Hi. My name is Shayla and I'm 16. I've been coming to BME for four years now, which is what got my very interested in body modification in the first place, especially piercings. So far I have each ear lobe six times, an industrial in my left ear, a retired (but soon to be re-done) tragus in my right ear, my navel twice, and now, a Madonna, which is what you're here to read about, so here we go...
At A Glance Author Shayla Contact heartagram333@yahoo.com When It just happened Artist Jason (I think) Studio Hot Rod Tattoo Studio Location Houston, TX I'd actually wanted a cleavage piercing for a while, and my mom agreed for it to be part of my Christmas. During the time I'd come to BME almost everyday to look at surface piercing pictures, I looked around in the other areas and found a gallery of a piercing I'd never really noticed before: the Madonna, Monroe, Marilyn...whatever you call it. I never really thought I'd get a facial piercing, but this changed my mind entirely. I asked my mom about that one, and she was more hesitant, since the only facial piercing she can really tolerate is the labret. I like the labret, too, but I like the Madonna a lot more. So she said, "Well, make up your mind, because you can't get everything (cleavage AND Madonna)pierced!" I said, "OK, let's go for the cleavage."
I called a piercing only place and they said I'd have to come in so they could check to see if I was a candidate for that piercing. We drove all the way there, only so they could tell me I had no chance of healing the piercing out. He told me he could still do it for me, but it wasn't recommended. But after reading experiences here and seeing pictures of rejected piercings, I told him I didn't want to do it if I had no chance, since the rejection rate is high enough as it is. So, we went back to the desk and told my mom, and she said, "Well, I drove all the way here, you're getting something pierced! How about right here (she pointed at the area for the labret)" I told her no, I'd rather have the Madonna. She agreed. The piercer went in the back and said they didn't have the right length bar for this piercing right now, but that he could call us when they got more jewelry in. We just decided to go somewhere else.
Luckily, there are LOADS of tattoo shops along Westheimer, so we went to the first one we saw. There were actually two shops right next to each other, so I just picked one. I went in and asked if anyone was piercing that day, and they said yes. So I told him what I wanted, and he asked for our ID's, since I'm only 16. He filled out the paper work and I picked out the ball I wanted. I chose the plain SS ball. While he autoclaved the jewelry, which took about 15 minutes, I looked over the aftercare and we talked to two tattoo artists. They were funny and very nice.
We waited for what seemed like forever when he finally emerged from the piercing room and said, "Are you ready." And of course I was. I wasn't nervous at all, which sort of surprised me, because I was usually very nervous at this point with my past piercings. He closed the door and I rinsed with Listerine. I hate that stuff. But it was all good. He told me to sit down, so I did. He took out a wipe with Iodine on it, asked me what side I wanted it on (my right), and put the Iodine on there. He then took out another wipe with something clear on it...I don't know what it was, I don't remember it having a smell, but I'm probably wrong. Anyway, he wiped the area with that. He then asked me to tilt my head back and open my mouth a little so he could see the thickness he was dealing with so he could bend the jewelry accordingly. I got the fishtail labret jewelry, which really sucks, but I'll get to that later. He then marked it and told me to make sure I liked it. It was perfect, a nd I told him so. So he clamped it, which is not bad at all and never has been, I don't understand why everyone makes such a big deal out of them. He told me to breathe in, out, in out and then he pierced. It stung at first, but after he broke through the outside skin, I couldn't really feel it going through anymore. It sort of snagged in the middle, but it didn't hurt. He then put the jewelry through and wiped off some excess lubrication from the needle.
He then told me to go rinse with Listerine again, but not to spit, just to let it sort of fall out, and maybe even hold the napkin over the piercing while I did so it wouldn't fall out, which I did. But guess what...when I went to the mirror to look at it, it was hanging halfway (well, more actually) out. Naturally I panicked. I said, "Oh my God!" and ran over to let Jason fix it. He told me to sit down again and he got it back in, no pain. That really scared me, but it's all ok now. So I started to leave, and he told me that I had problems with the jewelry coming out, I should buy a small o ring to put on the back of it, which it looks like I need to do...
It hasn't been sore or even swollen at all since I got it yesterday. I did have problem when I was eating and even drinking last night, it kept trying to come out. I put a Band-aid over it when I slept and propped my head up on an extra pillow, because the aftercare sheet said keeping your head above your heart reduces swelling. I guess it worked because it's not swollen. When I woke up it was hanging out a little, but there was still jewelry all the way through the hole, if that makes sense. There was also a little blood, but not much at all. Of course, that's to be expected when you get a needle shoved through your lip, right? Today during lunch it didn't even come out when I was eating, so I guess I'm getting good at it! However, I still don't like this fishtail very much, it makes me nervous. I might go to another shop a little closer to me and have them change it out, but I'll wait a little while to see how this works out. I'm not supposed to have it at school, but the ball is so small, no one really notices. Anyway, there are people walking around that place with more noticeable stuff than this.
Anyway, I really love it. I get mixed reactions. My grandma hates it (naturally), MOST of my friends love it, and my punk six-year-old brother said it looks like a pimple. But no matter their opinion, EVERYONE asks if it hurt. But I'm used to this question because of my painful-looking yet beautiful industrial. If you want it, get it. Definitely don't worry about the pain. It's not bad at all. Even if it is, it will be over by the time you realize it hurt. Go for it!
The other piercings I like are the horizontal eyebrow and the horizontal tongue, on the face. I like almost everything in the ear: helix orbital, snug, rook, vertical tragus, and anti tragus. I WILL have all of these if it's the last thing I do. I also hope to try corset piercing when I'm a little older.
E-mail me if you have ANY questions, I'd be happy to help you, if I'm able.