This experience will be my experience with dimple piercings and also what to observe of the artist that is working on you when it is time for the impalement.
At A Glance Author BLEEDING CHEEK Contact gamorian17@hotmail.com When Three months ago Artist Bobby Studio Epidart Location Moncton, New Brunswick Once upon a time, I decided to get my dimples pierced... they were interesting... different... and looked like they would feel pretty damn good. I did my homework... read up about barbell lengths, the mapping out of blood vessels, aftercare, all the good stuff. After speaking with my mother (yes I am only 15... but also have had a few "different" piercings for my age and where as anything is considered different in this part of the world), we decided it shall be done.
The big day finally came. I went to a little shop called Epidart in Moncton, which is about 45 minutes away from where I live, with a few friends. I have had my lobes done here by Bobby. It's a really nice shop, there is a lizard in the piercing room along with paper mache masks that appear to be coming out of the wall... and there are always good tunes playing whenever I am in (CRADLE OF FILTH ALL THE WAY!!!). Everything is clean and tidy... and the people there took all precautions... so I thought. I waited a short time, flipping through tattoo mags... then Bobby walked into the waiting room, pointed at me, smiled, and said "Cheeks?"
I followed him into the piercing room and took a seat in "the chair". It is kind of comfortable if you ask me. I watched him do all of the usual things like prepping the jewelry, putting the elastics on the forceps, etc. Then he went straight to the placement... first mistake. I've read that a flashlight should be used to map out some of the major blood vessels in your cheek, just to be sure that you don't puncture a vein or your aorta or something like that. Well... this wasn't done... and me, knowing this, didn't say anything... :(.
He got everything placed perfect then reclined the seat back. The initial piercings were a breeze. Just the rush I was looking for :). He took a very long time to line the needle up and pierced from inside to outside (which is a good sign). It was wicked!
After everything was over he stated that my cheeks were a bit thick and asked if I would like longer barbells, as he pierced with 1/2 inchers. But he also stated that after the swelling, they would sit perfect in my face. This next action was partly my bad, but when he said that they would sit perfect, I had an image in my head that if I went to a bigger barbell length, I would have these big barbell posts protruding from my face. I declined the offer to get larger barbells. Now I also kick myself.
I paid and tipped Bobby for his services and left. Within the third day, I noticed that my right cheek was swelled twice the size as my left. I went to bed that night in a bit of discomfort. I awoke the next morning and to my surprise, the barbell had inverted into the wound in both the entrance and exit holes in my right cheek. I was upset... so away to Moncton I went. Epidart didn't open until six so I had to go to another shop... that is equally as clean, but they don't seem as professional and the owner is an asshole. I had the barbell removed... but not without bloodshed... I bled a good 2 liters. As soon as the barbell started coming through, almost instantaneously the blood was pouring out of my mouth and down my neck. I was spitting it out into little cups, swallowing, and soaking it up for a good 15 minutes until I got a wad of paper towel in my mouth and on my face. I bled for another hour and a half afterwards...
In the end, it turns out that a vein was punctured... but everything has healed up well. As for my left cheek... the barbell was too short and grew over on the inside... I have yet to find someone to cut it out for me... it still looks nice on the outside though!
In conclusion, I by no means am bad mouthing Epidart. They are great people and do fine work, this is just one thing that I don't think they were too keen on. All I have to say is get it done with something slightly bigger than a half-inch barbell, make sure the blood vessels are mapped out, and if at any time you doubt your piercer, don't hesitate to stop or inquire.
Until next time, it feels great, but be careful... you all smell like a bucket of slut.