My VCH piercing was a mutually enabling experience. My long-time best friend and I both agreed to get them done (we live several states apart currently). I was coming up on shoulder surgery, so I assumed I wouldn't be able to get mine for a good two months-- however, the surgery was pushed back six weeks and given the fast healing time for hood piercings, I pounced on this opportunity as a go-ahead.
At A Glance Author metanomaly Contact metanomaly@bme.anon IAM metanomaly When A month ago Artist Renee Cooley Studio Splash of Color Location East Lansing, MI I am unwaveringly dedicated to researching my piercings fully before getting them. The VCH was no exception. After the aid of BMEzine, Rings of Desire, and my Google-Fu, I was ready. I told my friend I was going to my studio after work, and she agreed to see her local piercer that night as well.
I called Splash of Color and made an appointment for both the VCH and a rook piercing. After work, I hopped in the shower and shaved-- more of an aesthetic than a necessity for the piercing. Then it was off to the studio.
I arrived and filled out the usual paperwork, received my aftercare pamphlets, paid, and tipped. Splash does not pierce a clitoral hood with anything smaller than a 12g (I approved). I went with a plain curved barbell for the VCH and a 16g threadless CRV for the rook (I am a big fan of healing with barbells over rings). After I'd selected my jewelry styles, Renee was ready and she invited me back into her private piercing room (after offering me some water, which I accepted gladly).
We sat down and she asked me if I had any questions-- I did. I'd already had both nipples, conch, and several stretchings done between Renee and Kevin, so this was a studio I knew and trusted. Nevertheless, you can ever be too safe. i asked her how long she had been piercing (nine years), how much experience she had with genital mods (six years, over a thousand VCH piercings), and asked about proper placement. She explained piercing at the apex, crookedness, bad surface piercings, and assured me that she could absolutely guarantee that mine would be perfectly placed. Confident and impressed, I was more than ready. Renee adjusted the exam table and laid out a sterile sheet to catch any bleeding; then she left the room to let me get undressed.
Excited and nervous, I sat on the reclining table and she was back shortly. She laid another dental sheet over my lap, cleaned the area, and measured with calipers. She selected the properly-sized jewelry and opened the sterile packages containing the needle, needle receiving tube, and jewelry. We chatted all t he while and she said the NRT would feel quite pinchy; she added that when she had hers done, the tube was the most uncomfortable part. I have to agree, but she was very fast. With the NRT slipped quickly into place, she told me to take a deep breath and let it out without pausing-- and the deed was done. It was a fast, very sharp pain (I jumped, this was the only piercing I've had that elicited an involuntary reaction), but the pain lasted only the briefest of seconds. I barely felt the jewelry insertion. She cleaned a bit of bleeding and put some cool sterile water on it, and it was over! She gave me a hand mirror so I could take a look. It was gorgeous: perfectly placed and centered (as promised), with the barbell balls just the right size showing above and below the hood. I loved it instantly, and told her so. I couldn't stop grinning. She gave me some gauze for my panties in case of bleeding and left briefly to let me get dressed.
When she returned she cleaned up the room and reset to pierce my rook. Once that was done (quickly and painlessly), I initialed my paperwork, thanked her, and headed out.
As for post-piercing notes:
This was certainly the piercing that felt different. None of my many ear piercings hurt, my tongue was nothing to write home about, and my nipples hurt like hell both during and after, but it was a totally expected type of pain. The VCH was pinchy, intense, but over in a flash and is a beauty to care for and heal. After the initial sea salt soaks, I opted for a LITHA approach which is working nicely. Walking, running, and sitting afforded no discomfort whatsoever, and even sex is a go provided care and a condom are used (no foreign body fluids until healing is complete!).
To any ladies considering this piercing: do it! Provided it is performed properly, you will not regret it. It's incredibly attractive, sexy, and experience-enhancing as well (especially with hand-play). The VCH and nipples are definitely my favorites out of my current piercings.
Addendum: my friend is equally pleased with hers as well!