I remember very clearly when my university roommate got her tongue pierced, way back in 1997. I was impressed, amazed, and very jealous. We lived in New Brunswick, and a non-ear piercing was just about as exotic as you could get. Later when I was on March Break in Toronto, I decided to get my tongue pierced as well. I was very naïve to what kind of shop I should be looking for, so I picked one on Yonge St., that shall go un-named, merely because it advertised it's piercer to have been working for 25 years. That was enough to impress me. The experience was just about as negative as it can get. She was rough, unpleasant, unprofessional, but, hey, I didn't know any better. It healed well enough, despite her almost cutting through my tongue with the clamp, and the piercing being totally crooked.
At A Glance Author Meg Contact Meg@bme.anon IAM Meg When A year ago Artist Vanessa Studio Yonge St. Tattoo's Location Toronto, Ontario I wore it with pride for many, many years. It was a gateway to other piercings for me, more piercings made me more educated, and also made me realize how badly done this initial piercing was. It didn't bother me in earth shattering, keep me up at night crying kind of way, but I didn't really like it either, and I wanted to get it re done.
I took the barbell out in the summer of 2002, intending to get it re-pierced in a few months. I worked near Yonge St. Tattoo's, and had made friends with their senior piercer, Vanessa. I was taking a vacation in November, and before this would be the perfect time to get re-pierced. I would have a whole week to heal up and go back to work more or less comfortable and able to talk. I had also decided to get 2 "venom style", or off center piercings done. It was a little different, and I'm all about, "Go Big or Go Home".
So off I went. In the past I've always had a very easy time getting pierced and tattooed. I have a fairly high pain tolerance, and even handled a fairly large branding with only a few twitches. However, the memories of the first tongue piercing I had gotten was still raging in my brain, and I knew I was going to have more of a problem with this than anything else I had done in the past. I trusted Vanessa completely but I also new myself, and how I could be. I warned her about my possible reaction and she was very kind and gracious. We went up to her studio, I sat down on "the chair" and tried to focus on my breathing. I was just trying not to remember how much the first time had hurt, and how uncomfortable that piercer had made me.
**note** I wish I could say it was way better than I was expecting, and that I had nothing to worry about. It hurt. It hurt a lot. I knew that having the two muscles pierced instead of piercing between them would definitely hurt more. And it did. However, I can chalk most of it up to the fact that I was so nervous, tense, and unhappy. I'm sure a so-called "normal" person going into this situation would have far less discomfort than I did.
Vanessa spent a lot of time marking my tongue, to make sure the piercings would be as evenly placed as possible. When we were both happy, she prepared the clamps, needles, jewelry, etc. etc.... She placed the clamp on my tongue, over the first marking, and I became a drool machine. The piercing was over quickly, and she got the barbell in as smoothly as she could. I had turned a lovely shade of off white with a greenish tinge and was feeling a little weak. Of course I told her I was fine and that I wanted to go on with the next one. When that was over, I felt light headed, but happy that it was over. They looked great, and I knew I had won a little battle against my psyche.
The healing process went a little slower than it had the first time. I wasn't a smoker the first time, and as much as I would love to say I gave up smoking while it healed, that would be a big fat hairy lie. I was pretty good with the aftercare, using a non-alcohol based mouthwash, and drinking lots of water. I was able to eat pretty much what I wanted as long as I was careful. The swelling was gone after a week, and it was feeling pretty normal after two. I was and am very happy with the outcome of this piercing. The only thing that has proven to be an obstacle has been work. I've been promoted and have to adhere to our dress code, which includes no non-ear piercings while working. I thought I would be able to take out the barbells for a couple of hours about six months after I had it done. When I was done working I went to put them back in and found that one of the holes had closed to the point that the barbell wouldn't fit. I went back to Vanessa and she tapere d the barbell back in, and I can honestly say that having that done was more painful than the piercing ever was. I found a way to get around the dress code by taking the top beads off the barbell when I'm working, now everyone's happy. Well, I'd be happier with a different job, but that's beside the point.
I'd recommend this piercing for anyone who has a desire for something a little different. I'm more than thrilled that I had it done, and that I have two piercings that were well done and that I can be proud of.