Firstly, I had been thinking of getting a spinal ladder done for some time, but luck would have it that I live in a part of the country that would not offer up this standard of percieving, and so I started about getting research on top quality piercing studios in the contry.After many hours in front of the internet, i found Perforations done in Brighton, and I gave them a quick phone to see if they would consider doing a spinal ladder in one sitting.
At A Glance Author BlueAmazon Contact BlueAmazon@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Rob Studio Perforations Location Brighton, U.K. I spoke to Rob on the phone and being the professional that he is started telling me about the pros and cons of surface piercings, especially ones of this magnitude. In fact, he was trying to talk me out of it. But I insisted, as I have been thinking about this for about a year and a half now.
So the following week I drove the 14.5 hours down to Brighton from Dundee for a consultations/chat with Rob. If you want a big project done that you should choose the best and that means travelling, money and time.
I was really impressed with the whole setup of the studio and the friendliness of the staff, and i knew that there repotation as the leading studio in the U.K. was justified. Rob lead me down into the "Green Room" where he measured my back and felt my skin to make sure that there wouldn't be any big problems trying to pierce there. At all times he asked me what I wanted, in sizing in spacing and in the overall experience that i was after. At no time did he push me towards a certain size etc though he was clearly excited to be doing such a project. He completely put me at ease and I knew that I could trust this guy with my back. It worked out the best was to use 46mm surface bars and to have 5 piercings on either side of my spine done vertically.
So with that done all it took was to order in the surface bars which took a few days and was very quick but we had decided that the following wednesday evening at 5pm was the best time so that we can carry on piercing after closing up time.
I sayed with a friend an hour north in camberley, surrey for a few days before driving back up to Dundee, thinking that it be best if I didn't have to drive after getting my back done. So come, tuesday night I got the train down to Brighton, which only took 10.5 hours.
By 5pm was getting very excited but quite nervouse as well. I mean, the most I have ever done was one piercing at a time but I was getting 10 in the one go this night. But walking in through the door I see Rob with his friendly smile and everything was ok.
He led me down to the Green Room again, and we chatted for a few minutes before we started just so that I could relax. Rob told me that he was going to mark me up for the piercing first and that it would take a long time as he wants it perfect. He was not wrong, the marking up of 10 dots took literally about an hour and an half. that is the amount of care that the guy put into it. We took a few breaks in between so that I could move my legs abit as they were going off to sleep with all the standing. After a very long and careful scrutiny of my back for a final time he declared that the points were spot on perfect.
Next was to start the piercing, of corse by this time most of the heart thumping adrenaline had gone and I was nervouse again about the seer number of piercings being done.
Rob told me that he would do the bottom two first as they were the most awkward as the skin was so tight down there. I can only say that the pain that I got from the first piercing was amazing, I had never felt anything like it before, it took a good 7/8 minutes to do, as did the bottom piercing on the other side of the spine. I'm normally very good with pain but I almost passed out with these. The thought of 'I've only gone through 2, and they were torture, how on earth am I going to manage 10!" Not a happy thought at all! These first two was done standing up leaning against the bench/table as this was the easiest way to do it.
The following piercings were done with me on my tummy lying down. Rob prefered to do them free hand rather than use the clamps, as they were a bit awkward to clamp such a large area at any one time, though he did try. these piercings were by far easier and less time consuming than the first two with it being less and less painful the further up the back you go. But, it was still pretty slow going as Rob said that I have really healthy skin and that is why its so tough. I was also getting pierced with a 50mm needle as well for a 46mm surface bar which mean that Rob had to try and avoke the needle going back through if I flinched a bit. The needles exiting the piercing was definitely the worse bit of the whole thing, it was the most uncomfortable and the most painful. At this point I should point out the Rob used a brand new needle for each piercing with a brand new pair of gloves :)
After completing 6 piercings we decided to take a short break before continuing on so I could top up my sugar levels and his nicotine levels in the receptions. It was 8.45pm at this point, apparently we were making good time according to Rob.
After a 10 minute break we set back down the stairs again, and the last four piercing went through like a doddle, I was positively giddy at the end of it and looking at it in the mirror the piercing were done perfectly. Every point was perfectly positioned and pierced in exact squares of 46mm x 46mm. Boy, was I happy. I pay to put money into travelling to the perfect place to get a big project done, rather than get it done in any which studio that would more than likely do a hash job of it.
After wiping of the blood with wet cotton buds Rob asked if he could take some photos for keep sake as spinal ladders are quite rare, I agreed and also asked him if he could take some for me with my camera.
By this time it was almost 10pm, we went upsairs to chill out for a bit which was really nice as it was so late and Perforations was meant to close at 5.30pm.
It was meant to cost £250 but Rob said that he'll only ask for £230 as he enjoyed it so much. As he did such a fantastic job I tipped him the £20 anyway.
The moral of the storey is to find the best piercer and studio to do your projects and not the nearest one that agrees to do it for you. In that way you can avoid the mistake of getting a really bad set of piercing done by piercers that just do not have the experience to undertake a big project. The time and care and attention to detail is a very rare thing to find in studios, in which it is sad to say, that many are there for the easy money that they can make in a few minutes. The attention to detail is what sets Perforations apart from all the rest and what gave them the repotation that they have today.
I could see myself travelling the many miles down to Brighton for any future projects simply because of them. Even if you can't afford to travel for still research nearby studios and go to the best one possible. Go for the piercing that you want but don't rush into it, don't put your life at risk by going to badly managed and unsterile environments. Have fun and enjoy the experience a fantastic piercing can give you, you will not forget it. xxxx