How to get my anti-tragus pierced
How I did it: I had been wanting my anti-tragus pierced for probably about seven or eight months. I went and had my second lobes pierced in late December, and ever since then, have had a "piercing bug." My helix came at the end of January, and just two months later I had my navel pierced. Though, like with most piercings, I have had very up and down healing experiences with all, it didn't scare me away from getting my anti-tragus. The initial pain did, though. I've read horror stories about bleeding and horrible pain associated with a "pop" sound...I guess I had forgotten though that I also had read horror stories about the other piercings I had gotten. I had lived through those, though, hadn't I? Aside from the usual complications, like snagging a piercing on a piece of clothing or waking up one day to have it bleeding or sore, I really hadn't had any serious issues with piercings. Like I said - it's been up and down for all of them - but most normal people heal with an up and down process. I don't expect any more or any less with my anti-tragus. I guess I finally got over whatever hesitation I was feeling, and went to go have it pierced today, July 4th, 2009. My local piercer was having a 4th of July sale - all piercings above the navel, only $20. I probably should have taken advantage of the offer and gotten more, lol, but I have to be honest - I'm battling an infection with a dry socket due to having my wisdom teeth extracted last month, and am on my third medication for it. Getting a piercing, PERIOD, was probably really stupid of me, but I couldn't wait any longer. :/
I walked into the studio and asked for what I wanted. My piercer set up the area, steralizing it, pulling fresh equipment out of sealed bags, and putting the jewelry (a 14g curved barbell) through the autoclave. When the jewelry and area was ready, she had me lay down on the table. I took my friend with me, so grabbed her hand and got ready. Usually, my piercer marks the area and has me look in the mirror to make sure it's what I want. So, I thought that was all she was doing when she cleaned the area with an alcohol swab and I felt a slight prick. Turns out, she was lining up and pushing the needle through already. It was over within a matter of five seconds. I won't lie, it hurt worse than my helix or navel did, but I still will swear on my life that having my first and second lobes done with guns hurt EXCEPTIONALLY far worse than any of the piercings I've had with needles thus far have. I have a very low tolerance for pain, but I've made it through all of my piercings done with a needle without even flinching. My lobes, with guns? Hell - I've kicked and cried with both. And, just to give you an idea, I was 18 when I had my second holes done, and 16 when I had my first ones redone.
Putting the jewelry in, as most piercings, was the worst part. The anti-tragus is a very funny spot, and angled quite weird to where screwing the ball on can be a challenge. It took my piercer about three or four minutes of tugging at my ear and angling my head on the table to where she could get it on without dropping it into my ear. That part caused me to wince a little bit - but what do you expect, your fresh wound is having a piece of metal shoved into it and is getting knocked around. I just joked with my piercer though and told her to hit or slap me in the head if that's what it took to get my head in a position so that she could get the ball screwed on. Joking around, even if it was stupid, caused me to laugh, so that settled my nerves and made me ignore any pain that I might have had from her having to move the barbell around to put the ball on. Eventually, it was all over, and I paid for my piercing, then drove away from the studio. When I got home, there was some blood forming around both the top and bottom holes, so I used the H2Ocean spray that was given to me at the studio, and swabbed the blood away with Q-tips. It's sore - but that's to be expected with a new piercing, and it's nothing unbearable.
I have to say - I can't stop looking in the mirror, smiling like an absolute doofus. Just as I can't seem to refrain from taking photos every two seconds and spamming my Facebook with pictures of my ear. People are probably weirded out by now - but I'm in LOVE with my new piercing, and hope that if you want it, that you won't let ANYTHING hold you back. :)
Lessons & tips: If you want it as badly as I did...just do it! You won't regret it!
