Getting my nipples pierced was probably one of the best experiences I've had in a long time. It started a couple years ago (around sophomore year in high school) when I started looking around the Internet for ideas as to what my first "real" piercing should be. I had all ready gotten six holes in each ear (two cartilage, four lobe), but I didn't really think that mall piercings counted. I later found out that getting even my ears done with the disposable piercing guns there was a bad move, but there's nothing I can do now, and the holes aren't really bad, just a little too tight. I wanted to get something done in real studio. I spent a lot of time looking around for just the right place to make sure I wouldn't get any diseases or have things done wrong. What's the point of paying for a piercing if it's just going to make you sick or have to be taken out later and re-done?
At A Glance Author M. Bluesummers Contact folb.1@osu.edu When It just happened Artist Ryan Markwell Studio Piercology Location 872 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43215 I finally found a place I could live with in Columbus. Word of mouth said it was the best around, and I saw nothing but good-looking, well-healed piercings that were done there. So Tuesday night found me in the Short North, sitting around the waiting room at Piercology. I'm not going to lie or pretend to be tough, I was really nervous. The numerous certificates from piercing groups and spore tests displayed on the walls were reassuring, though, and their autoclave was right next to the service counter, in plain view and working. The woman working the counter helped me pick out a pair of 12 gauge steel rings and had me fill out the usual paperwork. Sitting in the waiting room for the next 20 minutes was actually the worst part of the whole procedure. This was somewhat helped by the fact that the place was immaculately clean, the staff was friendly, and the atmosphere was relaxed and casual. Not much different from a trip to the doctor's office, really, except for pho tos of pierced people on the walls and a livelier paint job.
After a little while of watching people come out of the back rooms with a few more holes than they went in, I was called back. The guy who did my piercing was really friendly, and there was nothing intimidating about the room. It just looked like a normal doctor's office, really, save for the fact the bed/chair was a little shorter and a couple more biohazard containers. After being seated, I was told that I could either take off my shirt or hold it up. I chose the former, since it seemed more natural. Turned out that was a good decision, but more on that later. The piercer showed me all the supplies he would be using, all still in their sealed autoclave packets, then pointed out the stripe that indicated they had been through the autoclave. By now I was feeling pretty good about the whole thing, and all that was left was a bit of anxiety. The size of the needle threw me for a moment, but then I realized it wasn't that much worse than the ones they use for blood don ation. Still, I decided not to watch as the needle went in.
Next, he marked the dots to be used as guides for the piercing (this was done standing up). After making sure they were level, it was back to the table for the main event. The clamps weren't too bad. I know a lot of people say they're worse than the needle, but that wasn't true in my case. When the clamp was on and the needle positioned, the piercer told me to take a deep breath when I was ready. It was more of a shallow gasp due to nerves, but I managed anyway, and the needle went through quickly and smoothly. Mostly due to the fact I was squeezing the table to keep from squirming, but whatever. I was asked whether I wanted to rest before doing the left one, but at this point it just seemed like getting it over with made more sense.
No one told me the second one was going to hurt more, but WOW did it ever. I yelped and grabbed the table to keep myself from moving and wrecking the piercing, but it was a close thing. Then, it was over. The jewelry was in and there were little saline pads sitting over my nipples to help take the bite off. After the pain of the piercing, the cooling effect was really nice. From there, it was just getting my shirt back on and going out to get my aftercare supplies. Overall, this was a great experience. Everything went right, and the service was prompt and friendly. No idea how I'll get around to telling my parents, but maybe I'll just let them find out (or not find out). Even with the little downsides, I love my nipple rings and hopefully healing and beyond will go really well. I couldn't be happier ^^.