It wasn't my first time, but I felt like a virgin anyhow. When I left my apartment that afternoon I was planning to get my lip pierced, a labret to be exact. There are two piercing studios in town but I only knew of the one and I was headed there, Injections. It had gone through few names over the years and I didn't know much about the place, but I was too impatient to wait until I was in a larger city again. I wanted it done that day, as soon as they opened. Not a second later.
At A Glance Author Jason Contact Jason@bme.anon Artist ? Studio Injections Location Belleville, ON I arrived minutes after they opened. (No appointments needed.) It was mainly a tattoo studio, Jay, one of the tattooists, was the only one there. He told me the piercer would be in soon so I went next door to a bakery/café for a couple cups of coffee. I was nervous. I had my eyebrow pierced about a month or so ago and it was that was my first piercing. (I had a couple ear piercings when I was in grade two but that was done at a salon with a gun.)
After a couple cups of Bren's dark roast coffee and a conversation about Metallica with the waitress I returned next-door hoping the piercer was in. She was. She was in her late thirties or early forties. She looked a bit weathered and many scars on her face. Jay looked a little worn himself. There was a bit of a contrast though, Jay was covered in tattoos from head to toe and had everything pierced at least twice sometimes thrice. She had no visible tattoos (though in conversation I learned she had several) and no visible piercings, mind yo9u she had some scars that suggested retired, migrated, or torn ones.
This was a change from the woman who did my eyebrow at Red Dragon in Sudbury, she had a few piercings and tattoos, all of them trendy and modern. She was very much like a "coyote" from "Coyote Ugly," except instead of serving drinks she pierced people. These two actually reminded me more my mom's friends, I was just waiting to be offered a bong and I would probably have accepted.
The place was dingy and consisted of old couches and yellowing flash on the walls. (Another contrast from the clean, posh hybrid of body mods and clothing retail of Red Dragon.) She lead me into a room even more dingy than the last and asked me what I wanted. I told her I wanted tongue pierced.
Yes, I was planning a labret when I got up that day but I did want a tongue stud. They looked fun, plus it'd be a bonus when going down on a girl. She had me sign the forms, then rinse with mouthwash. (The mouthwash ended up burning more than the piercing hurt.) As she was checking for veins in my tongue she noticed I was tongue tied, a condition I was then unaware of. When she put the clamp on she called in Jay to hold it, pulling tightly on my tongue, while she pierced my tongue. He tugged on my tongue, and she pierced it.
It didn't hurt. Well, there was a slight sting but compared to burning a finger on a frying pan or getting an IV it didn't really hurt. I didn't even flinch. She put the stud in, tightened it and then handed me another Dixie cup to rinse my mouth out. So once again I went into their bathroom so dirty it could put a bar to shame and rinsed once again. When I spit out came blood as well. No problem. Blood doesn't bother me, after all I was hit in the face with a golf club and had to have part of my nose reattached. However, when I looked up into the mirror and stuck put my tongue and saw that big old piece of steel hanging there I got nauseous.
She helped me back to the couch afraid I was about to faint. I lied there for about ten minutes before the nausea and light-headedness passed, at least enough so I could walk home. I paid her and left.
I stopped off at a pharmacy to buy all the aftercare products such as mouthwash and an antiseptic as well as yogurt, bottled water, and Popsicles. I understood there would be SOME swelling, and a FEW days where I would speak poorly. I also understood I wouldn't be able to at solids for a COUPLE days. In actuality I wouldn't be able to eat solids or speak clearly for a couple of WEEKS!
I went back to Injections, the place I had my tongue pierced, and asked about the healing time. Jay turned out to be, from what I could tell, dumb as a stump. He would say one thing, you tell him another and he'd nod and say "Yeah." It also turns out when they say "Call me or drop by and ask me anything if you have questions about or problems concerning your piercing" is not true. Frankly, they want nothing to do with you unless you are paying them right then and there. That's when I went else where for information.
I was sitting at home working online when I decided I'd do an online query about tongue piercings. A search engine led me to an article by One Tribe on the BME server. It was VERY helpful! It explained every piercing, its origins, how to care for them, and how long the healing takes. It put a lot of my fears to rest, informed me, confirmed my suspicious that the staff of Injections were either A) Dumb and/or full if bull, or B) they did hack work for a quick buck and didn't care about their clientele.
It took about two weeks before I got back on solids and was able to speak well enough so people cold understand me. Those closest to me still insist I have a slight lisp. I admit I do, and I take it out when I work. (Radio announcer.) Tongue studs are great, I love mine, however, I learned the hard way that there are hacks out there who take no pride in their work and care little to nothing for their customers. All I can say is; it was worth it but be careful about where you get yours.