| At A Glance | |
| Author | slutboyjosh |
| Contact | yosh@drexel.edu |
| IAM | slutboyjosh |
| When | A month ago |
| Artist | A sweet older woman whose name I unfortunately do not recall |
| Studio | Laughing Buddha Tattoo |
| Location | Seattle, WA |
I wanted a triangle done so I could gauge it up and eventually pull it through (similar to one kind of tongue splitting) as part of a larger genital modification plan. This is referred to by stompyboy as the "ghetto metoidioplasty". (Metoidioplasty, by various spellings, is the name for the female-to-male genital reconstruction that creates a small penis out of a hormone-enlarged clit. This is in contrast to the phalloplasty, which creates an average sized penis out of non-erectile tissue.) This would free my big-fat-clit/itty-bitty-dick from its current fastened-down position.
While I was in Seattle (I'm from Philly) a friend specifically recommended this really sweet older woman. I wish I could remember her name, but my mind is, as they say, like one of those things... the ones you put pasta in...
She selected two different curved barbells from the case. Both were far too small, but I was feeling shy and din't want to announce to all assembled at the counter that not only do I have female junk, but it is massive female junk. Once we got into the room, she sent someone to get more appropriately sized jewelry. A 5/8ths 10g curved barbell. In hindsight, it should have been even longer, or circular, because the balls were pressed snugly against the swollen piercing.
She mentioned that triangles, in her experience, are very much a "trannyboy" piercing. Only a small number of normal-bodied women have suitable anatomy, but most transsexual men have who have been on testosterone therapy have plenty of space.
For the piercing, I figured I'd be up on a medical table in stirrups. Not exactly my favorite position, but you do what you've got to do. I was very pleasantly surprised when she sat in a chair at the end of the table and instead of pulling out the stirrups, put my feet up on her thick warm thighs. Much nicer than stirrups. (I suspect that if my friend had not been an employee, she would have been more formal. But perhaps not.) It was very pleasant. My friend was there with me, being alternately menacing and supportive (because he knows I like that). The piercer even humored me when I asked her to put the clamp on tighter, tighter, tighter...
Two problems.
First problem - She was too nice. She got me all prepped and said "You just let me know when you're ready." I sat there for 15 minutes, fretting, while she was very sweet and patient. It was the first time I've been pierced by a woman, and she was such a wonderfully motherly type that it really affected me. I'm more accustomed to someone saying "Okay, we'll go on the count of three." Of course, I'm sure some people prefer her more gentle approach, but the way she asked made me hesitant and panicky.
I make it a rule never to seriously think about what a piercing will feel like beforehand. I know it will be a bearable amount of pain and won't harm me, and that is all I need to know. Sometimes the pain has such mind blowing clarity that gives me a sense of calm just remembering it years later, and sometimes it just hurts like a bitch. Sometimes both, in succession. It is senseless to think about, or anticipate. It simply has to be done.
And damn did this one hurt. Not just for a second, but for long enough for me to say, "Fuckin hell. Fuckin hell this was a bad idea. This was a BAD IDEA. Why am I doing this? Fuckin HELL!" It was a very thick piercing, and I suppose she went slowly. Of course right after she was done I was giddy and lightheaded and decided it was actually a very good idea. The pain wasn't the second problem.
It was crooked. Seriously crooked. I don't know how. When I was clamped, everything seemed to be perfectly lined up. She wasn't careless. She spent a good while adjusting and readjusting and making marks. It was still off by about a quarter inch -- at least a 30 degree angle. I kept it in for almost a week, wondering what to do, trying to tell myself it was just swollen unevenly. I had returned to Philly shortly after the piercing, so I couldn't go back to the shop to see her.
I went down to Infinite for advice. James (stompyboy) works the counter there. Since James is also transsexual, I felt a little more comfortable about the shop. Plus, I'd heard nothing but good things about them. The piercer I saw was a little surprised that I had a triangle for him to look at, but was totally respectful. He confirmed that it was both swollen unevenly and seriously crooked.
Aside from that it was healing amazingly well. I was a little sore, but I could (carefully) jerk off. I cleaned it with antibacterial soap in the shower and did warm sea salt soaks. The tightness of the barbell made it difficult to clean, but there was so little crustiness or scabbing that it didn't cause a problem.
Within a few days I removed the piercing. I knew that the crookedness wouldn't be very noticeable once it was pulled through, but it still bugged me. I'm very big on symmetry and I really disliked the way it looked. It would take a while to gauge up and pull through, and I didn't want to be rushing it. I had also decided that a scalpel would likely yield neater results. After making sure I had a few good pictures, I removed the piercing. I haven't had any trouble at all with the site since.
Although the piercing didn't turn out well, I would hate for anyone to think I am badmouthing the shop, or the piercer. I would go back to both. This one just didn't turn out right. Such is life.