I'm a 19 year old who is just starting to get into body mod, and so far I'm loving it, and I'm sure I will for a long time to come. So far I have 2 tattoo's and now 4 piercing. That is all the back ground you get, now on to the experience of my tongue web...
At A Glance Author Josphin Contact Josphin@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Rick Gilmor Studio Adorned Location Calgary, Alberta After getting my second tattoo, stretching my left lobe to 8 gauge, and getting my navel pierced, I was looking for something else to do. I had spent a long time searching around on this site before I ever really started to get into piercing. Some of them interested me, and some slightly disturbed me; the number of the disturbing ones is going down though. Just before Christmas I had gotten my navel pierced and highly enjoyed the experience. This led me to wanting more piercings.
For a while I did nothing, I was content for the time being, then I got to looking on BME a bit more again. I wanted some different, yet something I still found aesthetically pleasing. That's when I decided on my tongue web. There was just something about it that appealed to me, I was intrigued, I was captivated...I had to get it.
Around this time I had also decided I should pierce me right lobe at an 8 gauge to match me stretched left lobe. So some friends and I went down to Adorned, which I had found while trying to find some one who does suspensions. On the way to the shop, I was debating between which one I should get done, for I was a little short on cash. At the shop I was still debating, so my friends went first, one got a lip ring, the other got her tongue pierced. Still the debate went on. After the other two finished up, and paid, we realized that I could borrow some money, and get both done that day.
So I went into the back room and watched Rick set up all the needed tools. First off he pierced my right lobe. I was surprised as to how easy it was, I hardly even felt the pain, and the needle sliding through my flesh felt amazing. After he finished my ear, he asked me if I still wanted my tongue web done, at this time I was still a bit hesitant, so I decided to wait for another day for that.
All that night, I was wishing I had done it, I couldn't get the thought of having it done out of my mind. I'm glad that I did hesitate, just because it showed me how much I wanted this piercing, and I wanted it bad. Two days later I went back to the shop, look Rick right in the eyes, and told him I'm going to get it done. Once again I go in back and watch him set up. After he got everything together started the fun.
First came the marking, which went fairly quickly, because he has done a fair number of these in the past. He didn't use clamps for the procedure, because when he first started doing them he found that it was too uncomfortable for the one getting pierced. Next came the needle. Rick had but a bend in it, just so it would fit easier, and not poke my gums or check on the way out. That hurt, that hurt a lot. I could feel it ripping through the first layer, slowly going through the middle flesh, and ripping through the other side. After having a 4 hour straight sitting for a tattoo, I thought piercing would be no problem, but this made my eyes water something fierce. Unfortunately he still had to get the jewelry. Even more unfortunately I have a really small mouth, and there was a great deal having pulling and tugging to get the ball on the end of the barbell. Finally it was all over; it felt great to have it in. It barely hurt after, only a slight stinging.
I was happy, I thought it was over and could let it heal. I did the routine salt-water rinses twice a day, other than that I left it alone. I was hoping to fast, and have also learned an important lesson...ALWAYS check to make sure your jewelry is tight. I think that was the most heart-breaking thing I have ever felt. Two days after getting it done, I was eating at the time, moving the food around; I felt a very strange round hard object. My heart dropped to my stomach, and then I felt the barbell slide out. My heart dropped to me knees. I ran straight to the bathroom to try and get it back in, but try as I might; I just couldn't get it. Damn my very small mouth, and very big hands, it just wouldn't go in. That night I phoned Rick up and told him the bad news. He seemed almost upset, as I was when I told him, and he said just to come in and he'd re-pierce it for me.
Three days after it fell out, I want back to the shop. I still had all the pieces to the jewelry, so into the autoclave they went, and soaked for half an hour. After that was finished Rick took me back again, watched him set up again, and get set to get my tongue web...again. The second time around it didn't hurt as much as the first. It also went a lot faster. Rick could still kind of see where it was from the first time, so marking was a breeze. I knew what was coming, so I just sat back and let it happen. It still hurt a lot, but I was ready for it, the pain didn't hit me quite as hard.
After this I have checked it every morning and night, and I have been back to Adorned to have Rick check it. It is on VERY tight now, and I don't plan on letting it get any loser at all. I really don't want to have to do it again. I continue with the salt-water rinses twice a day. I've had very little swelling, if any that I can tell, and the pain only lasted a day or two. So far the healing seems to be going great.
There's a lesson in all of this, check your piercing, and check it often. Also, if you have doubts about getting something done, listen to you guts and put it off for a few days, it will just make getting it all the more rewarding if you really do want it. Thanks for taking the time to read my story, and happy piercing.