My old experience that I still remember:
At A Glance Author Celia Contact TwistedHIMQueen@yahoo.com When A year ago Artist Joe Studio Big Stix Specialties Location Fort Myers FL Fort Myers, Florida does not have any places that just do piercing only tattoos. That morning I had called around asking people if they did tongue piercing. I had gotten a lot of no's. I was upset that no one would do it. My mom had suggested the Flea Market. I was very hesitant to do it because I did not find it sanitary enough. After much talking about it with her I had finally agreed to do it.
I took the drive out there to go get it done. Joe (the tattooist) also does piercing. He was busy with a tattoo. I stood there for an hour looking around. I'm deathly afraid of needles and had thought about not doing it. By the time I had not wanted to do it, Joe had asked me what I wanted, I had automatically answered really not thinking.
I sat on the chair while he had gotten things ready. I had already done the mouthwash that they give you before hand. Joe had the clamp on my tongue and was marking it with puzzled looks on his face. The that is when he looked at me and my dad and said that I could not get it done because I have a vein that does not branch out but, goes straight down my tongue. I had wanted it done so badly at that moment that I had cried (it was also my b-day present).
I had also wanted my tragus done but when I had found out the price ($40 each ear) that I decided that a tongue piercing ($35). My dad had suggested that I go on and get the tragus. Joe had agreed to give me both of them at $35. He had marked me and my dad watched over making sure I was fine. I could feel the clamp pull straight out and then I heard the needle slide in then out and a pull that was pushing the hoop into the new hole. The Flea Market is a hot place and I hate the heat. So when he had gotten around to the other side to do the other ear that I had gotten dizzy and lightheaded. They had industrial fans turned on high pointed to me. I had to hum a song so that I did not feel the other one. It did not hurt much but I still felt the pull and hear the needle.
I walked out the booth with everyone asking me about it and giving me funny looks. Joe had done it with a 12g and it took a couple of months not to hurt so I changed it to a regular hoop. It completely stopped hurting after that. I had showed my brothers and sisters it and they all cringed. When ever I walk in public I get asked how many piercing I have and if it hurt. I will usually tell some yes and some no because I have them on both sides. Getting it done did not hurt but the next morning it does. I could not talk on the phone but I could sleep on them.
I am really happy with them and I like to wear big hoops in them for laughs. My tragus is a 16g hoop and I had barbell on them. It has always been hard for me to grip the ball and twist them on. I have had the ball to my earring fall in my ear twice but if you lean your head to that side, the ball rolls right out. It is sometimes hard to clean your ear properly but I manage. I have a 3 year old nephew and he pulls on them. After so many months it does not hurt at all. I can pull them out and twist them around. I only do it for laughs.
I plan on getting my tragus done vertically but I am afraid that it would interfere with my horizontal one. Recently I had gone back to Joe to see if it was possible to get a bigger gauge in them and make them bigger. He does not recommend it. I totally trust him because he had pierced and tattooed most of my family including my parents. I visit him every now and then to get new gauges and he will pick out a pair that would look nice on me and they usually are. My tragus is the only one that's smaller than a 14. The rest of them are 8g 12g 12g 10g 16g (tragus).
I highly recommend people to get a tragus done. My parents are not a big fan on facial piercing so I have my ears done. I still plan on having my vertical tragus, snug, and rook done. I hope this experience will help your thoughts on getting it done.
Celia