This was my first ever piercing, and one that most people new to piercing are afraid of. I think one of the main reasons I was not afraid of getting my tongue pierced was because it was on the spur of the moment. One day I just decided that I wanted to get something pierced, but I wanted to get something a bit different and something not so standard like an ear lobe piercing. At first my mum and dad were not too comfortable with the fact that my first piercing was going to be something as dangerous as getting my tongue pierced. They seemed to take this view after hearing stories of people dying from getting their tongue pierced, and because it was my first piercing they were concerned. I will give them that, as they were only looking out for my safety, however I knew that any decent piercer would know what they are doing and not endanger me. I finally managed to convince my parents to let me go through with it, by in forming them of the procedure that the piercing follows, a background on the piercer I was going to, and all the safety precautions that surround this piercing. To do this I went to my piercer's web site (www.fallenangelpiercing.com), which was highly recommended by another person on another piercing web site (www.body-jewellery-shop.co.uk).
At A Glance Author DaRk Contact samhughes91@hotmail.com IAM DaRk When A year ago Artist Carl Studio Bodz Location Fallen Angel, Lark Lane, Liverpool The next day I was on the phone to the piercer's to make an appointment, I was told to make sure I had a big meal before hand, so I did just that and headed out to get my tongue pierced. On the bus to the studio I was starting to get a little bit nervous, nothing major but seeing as it was my first time I was going to get a piece of metal rammed through my tongue I was feeling a bit anxious. As I got closer to the studio I felt my breathing getting a bit heavier as I approached. When I entered the studio I was greeted with friendly faces and a very relaxed and laid back atmosphere, which was perfect for a piercing studio I thought, it really helped me calm myself, not to mention they had the comfiest chairs ever. After I filled out the necessary forms, I was asked if I wanted any antibacterial agents to numb my tongue, I said no and Carl was ready for me and I made my way to the piercing room.
The room was extremely clean and I started to get flashbacks of the hospital. I was asked to take a seat on this sort of upright bed. I made myself comfortable and whilst Carl (the piercer) washed his hands and took me through the procedure, what happens when he pierces it, how the piercing will heal, everything I needed to know, which really, really, really helped me to relax; and gave me a feeling of safety. I had read stories and other people's experiences about getting their tongue pierced, and even though they said that they did not feel a thing and it did not hurt, I still refused to believe them. Once Carl had finished washing his hands very thoroughly, he put on some rubber gloves (the disposable ones like you see in movies) and got me to close my eyes. He then asked my to stick my tongue out, and told me that he was marking on with some antibacterial stuff where the piercing would go. He then told me he was going to put the clamps on my tongue. I had read from other people's experiences that the clamps were very uncomfortable, however when Carl fitted them onto my tongue they did not hurt or feel uncomfortable in the slightest; it just felt like my tongue was being held firmly between my finger and thumb. At this point I could feel my heart beating more and more rapidly, as I knew it was getting close to the piercing. Carl kept on talking to me throughout the piercing which did help to keep my mind off the fact I was going to have a metal spike driven through my tongue. Carl then asked me if I could wriggle the toes on my left foot, then on my right foot, then both at the same time, it was when I was doing this that he pierced me. At first I thought this was just something to help me to relax. This helped a lot as I was not expecting it I did not feel a thing. The actual piercing lasted for about half a second, and because my tongue is so soft the needle went through it so quickly and easily. The piercing did not hurt, or was uncomfor table in anyway, it was when the jewellery was being inserted it was m ost uncomfortable, as I had a fresh open wound and a piece of metal was being put through it.
Once the jewellery was in Carl told me to wash my mouth out with water to get rid of any excess blood. The first spit was just blood, which I thought was a bit worrying, but the next spit hand nowhere near as much blood, and the next even less, until five spits later when it was just water. Carl told me that the water was drawing out the blood, so that's why it looked like there was so much. He then showed me to the mirror so I could have a look at what it looked like. I stuck my tongue out and it looked so amazing, I was really pleased with it. Carl then asked me to lift my tongue up and have a look at the angle it was on. I found this really hard to do and barely managed it as my tongue felt so weak and heavy with the new bar through it. Carl told me it was on an angle on purpose as if it was straight it had the potential to kill me; also with it being on an angle it fitted in with the shape of the inside of my mouth better.
This whole ordeal cost me £40 and it was worth every penny, I loved it. The current bar I had in my mouth was a lot bigger than I thought as it had to cope with any swelling that would occur, but because I did not numb my tongue I did not have anywhere near as much swelling. To be honest I don't see why anyone would need to have their tongue numbed so they don't feel it, as the piercing is so quick, and your tongue is so soft you don't feel a thing. It was hard to speak and I did have quite a bad lisp, this lasted for about two weeks with me, but I have read about it only lasting for a week with some people; it all depends on the way you talk and your accent I think. Also at first eating was the most frustrating and hardest thing to do; I could only eat bread for the first few days, but as time went on I got used to eating different foods, until a week later when I was eating normally again.
The tongue is one of the fastest healing piercing's so after three weeks it was healed and I went back to get the bar changed to a smaller one. I was a bit disappointed at this because after three weeks I was used to it and I enjoyed playing with the longer bar, but if I kept it in longer than a month I was in danger of tearing the piercing, and this was the last thing I wanted. When Carl took the bar out of my tongue it was so horrible, my mouth felt so empty and like I had a massive gaping hole in it, I could not wait to get the new bar back in. I never thought I would get used to it at first, but now that I am I never want it out of my mouth.
If I had to give anyone who was looking to get his or her tongue pierced a bit of advice it would be go for it. If you have had say your cartridge pierced before then you will know how much that hurt, as the needle has to go through a very tough part of the body, whereas the tongue is extremely soft and therefore the needle goes through a lot easier. Also please if you do get it done bare with it, by this I mean with eating and talking, sometimes it did feel like my speech and eating were never going to get better, but after a few weeks you will be back to normal and have a great new piercing. Finally, make sure you go to a qualified piercer, and one that is not just after you money.