So my interest in piercings started a long long time ago.. I've had my ears pierced since I was 6mths old as a cultural thing and I didn't do much about that until I was about 13 or 14 when I got a second ear piercing on my left lobe and then a third on the same ear later on, which I did myself.
At A Glance Author Nadz Contact naddie666@hotmail.com When Two years ago Artist Layla Studio Tribal Urge Location Newcastle West, Australia My parents are deadset against piercings, which sucks, so I couldn't get any while living with them. One day when I had just turned 15, I bit the bullet, grabbed a couple of friends and went to a piercing parlour to get my nipple done. Surprisingly I wasn't asked for ID (my mother even called my mobile while I was having it done and the piercer kept very quiet) and I got it done. I can't remember the pain now, but I know it hurt. I have a friend who just got her tongue done and she says it doesn't hurt but I'm still scared of the pain. She's always saying 'um, Nadz, nipple.. hello!' I just remember going in there thinking, ok it'll hurt for a second but then its done! And that's what it was.
Looking back on it now, I knew nothing about the consequences, the procedure and I was very lazy about the aftercare. I asked for a barbell, and it was pierced crooked but I didn't care, and I sat for a little while and then left. I can say I definitely didn't do it because it was cool, nor for sexual enhancement but the only reason I could think of was for rebellion. And also maybe because I had had 2 recent piercings and I loved the feel and gosh-darnit I wanted another one! This was the only one I could probably hide, cos I'm too wussy to get a clit.
Miraculously it healed, or so I thought, and was fine for over a year. After that I had to get an X-Ray and I didn't want it showing up on that so I went and bought a UV Ring (I think that's what they're called) which looked really cool. After I had the X-Ray I kept it in because it made the piercing less detectable which was important. I had been hiding it for this long and it was difficult! Whenever I was in the shower and someone came in the bathroom I would quickly cover my left breast, getting changed was a very rapid procedure..
One day I noticed that keloid had grown at the holes on either side, I didn't like the look of that at all. I removed the UV Ring and put my barbell back in. Unfortunately now the barbell was too tight and it kept weeping for another year or so. I didn't know what to do. I tried calling doctors around town and no one knew much about piercings so I went back to the place I got it done and one of the guys there took a look at it and said yep, it was definitely infected. I went out and got a longer barbell and it has been getting slightly better but it still weeps and I fear its still growing. I have keloid on two of my ear piercings as well, as on the inside of my nostril. Apparently its my African skin, because my brother's belly button and nipple have also scarred.
Basically I shouldn't have gotten it done. It was a little act of rebellion but I didn't know anything about what I was doing and who knows what damage I have caused. This is where I believe that the age restriction should be enforced (not on all piercings, just the more serious ones). I have been hiding it from my family for almost 3yrs now, I can't wait until July when I turn 18 and I can pretend I've just gotten it and be open about it.. I also think that doctors should be educated about piercings because its pretty scary when the only person you can turn to is smelly, long-haired yokel in a Metallica shirt.
But in saying that, I don't regret it. I love it, I love the look of it, I love having something that no one knows about.. and if they find out, they're so shocked! I was vice-captain of my junior high school a couple of years ago and I find it so funny that chances are they wouldn't have picked me had they known. No one had any idea. It's something nice that I feel is unique about me. Sure my boyfriend doesn't like it, but he doesn't like any piercings.
I found this gorgeous nipple ring recently that I'm going to put it after I can be more open about it.. it's like a normal ring with the little ball on it, but hanging from the ball is this long slender woman. It's so sexy.
Thanks for reading. I am doing a research assignment for my final year of high school about piercings and tattoos. What I'm researching is why people tattoo and pierce, and the social, physical and psychological implications of these. If anyone is interested in filling out a questionnaire or two for me, please contact me and I will email it to you.