A little over a year ago, when I was sixteen, I decided to get my inner conch pierced. I liked most of the pictures that I saw of it on BME, but I was very picky about what position I liked it in and what type of jewelry that was in it. For some reason, I really like symmetry, and I don't want to get a piercing on one ear and not the other. This was something that I always had to think about because getting both your ears pierced can make sleeping difficult and painful.
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon When A year ago Artist Paul Studio Lastin' Impressions Location Wappingers, NY I went to a shop in my town that I had been to before when I got my nose pierced around the age of 13. I liked the piercer a lot because he had been piercing for a long time (no offense, but I don't trust young piercers!) and always talked about his personal experiences, which was very comforting.
I told the piercer that I wanted to get my conch pierced. He marked a spot for me and picked out a captive bead ring to put in it. When I got my nose pierced, the piercer automatically picked out the perfect spot for it to go, and I had complete faith in him. However, this time I didn't completely agree with the placement of the piercing, and although the jewelry would fit fine I thought it would look better with a ring with a larger diameter. Despite the fact that I was very picky with exactly where the piercing was, I was also very shy and nervous about telling him that I wanted him to go back and pick a new ring and pierce it in a different spot. Plus... The guy was intimidating! A sixteen year old girl does not always feel so comfortable telling a guy with skulls on his knuckles that he did something wrong!
I expressed my concerns with the piercer and he was completely fine about getting a new piece of jewelry and sterilizing all over again. I'm very glad I spoke up to him because I know that I would have been unhappy with the placement he picked out for me. He remarked the spot and finally it was time for the needle!!
My left side went fine. It DID hurt like hell, but there were no complications. When the piercer pierced my right ear, it hurt a lot more while he was putting the ring in. He said that I moved while he was trying to put it in. I don't recall moving, and I have never moved, jumped, or flinched before while getting a piercing, but I believed him, since I really have no idea what I was doing at all.
The first five minutes after getting my ears pierced were very painful. Luckily, it didn't last long. My ears were overcome with a very hot feeling that numbed the pain.
Sleeping was very painful. Since I had both sides pierced, there was no escaping the pain! I tried to sleep on my back as much as I could because I was afraid of the jewelry migrating. I woke up every morning in a lot of pain... Giving people hugs would often result in pain as well. It seemed like the conch piercing took longer to heal than any of my other ear piercings. However, I haven't had any problems with them.
I washed my ears with antibacterial soap in the shower every morning, and sprayed them with Bactine twice a day. About twice a week I used a salt solution. Now that they have been healed for over a year, I only spray them with Bactine at night and wash with antibacterial soap in the shower in the morning. They are pretty hardy piercings that don't mind being played with (I know I shouldn't, but sometimes I can't stop myself!!).
Another plus to this piercing is that for some reason, it is not that noticeable to aunts, grandmas, bosses, or other people who aren't as piercing-friendly. Many people my age or others who like piercings notice that it is an inner conch piercing and admire it, but to older people who aren't so fond of piercings, it doesn't stand out that much, which can be a good thing if you come from a family like mine where they aren't so fond of body modifications.
My advice to anyone who is thinking about getting a conch piercing: Don't be discouraged just because of the pain. I don't handle pain very well, but for the sake of a nice piercing, it is definitely worth it!
And as with any piercing, don't be afraid to tell your piercer exactly the way you want it to look. Sometimes they will discourage you from certain positions because of safety reasons, migrating, prone to infection, etc., but it doesn't hurt to ask! You don't want to walk around with a piercing you aren't completely happy with. I'm very happy that I was specific about what I wanted, because now I am blessed with two happy, healthy conch piercings!