My first piercing - a tongue webbing bar
At A Glance Author Phil Contact grainger_phil@hotmail.com When Three months ago Artist I didn't get his name Studio Pro Pierce, Oasis Location Birmingham UK OK, so for the last few years I've been increasingly interested in piercing, particularly tongue ones. However my parents hate piercings so I couldn't really get my tongue done, it's a bit too noticeable. So for a while I gave up on the idea of getting something done, that was about a month ago.
I started coming on BME more and more frequently and I guess I just decided to go and do it anyway. I did my research, read experiences, looked at photos, spoke to a friend that had it done, and I decided I was going to do it. Unfortunately the day before I was to get it done my courage disappeared and I decided against it, there was too much risk of my parents finding out, and they'd kill me or disown me or something crazy.
So I carried on looking because I felt the *need* to get pierced, I can't explain it. Before I had ignored the tongue webbing piercings for whatever reason, but now I started looking at them more seriously and I fell in love with them. I thought they looked great with a bar and I imagined the way they would feel under my tongue. It was perfect! It was discreet so neither my parents or anyone at work would have to find out.
So I ended up deciding to get it done on Wednesday the 15th of January 2003 (today!). My girlfriend and me had decided to go to Birmingham so she could go shopping for a new outfit, and I decided that I was going to get it done. Wednesdays are a good day for going to Birmingham because we get the afternoon off school for P.E..
So we went in and she did her shopping, and we worked our way up to Oasis, which is where alot of people have piercings done in Birmingham. After having a nice filling meal to keep my blood-sugar levels up, we went in. After a bit of a hang around building up the courage I went up to the girl at the desk and ask here if they did tongue webbing piercings, seeing as it didn't say that they did on the board. She said they did, which was a huge relief, so I said 'Ok, lets do it'. I handed over my money, a very reasonable £15, and I signed a form to say that I had read the aftercare instructions and that I was over 16.
I didn't have to wait fortunately, so she took me into a small white room with a doctor-style bed, a sink and a cabinet with tissues and anaesthetic on. She explained that she was going to spray my mouth with a "banana-flavoured anaesthetic" that would deaden the area. She said I had to leave it in for 5 minutes, and that I should try to avoid swallowing because my throat would go numb and it would be uncomfortable. She also recommended not to spit it out, seeing as it wouldn't achieve the desired effect, but she did give me some tissue to catch any excess drool with (yuck).
Sure enough, in 5 minutes my mouth was completely numb and the peicer came into my room, followed by the girl I had spoken to. The girl wasn't to be doing the piercing; I think she was an apprentice or something. As they came in they were talking about how the piercer refused to pierce the lip of a French girl who didn't speak a word of English. It was nice of them because they made me feel more comfortable by making me laugh abit, showing that they were people, not machines.
The piercer had me lie down, and told me to touch the top of my mouth with my tongue. He then made me move it back slowly. This, he explained to the girl, was to get it in the ideal position where the webbing stuck out most. He then reached towards my mouth and I thought he was just grabbing my webbing, and I felt it moving to the side. But then I had the most odd experience ever, I felt the needle go through, but there was no pain. The needle went through in a second, and he grabbed the barbell, and as he pulled the needle out he slotted the barbell in, and then screwed the end ball on. This didn't cause me any pain whatsoever either, and the entire process took about a minute. I thanked him very much, and went outside to meet my girlfriend.
She absolutely loved it, and so did I. After this we went to buy me some anti-bacterial mouthwash from Boots. During the walk the anaesthetic wore off and I was aware of a kind of dull ache under my tongue, but it was nothing really and it soon faded.
As soon as I was home I went to the bathroom to check out my new piercing properly, seeing as I had only glanced it in shop mirrors in Birmingham. It was superb! I went and took some photos on my webcam, and I guess all that kinda made it ache abit again, but it was nothing. As I write this its 10:30 on the day of the piercing and I feel great! There's not too much swelling, barely any pain, and I love the way it feels under my tongue. I happily drank a hot cup of tea, and had no problems in talking to my parents, so I'm pretty confident the need never find out. I think over the evening the swellings been going up, and the bottom is kinda wide now, but nothing to worry about
DAY 1
Ok, so I woke up expecting pain or blood or more swelling but if anything I got the reverse. Some of the swelling had gone down and it didn't hurt at all. I lifter my tongue up to check it out, and for some reason one side of where they pierced it had gone red. I was a little worried but I think its ok. We'll see how it goes on. I'm trying to work out how I can get to the kitchen to make some salt water before I go to school without my parents noticing. I wanted to check that the balls were tight enough, but I don't really want to touch it with my fingers, seeing as I don't think I should play with it until its abit more healed.
When I got home it was pretty red. I managed to eat 2 yoghurts and a kit kat chunky thing. It took me ages too eat that kit kat, not just because of the pain, but its like I'm having to learn to eat again. When I got home I had to eat a meal with my parents. It was only an omelette and I managed to eat it ok. My parents haven't noticed yet, and I don't think they're going to. I swilled with half a pint of boiled water and a teaspoon of salt mixed. Man that stuffs nasty, got to be done though, I don't want an infection.
DAY 2
Woke up, no pain again. It was more swollen today and the entire area was red. Not to worry though. Ate a sandwich at school, I think I'm going to be ok with eating now. I managed my evening meal and swilled with nasty salt water before I went to bed. I really should do it 2x a day but I can't do it in the morning. I might have to start taking salt to school and using the kettle in the 6th form centre at lunch or something. Parents still haven't noticed.
DAY 3
Ok, first day at work with my piercing. No one noticed at all. The redness has started to fade now, and the swelling is slowly going down. No problems eating now. Unfortunately I wasn't able to swill with salt water today, I'd best do that more regularly seeing as I don't want it to go green and fall off.
DAY 4
The redness has gone now, and the swelling is much better. Another day at work, and I showed some of the people there. A mixture of surprise, disgust, and admiration I think. I managed to wash my mouth out with salt water at work, seeing as they have a instant boiling machine thing to make coffee with, and a box full of salt packets. I might try and clean the bar now, seeing as its not too tender. I think I can feel a bit of a build of up of residue on the back of the balls.
Ok, final update as of the 8th of March 2003, just over 2 months later. The swelling ad redness disappeared in the first week of having it, and my parents have not noticed it to this date. I would highly recommend this piercing to anyone who wants something a little unusual, and highly discreet. Also, if you live in the Birmingham area Pro Pierce in The Oasis is a very friendly place to get most piercings done. I'm going to have to go back there soon to get spiky ends put on my barbell, so I might see you around sometime!