This experience actually took place about three years ago, but I am only now finding the time to put it to writing.
At A Glance Author Ma!denD!saster Contact Ma!denD!saster@bme.anon IAM Ma!denD!saster When Two years ago Artist Lollipop (Nanette) Studio Lollipop's Body Piercing Only Location Oneonta, NY Ever since I had turned 18, I began considering body modification as a serious and integral part of my life. I frequented BME every day, and as soon as IAM was created I became one of the first 50 or so people to join the community. This was a blessing to any piercing or tattoo I've ever received, as I was equipped with the knowledge and resources for the choice of a safe, professional, and talented artist. One of the first piercings I fell in love with was the industrial.
I pored through any possible picture and experience I could find about industrials, and was left with only two questions; did I have an ear structure that would allow me to get the piercing? Should I be pierced initially with the barbell, or two CBRs? Both questions were answered when I went to my piercer for a consultation. I had already ordered a 10ga stainless steel barbell with a little extra length to account for swelling, but she suggested that I be pierced with the rings and then once healed wear the barbell. I, however, was concerned about placement. What if the rings healed at an angle that would not allow a barbell through both holes? What if my body follows in suit with my rejected helix rings? I have a notoriously hard time healing cartilage. After much debating, I finally decided on the barbell. She agreed to pierce me with the barbell, as long as I agreed that if the piercings even looked at all like they were taking a turn for the worse, she would pu t the rings in instead. I agreed, left the barbell to be autoclaved and made an appointment for a few days later.
The days passed, and the day of my appointment arrived. I took a shower, ate a good meal, and took the bus downtown. When I arrived, the barbell had been autoclaved and everything was ready. I filled out the release paperwork, showed the proper I.D. and was led into the piercing room. I should make a point of saying that Lollipop has one of the cleanest, most sterile piercing rooms I've ever seen. It's positively immaculate. All the tools were lined up in their separate little autoclave bags on a tray next to the chair, along with my barbell. The familiar endorphins started to surge as she put on the rubber gloves and swabbed my ear with rubbing alcohol. She used a surgical marker to mark the placement (with the crosshair method) on my ear. I decided the lower hole was a little too low on my ear, and had her raise it a few millimeters.
After deciding that placement was perfect and I was ready, she changed gloves and got the clamp out to use on the top hole. I started concentrating on my breathing, she used her 'surprise' method of counting. Between the numbers '1...2...3' she always finds a different time to put the needle through. Sometimes she does it on three, and then the next time she does it on one. I'm always surprised, and every time it distracts me from the pain. Both piercings went smoothly, going through 4 pairs of gloves, two needles, and two clamps. The barbell slipped in like it had meant to be there. We had some juice and talked for awhile, I tipped and hugged her, and left. Luckily there's a health store right next door with plenty of sea salt. I picked up a huge bag and headed home.
Fast forward to a month later. While the healing process seemed to be going fine in the sense of no infection, the holes still remained open and sore. I cleaned them well once a day, and soaked them in sea salt and hot water three times a day. Another month passes, and the holes are still open. I usually am a very quick healer, so this was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. I decided it was time to go back to see Lollipop.
She took a look at my ear, thought for a minute, and decided the reason the holes were staying open was due to the fact that the barbell was putting just enough pressure on the piercings that their attempt to heal was being hindered. I agreed to have her put CBRs in instead- lucky for me she had two 10ga rings that were already autoclaved and ready to go. The rings went in smoothly with only a little tenderness, and I was soon on my way home again. I treated them just like brand new piercings or stretchings with plenty of sea salt soaks.
Two weeks later- the piercings had made a complete turn-around! The holes were no longer open and tender, but well on their way to being completely healed. Six months after I had changed to rings, the holes had completely healed and I was able to wear the barbell with no problems at all. Three years down the road, I've had absolutely no problems with my industrial at all- even when I was kicked in the ear by a crowd surfer at a Tiger Army show.
If I hadn't had such a competent and professional piercer, I would never have a perfectly healed industrial today.