At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Russ Foxx Studio The FALL Tattooing Location Vancouver, BC After patiently waiting for several weeks, I finally received my ear scalpelling from Russ Foxx at The FALL Tattooing in Vancouver. Now entering the second month of my apprenticeship under him, I consider this my "payment" of sort for the time I have put in. Not that payment is required when you're fulfilling a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But that's not what this post is about so I shall proceed.
I'm sure some of you are apprehensive of the mention of scalpelling. It sounds so invasive and downright painful. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I would imagine there are an equal number of people who are intrigued or even strongly considering having the procedure performed. And many still who have had the experience. It's all a matter of weighing out the pros and cons. Personally, I did not want to wait to taper my standard-gage lobes over a long period of time. I'm a pretty patient person but when it comes to certain mods, such as lobe stretching versus scalpelling, I sought instant gratification.
As Russ and I sat outside this particular afternoon after processing/autoclaving a large jewellery order, he asked, "So do you want to get your ears cut today?" to which I replied, "What kind of question is that? Of course I do!!" and without further a due, we made our way to the piercing room. Instead of getting nervous about piercings, which is a common response, I get overcome by an uncontrollable sense of excitement and grin from ear to ear. I'm like a kid on Christmas morning.
Russ cleaned his workstation and prepared all of the implements used for the procedure. He cleaned both my ears with Technicare and marked them. A disposable dental bib was placed on the headrest of the bed to avoid contamination. I lay in the supine throughout the procedure. A second dental bib was placed partially over my face. A cut the size of my ear was made in this bib, which was placed around my ear so that it might catch any blood. Sterile gauze was placed in the opening of my ear to prevent any blood from entering the canal. Russ put on a clean pair of gloves before commencing the procedure. Forceps were placed on my lobe, which hold the tissue in place and act as a guide so that no more surface is cut than intended. Then came the fun part – the cutting! I must say it's a rather odd sensation. You obviously feel the blade sawing through your lobe but fortunately it's not one of the most sensitive areas of the body. It's difficult to compare it to anything other than...well, being cut. The procedure obviously lasts longer than receiving a standard hypodermic needle piercing yet much shorter than getting a tattoo.
Once the incision was made, an insertion taper of 9 mm was pushed through my lobe, while keeping a firm connection, followed by 10 mm glass tunnel. You can feel a notable difference between the taper and the jewellery. What I also felt was Russ straining to insert the jewellery! When it is finally in place, there is a surge of relief (accompanied by redness, tenderness and swelling with a possibility of slight bruising). The procedure was then repeated on the opposite lobe. The second lobe, my right side, proved to be slightly more stubborn.
Aftercare is more or less carried out in the same manner as traditional piercing. ¼ Tsp. sea salt mixed into 1 cup warm water. Soak twice daily for five to ten minutes. Don't touch. Try not to sleep on. Don't engage in contact sports. Wipe down surfaces such as telephones or ear buds regularly with alcohol swabs. Keep hair out of the way, as it naturally collects dust and dirt. Most importantly, take care of yourself. Time is the greatest healer and if your body is running properly, as it does when you are healthy, healing should progress normally with little incident.
I rather like the look of the glass jewellery as it allows you to better monitor the progress of your healing than would stainless steel. One disadvantage is that you get some strange looks, as even a few days after the procedure you can still see the blood inside of the tunnels. With each day that passes they heal more and more and start feeling better. The redness and swelling dissipate. One thing I have noted is that severe itching can occur without warning, which is a positive indication of healing, but it can be a major annoyance, especially when you're not in a situation where you can soak the wound. I'm extremely pleased with the overall procedure, Russ' work, the jewellery and the end result. It should be noted if you are considering this procedure to seek the advice and skill of a professional, sanitary piercer that takes every precaution to reduce your risk of contracting an infection. To ensure further success with your piercing, be certain to follow the af tercare instructions you are given. If you run into any problems or have questions, go to your piercer. Do not rely on the advice of friends or the Internet.
I do plan to stretch further once I'm completely healed.