Surface piercings have always been a wonder to behold for me. I think their beauty and exoticness far surpasses that of most standard piercings. I've been getting pierced since I was thirteen. Young, yes, but I do research, spend time looking for safe, clean parlors, and always have a parent's permission (and often funding).
At A Glance Author Morgan Contact Morgan@bme.anon When A year ago Studio Lucky Devil Tattooing and Piercing Location Ft. Lauderdale, Florida USA I realized I wanted to pierce my nape after searching through a couple of galleries to show my unpierced friends some of the procedures, jewelry and different types of piercings that were available. I came across it in a photo, and fell in love. It was so unique and different than many of my other piercings, and I knew I had to have it.
So I researched surface bars, procedures, rejection rates and risks. It was all pretty scary; after scouring a few sites with horrific photos of rejections with red, pussy wounds and tons of scarring, I was nearly deterred. Even to this day, something tells me that not doing it might have been a better idea. Regardless, I'm young and still a bit reckless, and boy did I want that nape piercing! As fate would have it, it would not be that simple.
I called around to parlors in my local area, starting first with my regular piercer who directed me somewhere where they specialize in surface piercings. Sadly, I was too young for them to even touch, as I found was the case with most other studios. Finally, I managed to ring the "right" place. He said he'd do it, this man who I'd just finished jabbing questions at, some of which included, "Have you done this before? Do you have certificates I can see? Healed photos? What are your sterile procedures?" It went on like that for a bit before we (mom and I) actually made the trek to visually check out his credentials. I was satisfied, but in my excitement neglected to ask, or think about, what he would be putting into the hole he made in the back of my neck.
We chatted with him a bit about pricing. He told us that with the initial price, jewelry and cleaning things, it would be about $100, and of course we tipped him. We topped out at about $120 bucks.
I remember faintly the marking process. He examined my neck for a long while, kept telling me to stand straight and made marks, then erased them, and made them again. At last I actually got to say my piece, and found that the placement looked great. I hoped only that it would in actuality be beautiful. Sitting me down in the chair was a whole other story. The moment he said, "Come around to the back," my heart started thump-thump-thumping in my chest. He sat me in the chair, and again asked that I sit upright and still. I was scared; really scared, unlike I'd ever been before getting pierced. I even wanted him to wait for my mother, but she was on the phone, so I settled for, "Just do it." He counted to three, and it was done. Not the worst pain I've had in my life, but it was on a par with multiple vaccinations from the doctor, which, if you can't remember well, pinch and sting terribly. Ah, but what did he put in my neck? Nothing that boded well. A straight, fourteen gauge surgical steel barbell: a recipe for rejection and a world of pain. Great, wonderful. I've set myself up for a huge scar! At least, that was what I was thinking. In my enthusiasm I had erred, and it weighed heavily on my conscience as we left that day.
He advised that I not turn my head, and then told me to use the Dr. Piercing Aftercare Kit I had bought along with saltwater washes, hot showers and A&D at night. I questioned the last bit, because it went against everything I'd ever heard, but he explained that if I washed it in the morning, it would be fine, and its purpose was to soften the skin around the holes during sleep so that if it pulled or stretched it would help to minimize any potential damage. Still suspicious, I decided to take his advice. Now, I know my body and salt water washes only serve to dry up my skin and make the piercing crusty and stiff. Instead I just wash with Dial Anti-Bacterial Soap, at first twice a day along with the aftercare kit (thirty-six swabs) until I ran out. When the redness faded and the daily flow of discharge began to staunch itself, I only washed it once a day in the morning.
After ten months (it was pierced on October 11, 2005) it seems to be healed fine. I have never changed the jewelry and still wash it once a day to prevent buildup, because sometimes I do get little crusties. I try to be careful with it and avoid touching it even now, because I know it could reject at any time; there is no real way for me to tell if it's healed. It makes me nervous, but I try not to think about it so often. Either way, it looks absolutely great. I recommend this piercing for people who are healthy and dedicated; this is definitely a piercing you have to baby if you want it to work. Even though mine is pierced with a straight, rigid material, obviously, this is not the way to go about it. I'm either a fortunate part of the small percentage of surface piercings who make it out okay this way, or my luck is soon to run out.
Thanks for reading. :)