After deliberating for quite a while on what my next piercing would be, I came to the conclusion it would still have to be something hidden (as my parents still fail to understand the attraction of body modification). I decided on my tongue web as it was something different to my previous piercings (a bog standard navel, a now removed vertical hood and a single nipple) and slightly risky as far as the 'hidden' element goes.
At A Glance Author broken_inside Contact escaped_gizmo@hotmail.com IAM broken_inside When A year ago Artist Jacqueline Geddes Studio Glasgow Piercing Studio Location Glasgow, Scotland After a while of deliberating and talking it over with friends, I left school one lunchtime with my best friend and headed for the city centre with a 'now or never' philosophy. After the usual never-ending bus ride and walk to the studio (which always seems so long when I go for a piercing) we arrived and as usual the place was dead quiet. After a while of browsing the jewellery cabinet on the wall, the piercer, Jacqueline came out to greet me and enquire what I was wanting today. Initially I asked her whether she did tongue web piercings as her list in the window only covers the standard piercings (eyebrow, lip, navel, tongue, ears etc.) To my surprise, she did do them so I followed her into her room and began the whole process.
I had the usual disclaimer to fill out stating that I was over 16 and that I understood the risks associated with any type of piercing. As some of you will have realised, the UK has no set rules on the minimum age for body piercing, therefore as far as I know, so it is up the individual studio to set their own standards. We talked about the procedure and Jacqueline explained that she felt the web is better done with a small curved barbell, as a CBR would be more likely to rub against teeth and gums causing too many problems. After the necessary paperwork, I was asked to come round to the piercing side of the room.
Once round there, I sat on the doctors couch, covered with paper changed after every customer. I was given the obligatory Listerine to rinse with for a horrible 30 seconds then I was told to open up. I thought this was to begin to mark the web but in fact it was to spray my tongue web with topical oral anaesthesia, which given the choice, I would not have chosen. After being told to hold it for 30 seconds and not to swallow, I spat it out gladly and lay down on the couch. I watched as she prepared the pre-sterilized needle and barbell and removed both from their packs.
I was then told to lie back and open wide. She placed the clamps on my web and told me she was going to start. As usual I just couldn't watch her placing the needle through so I shut my eyes and tried to think of something or somewhere else. To my surprise, all I felt was the slight pressure of the needle pressing against my web then the little pop as it relented and allowed the needle through. I did expect a slight sting of some kind but I felt nothing painful.
Next came the difficult part, putting the barbell through and fitting the tiny little ball on the end of it. The barbell went on fine but the ball was a different story. I ended up with another set of clamps holding the barbell through the piercing while she tried in vain to get the ball to fit on. All in all it took 5 long mouth-wide-open minutes to get the ball on.
As I got up, I felt slightly lightheaded but also very pleased with myself. I went over to the mirror and tenderly lifted up my tongue to see the balls of steel staring back at me. I gladly paid my money (£25) and apologised for the trouble I had caused with the ball that wouldn't go on. On my way back to school, I decided I needed some soothing ice cream as the heat and the swelling from under my tongue was becoming quite a lot to deal with.
After a few days, the swelling went down and I could eat normally after the first day. To this day I have still never seen someone else with this piercing or even heard of anybody locally with it done. Also my parents have still not realised although I have a tendency to yawn with my mouth wide open in front of them. No migration has occurred so far which I believe is a small miracle! My friends do still believe that I'm crazy for getting it done but I think everybody has always known that one!
Have fun with your mods, but please be careful
Lynsey