Anti-tragus

At A Glance Author Kelly Contact Kelly@bme.anon Artist Allyson Smith Studio Amused Clothing Location West Lafayette, IN

I may be partial to Amused, I work there as a body piercer as well...

Before I was a body piercer though, I would look through a piercing instruction book of Fakir. I have always wanted the not so typical ear piercings, like the tragus, anti-tragus, daith, rook, conche, and anything I can imagine in my head. I had worked there for about a year before I started piercing. One day, I decided to have My mentor, Allyson, pierce my anti-tragus. It was on a whim, like most piercings I get... She and I proceeded to talk about the after care I would have to partake for this particular piercing. Bactine or sea salt solution once a day, keep it clean, change pillowcase frequently, etc.. We proceeded to go to the piercing room. As she got out the required tools, I was thinking about the piercing I was about to get. I had already had both traguses pierced, so I thought it couldn't be too horrible, pain wise. As she proceeded to cleanse the area I was calm... She asked me how I wanted it positioned, I told her I wantd to just be able to see on of the balls. The outside one. She marked it how I wanted it and she proceeded to link the needle to the jewelry. At that moment we noticed that 16g barbells need a very very thin link. It was a learning experience for her as well, as she had not pierced an antitragus before. After I laid down, she placed the small pendingtons on the marks and I noticed almost immediately, the pain was almost unbearable. The actual piercing took about 2 seconds to get, but the time the clamp was around my anti-tragus was almost excrutiating. She was finished before I knew it, because the piercing itself was almost as intense as the clamps. The barbell, when inside my ear felt almost as intense as the clamps. I was going to get both anti-traguses pierced that day, but I couldn't go on with the second one. In fact, I had to lay there for a few minutes, waiting for my endorphines to settle down. One was plenty, that day :)

I would say the overall experience was a good one. We had just gotten these cool internally threaded 16g straight barbells. I used one in my anti-tragus. It looks awesome! It healed very well, swollen for about a week. I took care of it by using bactine once a day and just regularly keeping it clean. I changed my pillowcase frequently, and tried not to sleep on that side for a long time. To this day, it feels a bit sensitive to sleep on that ear.

I would compare the pain I felt in my ear that day to giving birth to my child. It was intense!

I would suggest more people to get anti-tragus piercings, as well.. the pain is only temporary. The look is beautiful!

After I was finished getting my anti-tragus pierced, I then had Allyson pierce my labret and upper labret. I had had them both pierced before. I held the clamp for her while I got pierced. That was fun. The bottom labret piercing was the 4th one I had gotten. I don't have very good luck healing up the inside of my lip. The top labret piercing, meaning above my upper lip, in the indention between my nose and lip, was a piece of cake. The pain is very minimal, just an awkward feeling. The outcome of the piercings is really pretty, I think.

I went to my dentist, not too long after I had gotten the piercing, and he told me the bottom labret piercing is in horrible condition, very swollen. I asked what ultimately could happen to me if I kept it in. He told me, since I am a smoker, I could eventually get oral cancer if my piercings didn't heal up. The carcenogens in tobacco are very bad for open wounds.

I took out my piercings. I have let them heal. I do not want cancer. My advice to anyone that decides to get any kind of oral piercing.. please cut down on the cigarettes. It is doubly bad to use them if you have any oral piercings. Or, if you have to smoke, please please please rinse well after each one.

I hope more and more people come in to be pierced at Amused Clothing. We enjoy pleasing individuals. Our hours of availability are Monday-Saturday from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm and Sunday: 12-5:30.

Ask for Allyson or Kelly. If any questions, feel free to call us, as well.. our phone number is 765-743-8733.

We hope to hear from you very very soon.

Have a great experience!!

Kelly