I've always thought bridge piercings were extremely unusual looking, and very cool. I've only ever seen one person (not on the net) with it done, and it intrigued me. Since I had my lip pierced two years ago, I've wanted another piercing. I've just never got round to saving up the money for something really worthwhile and interesting.
At A Glance Author Alice Contact blossom_disease@hotmail.com IAM corrosiveheart When It just happened Artist Sean O'Reilly Studio Metal Bodies Location Cwmbran, South Wales, UK Two weeks ago, I was at my local piercing studio checking out the labrets, as I constantly lose balls from my jewellery and have to replace them. I had been enquiring about bridge piercing prices for the past few weeks, as my friend works there and had told me bridge piercings were basically surface piercings and would cost £35 (sorry, I don't know what that is in any other currency). I realised that my money would be going into my account this week so I decided to go ahead and book... it was pretty random, as I hadn't been thinking too seriously about getting it done.
For the following week, I had the most terrible nerves, I knew I didn't *have* to have it done because I hadn't paid in advance but I still didn't want to chicken out, because it would be so unique - as all of my friends now have identical stretched lobes and lip piercings. I have a problem with paranoia and I'm a self-proclaimed anti-social idiot, I was so scared on the actual day (which was yesterday) that my guts were in such a twist I reckon I actually gave myself diarrohea.
I live with my boyfriend, who had been giving me harsh lectures about 'chilling out' for days, my best friend called for me and we made our way to Metal Bodies. I felt better being with both of them, because as we chatted about how cool it was going to look. I was at the studio for about ten minutes before I was called in to have my nose measured for the jewellery. My boyfriend had known the piercer since he was a kid so I felt really comfortable.
Sean (the piercer) joked around about me being really quiet, I thought if I opened my mouth I might be sick everywhere, I was so nervous. The studio was white and looked very clean. There was loads of high-tech looking machines around and I felt as though I was in good hands. As he cleaned my nose with wipes he asked me if I wanted to lie down or have it done sat up, I chose to lie down as I thought it would be safer incase I fainted or something. He marked dots on my nose, we had to re-do them about 3 times to get them even and I decided it was good.
I asked him what kind of substance he was going to use to numb the area, spray or gel and he said, "I can't numb it. How am I supposed to numb that part of your face!". I almost died, I thought about deciding not to have it done, I thought it would have to be numbed! I decided to stay, seen as I had got so far without panicking too much and giving myself a heart attack.
I lay down and my friend sat at the end of the bed to hold my hand. Sean put small clamps on my nose, they were really tight. He told me to make sure I took deep breaths and said I should close my eyes. I didn't really want to close my eyes because I wouldn't know when he was about to pierce me, but I closed them anyway. He asked me if I was ultimately sure and I said yes, there was a small pause and then I felt a little prick on the side of my nose, I felt the needle go through my skin and my whole body twitched. As I closed my eyes tightly I felt the needle get stuck for a second then continue to push through. I had been holding my breath, I let it out and opened my eyes.
Sean told me it might hurt a little again when he put the barbell in. I didn't notice though. I had shut my eyes, when I opened them Sean told me to close them again because I had bled a little and he had to clean it up. I kept my eyes shut for about 5 minutes, because apparently, I had bled more than 'a little'. He told me it was all done and said to take it slowly as I sat up. I sat upright and moved across the bed. I felt slightly dizzy so I leaned back. Sean got me a cup of water and told me if I felt weird then I could stay as long as I wanted, I think we stayed for five or ten minutes, discussing how cool it looked and how funny my face was as the needle went through.
My boyfriend had taken his digital camera, and the pictures weren't flattering, but they were good. When I looked through them it grossed me out! I asked Sean if he had people outside waiting to be pierced, he laughed and said "probably" but told me I didn't have to leave if I didn't feel well. I looked at it in the mirror and it wasn't love at first sight, mostly because of the little bits of crusty blood that were stuck around the ball on the side where the needle had gone in, but I liked it alot.
That was yesterday, and today I'm thinking I couldn't have got a cooler piercing, I saw a few of my friends when I was walking through the town centre and they just amazed that I had gone through with it! I'm definitely glad I had it done, as it doesn't hurt at all now!