My story is in many ways like that of many others who understand the love and addiction that comes with body modifications. I had wanted them for a very long time and once I started it was hard to stop. Sadly, this is the worst, but not the only bad experience I've had.
At A Glance Author Lightlessness Contact Lightlessness@bme.anon When Two years ago Artist forgot..one of the owners though Studio Hot Rod Tattoos Location AL So...like any good child should I did my research and knew all the do's and don'ts of my piercing. I had wanted another facial piercing for some time and throwing caution to the wind concerning work decided it was time to do it. Sadly, my previous piercer had relocated to another state so it was time to find someone else to hold my fate. I talked to many people in my community asking for good recommendations...and finally decided on my place. I called, to make my appointment but was told that it was a slow day so I could just come and didn't need to make an appointment.
When I arrived I took note of the less than desirable location, but since I had heard good things and believe it is what's on the inside that counts I decided to overlook my first instincts. Also, ironically I guess my going that day made everyone else want to go to because they had gone from "dead" to packed and it turns out I had a wait time, even though I had tried to schedule an appointment. So after filling out my paper work and talking to the man about what I wanted done he told me that he didn't carry the jewelry in the gauge I desired, but if I wanted to go pick up the jewelry elsewhere and bring it back he would do it with that, also assuring me, only AFTER I asked that it would be sanitized before going into my face. Here's where things begin to be fishy. He calls his friend at a local shop and tells him the gauge and size of the jewelry I need and then I go off to get my stuff. When I arrive my jewelry is being held for me and the man is very nice. Strangely though a few minutes later three girls walk in, also from the same tatt shop needing jewelry also. Then another minute passes and yet another person has been sent to get jewelry from the same guy for a piercing that he didn't have the appropriate size for, all of which were standard sizes. Apparently, they keep each other in business. Anyway, not being discouraged by the owners less than ethical business practice I head back for the studio.
After arriving back and waiting a bit he starts prepping to pierce me. I ask him again about autoclaving my jewelry. He says there is no need but I insist. He tells me to come back in about an hour then and he will do it.
So I go and have so din-din and come back. There are a number of people in the waiting room and I ask him if he will pull the shades on the window because it's making me uneasy to have all the strangers staring while we go about the process, he denies my request and tells me to just ignore it. Placement took forever, which is something I have since noted as a mark of compatibility with a piercer. If it is meant to be they will understand what look I desire, if not, then they try to give me what they want and things never work out.
Then the trouble starts. I have never had any experience like this before or since with any of my other piercings. I became so ill the next day that I could barely stand, and over the course of the next two days it got even worse. My face ached terribly and constantly. I was so weak I could hardly move. To add to it, the jewelry the man had me drive across the city to get was too small and did not at all allow for the very small amount of swelling I had. I began taking antibiotics on the advice of my doctor and not knowing what else to do. And being terrified that I had acquired some lovely disease from their careless, unsanitary ways.
Eventually it cleared up and I felt fine and normal again. I've since gotten two other lip piercings with nothing of the sort occurring. Looking back, I should have just gone somewhere else and now believe beyond all else that my jewelry was never sanitized in any way, that the guy just sent me away to wait and didn't actually do anything to insure that the jewelry was safe to put into my body. Luckily, I didn't get any diseases but I still don't really know what happened. Just be sure that you can really trust who pierces you because sadly sometimes the only person that is really going to care about your body is you.