This is my story not about my first piercing, or my last piercing. But it is a tale that needs to be heard. I think I'm one of those people that exists to serve as a warning to others, so here goes. Just a little background information: I got my earlobes pierced (with a gun) when I was 8. I became obsessed after that and wanted second, third holes, cartilage piercings, the works. But my parents gave me the whole "once you're 18" thing so...my dreams didn't come true for 10 long years. Finally. I was 18. I got my cartilage pierced on my left ear on my birthday and then again two weeks later (okay, so shoot me, I got them done with a gun. I realize now the error of my ways.) Not the point actually. I go off to college and finally decide it's time to REALLY make my parents pissed off at me. I'm already drinking and smoking and having sex, what MORE could they want from me! Heh. Facial piercing. Yeah...
At A Glance Author MerryWidow When Two years ago Artist Matt (?) Studio Urban X-Change Location Virginia So I start doing research on facial piercings, I'm really considering everything at this point. Looking back, I didn't research as much as I though I had at the time. The first of many mistakes on this epic journey. I finally decide I want to get my eyebrow pierced. I've always liked the shape of my eyes and my eyebrows and jewelry will just make it that much nicer, right? Right. Spring break of freshman year rolls around and I inform my parents of my plans to mutilate my face. Well, what I said was "I'm getting my eyebrow pierced" what they heard was "I'm mutilating my face to rub it in that I'm not a model child and everything you've wanted me to be, so there, ha!" But whatever. They get all upset, I get all rebellious and angsty, you know the story.
I've only got one more day of spring break left (the best time to get a piercing because you're going back to school and your parents can't yell at you!) I don't really know much about piercing studios or anything like that because, as I mentioned, I didn't really do THAT much research. I decided to go to this place in a mall. Urban X-change. Everybody cringe! Yay! Number two in the biggest mistakes of my piercing experience. I don't remember my piercer's name...maybe Matt? but he was tattooed and pierced and I figured that made him a master. I didn't think til later that it was probably more likely that he hadn't done his own work. None the less. I wasn't even in the piercing room as he cleaned all the stuff, so for all I know he used the same needle on my face that he'd used to pierce the guy's tongue that went before me. They had this whole like, piercing factory, there was a line of people standing outside the door and one by one we'd disappear and come out with some sort of hole. Blech. Yet poor naïve me doesn't really realize that this isn't typical (RESEARCH, people, RESEARCH!)
Go into the room, sit in the chair thingy, he marks and clamps and comes at me, I grimace he says "Are you afraid of q-tips?" I blush...doh! He does something with a swabby thing. Then I see him come over with the needle. I grimace again...bada-bing-bada-boom, I've gotta hole in my face. Two actually. Now here's the one good part for all you youngun's reading...it didn't hurt one bit. I would do it again in an instant, it was completely and utterly painless. So out of the chair I go, leave my tip in the jar, and turn the room over to the next piece of equipment on the conveyor belt (see, factory...)
A month goes by and I learn that I'm a fidgeter. I fidget with everything. Especially my eyebrow ring. So it's not really healing at all, it's all pus-oozing and icky...then the ball in the ring pops out. I'm not really able to go BACK to the mall place cuz I'm away at school so I go to a local real piercing studio. He takes one look at it and tells me everything I've done wrong. Too much touching, too much soap, not enough salt, too small gauge, it's all horrible. So I tell him just to take it out. "Hah!" He says. "Not if it's infected!" He puts the ball back in, tells me other ways to take care of it. Unfortunately, I'm utterly irresponsible (time for huge mistake number 3) and don't take much of his advice. Sigh, I still horribly regret that one, it would have probably make things a lot easier.
Summer comes and I change from a ring to a barbell and I picked one that grooved scars into my skin as it migrated. Mistake number 4! My piercing never completely heals the 9 months I have it in. Finally it almost completely migrates out of my head until I can see the shaft of the barbell through my flesh. I'm forced to take it out. I cried the day it left me, although it caused me problems, it was a part of me. I took it out almost a year ago and I still have a pretty major scar. Using Mederma has helped a little, that's probably the one smart thing I've done. I've also found BME and my life has reformed. I'm still completely obsessed with piercings and my love has just recently spread to tattoos. I intend to try again with my newfound wisdom and experience and for those of you that thought you would take the easy way and get your piercings done in the MALL...you're idiots, all of you! Take some time to make sure the place you're going to is safe and has a good reputation. It 's worth it not to have the aggravations and turn-offs throughout the life of your piercing.
In conclusion – DON'T DO ANYTHING I DID!! Go to a place that is good, make sure everything is clean, read everything you can get your hands on about aftercare and the experience, and all that good stuff. I'm actually glad I still have this scar because I not only remind myself everyday of what a piercing gone wrong can do to your face but I show others and tell them everything I've learned from this experience. Okay...so...the end.