I've been contemplating this piercing for far too long. It's been over a year since I first plucked up the courage to even email a piercer and ask about what goes where and who does what. Now, after finally finding no good reason not to get this done, I took myself off to Bodz at Lewis's Dept store in the pouring rain to check out the place first hand.
At A Glance Author anon When It just happened Artist Carl [and Shirley prepped] Studio Bodz @ Lewis's Location Liverpool I'd researched what I wanted for quite some time on BME and other sources, but it was really lucky that Bodz actually have their own website which enabled me to get a good idea of the piercers' beliefs, standards, credentials and basic procedures as well as much more. [Check it out at www.bodz.info]
So after having a chat with Shirley at the desk, I booked myself in for 3pm today. I'd read all of the "pre-piercing advice" on the website, but that was all reiterated to me when I booked the appointment, so I settled in for a nice night in with my best friend who was going to go with me.
This morning, honestly, I felt like crap. I'm not in the best of health to start with [I have fresher's EVERYTHING] but I think I was letting nerves get to me a lot. This is why the guys at bodz are so fantastic – they really calmed me down by being no-fuss, friendly people. I was greeted with a smile and I was looked after from the second I went in. What also helped a lot was taking my best friend with me for support. In truth, I'm a total wimp with pain [giving blood has me shaking even for the blood test] but afterwards I always feel silly for being so worried. She held my hand all through it and that was definitely something that kept me going!
When I had signed the consent form, I was taken into the newly cleaned studio. It was lovely and calming [done out in green] and Shirley chatted to us as she got ready to prep me. I had to take off my jeans and knickers right away and get onto the table, but I was strangely un-bothered by the fact that I was half naked in front of someone I'd never met. Something to note for prospective VCH owners – I didn't shave especially for my piercing. It's not really recommended, as shaving itches don't bode well with new foreign bodies being put in your area!
So anyway, I lay on the table [they didn't have anything to put my feet in like some places do – they don't believe in restraining you!] and just had to let my knees relax and put my feet together [way undignified you'd think, but the area that was not necessary to prep was covered right over by some tissue]. Shirley explained to me that anaesthetic could upset the healing process in some piercings, but NOT the VCH or many things in that area, so I was relieved to find out that I was allowed to have some special numbing spray.
The spray [and I was warned] was like having ice put on your foof, but you know when you fall on ice and your hand is so cold it's hot? Well it turned out like that. I was given plenty of time for it to settle in and take effect, and when it was nice and tingly-numb, Shirley called Carl in to do the actual piercing.
Talking me through it all the way, he explained that the clamps [which aren't duval clamps or anything scary] would feel "really weird" and even possibly in the wrong place, but not to worry. He explained that I'd feel nothing more than pressure, but I probably would jump after the needle was in. He marked the area and proceeded to clamp it gently. Then he told me to take a deep breath in, hold it, and breathe out. By the time I'd thought about letting it out, it was in, I'd done my little jump [at no detriment to the piercing, it was already well in!] and that was it. I'd heard that a VCH was one of the least painful piercings to have, but since when does that ever reassure you? My pain tolerance is ridiculously low. But seriously, it did NOT hurt at all. I'd have it done again tomorrow – honest.
So after the needle had been removed from the sheath, and as he was attaching the balls, I got a quick spiel as to how to take care of my piercing.
I have been encouraged to leave it alone as much as possible. I'm only required to give it a clean as and when it needs it, and that only means a warm salt-bath to get rid of any crusties on the balls. The material that the [straight] barbell is made of is wicked difficult for anything to stick to, so the balls are the only real problem when it comes to cleanliness.
I'm not allowed to change the barbell for 12 weeks to ensure proper healing, and I'm going to go back and ask them to do that for me, as they sure as hell know what they're doing.
I'd recommend bodz to anyone. It's friendly, it's quick without rushing, it's always busy because it's so well recommended, it's so incredibly clean [and they'll prove it to you if you ask!].
Right now, it's a little twingey as the anaesthetic is beginning to wear off. That's to be expected. I've been given a sanitary towel to wear just in case it bled, and it appears as though it did, but only a tiny bit right after. I'm leaving it be for now. I've been advised to just wash it over with some water after I pee, as it may sting a little the first few times as it heals.
To anyone that worries that this sort of piercing is more pain than gain, I'd urge you to reconsider, because it really didn't hurt to have done, and it's so pretty. It looks amazing and it's not often that you're not anatomically suited to it. It feels feminine and yet wickedly minxish.
...And the jerky bus-ride home was good fun ;)