeks later, we were having dinner (me, my boyfriend and my parents) and I started making a conversation (about piercings, of course), I'll not transcript the whole thing here since it's too long and I don't really recall the details. The conclusion was that "Ok, you're eighteen years old, you have a job and if you really want to do this, go for it, but we DO NOT agree".
Months passed as I didn't want to seriously think about it (maybe I was just afraid now that I knew I could do it) but the idea started to annoy me (not in a bad way, though). I kept catching myself thinking about it all the time!
In January I decided I REALLY wanted it. Knowing that I would chicken out, I told my boyfriend about my wish (as he would annoy the crap out of me to do it).
I could tell you about all the times I planned to go and get it done, called studios and everything but it would be just plain boring. Everytime I started planning it I chickened out.
Fast forward to 28th February. It was a Thursday and as every Thursday I have classes at 4:30pm, normally I would take two busses to get there but this time my mom gave me a ride, and there I was (at 2:00pm) with nothing to do. After reading all the magazines at the reception table the lovely idea crossed my mind: "I will get my nostril piercing done, today!".
I had three options: 1- the studio across the street (which I never heard anything about); 2- Walking A LOT for a studio with good reputation (but I've never met their piercers or tattoo artists), 3- Search the new location of a studio that I knew and liked the piercers.
As I stepped out I panicked: "Ok, I'll just take a glance at this studio across the street...". I passed in front of it and didn't really liked of what I saw: "Erm, heh... now I will... meh, go to the bank, of course!". Before entering the bank I stood still for 20 minutes in the street too anxious and ashamed of being anxious: "Damn this! If I don't do it today I won't have another good chance. If only I knew where that studio moved... Wait! Marchioni (Tattoos & Piercings) must be open now! WHY DID THE HELL I FORGET ABOUT THEM*? Stupid me!".
After that I started to calm down (because I knew I could trust them, that everything was sterile and they were professional), entered the bank, got the money: "Walking a few more blocks will make me more relaxed.". And it did!
I entered the studio and Trash (the tattoo artist) was there:
- Hi! I'd like some information about piercings... erm, do you remember me?
- I do! The wings, right? About the piercings, talk to Cris.
Cris walked in and showed me the jewelry (what they were made of and the prices), I chose a white gold nose screw with no rocks.
-Can we do it today? I mean... now?
-Of course!
Then she gave me a paper to fill with personal info, a sheet about aftercare and explained EVERYTHING.
While I was busy filling the form she went preparing the room. Once I was done with the papers:
-Ok, I'm done, can I come in?
-Sure, put you stuff here and sit there.
I sat down bouncing my legs just like a child (I wasn't THAT anxious anymore, just excited) and we talked about piercings and not-so-body-mod-related things until everything was prepared (she was very, VERY nice to me and this was very important to help me relax and feel comfortable with her).
Then she asked me which side I wanted it (I've already choose months before but I was so excited that I couldn't remember. I took a look in the mirror and chose the right side), she started to clean it and asked if I had plans of putting a ring after it was healed (which I did), she marked the place with a black pen and told me to look in the mirror, if I liked it. After I said OK, she measured it with a fancy (medical maybe?) ruler:
-Yeah, it will be perfect for a 8mm ring.
Before sitting again she showed me all the material, explained about the autoclave marks in the packages, etc.
I lied down and I was calm, a little anxious with sweaty hands (eeew!) she was positioning something similar to a scissors in my nose, and telling that some people bled more, others less, that it was normal.
-Slowly start taking deep breaths... inhale from your nose and exhale from your mouth... focus on your breathing.
Until now I was with my eyes wide open, looking at everything, the scissors-thing in my nose, her tattoos, the walls... THE NEEDLE! When I saw the need approaching I closed my eyes and got nervous, trying to focus on my breathing.
When the pain was just getting really bad:
-It's over now.
What a relief! I opened my eyes and saw the needle still in my nose, but it was cool now. As I talked the needle would swing (it was very entertaining). After that I closed my eyes again, and it hurt two more times, one when she was putting the jewelry (it was more like a pressure) and the other... huh, I can't remember, but none was painful as the first one.
I stayed laying down for a while as she was cleaning my nose:
-One tear drop but not a single blood one! You can sit now, careful not to get dizzy.
I sat down for a while (since I have low blood pressure and was afraid to faint) and checked on the mirror. It was gorgeous, a little reddish but still beautiful.
Nothing really interesting after that, I paid, she gave me a few more advices and asked to come back in a month. I left the studio really happy, in my head everybody was looking at my piercing and thinking "how cute!".
At home, I was afraid of my dad's reaction which was good at the end. He laughed and said he preferred it was a tattoo.
This is my fourth day with the lovely piercing, it's no longer reddish and just a little swollen. The first and second day I sneezed A LOT, and I really mean it, I also had a runny nose but it's all gone now.
Well, final conclusions?
The friendly environment at the studio made ALL the difference, Cris kept talking to me all the time, which was good to help me relax and feel comfortable (and even distract me when in painful moments)
The pain, oh the pain, I won't say it didn't hurt, or that it just took a moment (in my head it seemed like 2 or 3 moments), but that depends on person to person. Also, I'd like to advise girls to pay attention on their sensitivity during menstrual cycles (days where everything seems more painful, days that anything seems painful). It makes all the difference to me.
DO research and talk/ask people about it, knowledge will not hurt you.
DO listen to your piercer.
Try not to forget about your piercing and do silly things to it.
If you know you're going to chicken out (just like me), don't plan, it will only make you more anxious. Try to be spontaneous or not to think THAT much.
I do hope this story was informative, if not, at least entertaining. I tried to write it thinking of all my doubts before getting the piercing done. You can contact me if you want to, I will be happy to help.
*In October 2006 I had a tattoo done there, it was perfect (later I'll try to write a story about it). And it was just a few blocks away.
**This was my second mod (the first was a pair of wings in my back), even tough I'm not very experienced I LOVE to research about it.