I have wanted to have my tongue pierced since about junior high when I saw a girl who had one and was highly intrigued by the idea. Since I have just moved out of my parents house and am of legal age, I was finally able to do it--- and hoped to be able to keep it secret from my family.
At A Glance Author Sara Contact sat0010@unt.edu When A week ago Artist Chris Studio Ace in the Hole Location Deep Ellum, Dallas, TX Although the secrecy didn't work out due to stupidity on my part, I absolutely love my tongue piercing. I was planning on waiting until November to do it, so I could be past a visit to my grandparents and mother that is forthcoming, but I just decided I couldn't wait any longer on my most recent trip to Deep Ellum.
I was seeing an afternoon concert on a Saturday and decided that it was the day -- the day to get my tongue pierced. After the concert, I presented the idea to everyone and was encouraged to go ahead and go through with it. My friend Evan came along, and we walked one block down the street to Ace in the Hole.
Chris, the piercing artist at Ace, had done one of my ear piercings, my best friend's nose, my best friend's stretching in her ears, and another friend's ear -- so I trusted him completely. I walked in and he came out form the back, asking what I needed.
I pointed at my mouth and said, "I'd like to get my tongue pierced."
It's scary how quick and easy it is to go and just get pierced, because it becomes so addictive. After signing the papers and paying the $40, I followed Chris back to the little piercing room that I've seen so many times and sat on the table. He gave me a little cup of Listerine and I swished for about 30 seconds before he pulled out the purple pen to mark my tongue with.
I stuck my tongue out as far as it goes and let him dry it with the paper towel and mark where it would go. He explained to me that the vein under my tongue is a little long, so it would be off-center in the bottom but perfectly centered in the top. I didn't argue with him one bit, because I trust his judgement completely. He's a wonderfully competent piercing artist and does beautiful work.
He had me lie down and stick my tongue back out, then told me he was about to put the clamp down. "Some people think this is the worst part," he said, and clamped the little tool down on my tongue.
It wasn't painful, just uncomfortable. He then told me he was about to put the needle with the tube through my tongue, and to just close my eyes so I don't look at it and flinch. I did so, and was surprised that the piercing didn't hurt, actually, it was almost somewhat pleasureable. I felt it go through the bottom of my tongue and distinctly felt it break through the top, but the pain amounted only to how much a flick with a rubber band would hurt.
Chris put the barbell in my tongue, screwed on the ball, and gave me another little cup of listerine to swish around. He told me I did great, and to call or come by if I have any questions or problems. I got right up and stuck my tongue out to the mirror, extremely pleased with the outcome.
Evan and I walked back down to my car, past the club where we had just been, and found that everyone was still loading up their equipment and such. I had a grand time showing off my new stud to everyone, who were all surprised that it only took five minutes to have the whole thing done.
My speech wasn't terribly affected like I hear most people, I was just speaking a little funny for a while. I, unfortunately, had made plans to have dinner with my stepmother and had to eat chicken in front of her, so she guessed what I had done and flipped out accordingly... although it's my tongue, and there isn't much she can say about it. She doesn't realize that people besides "street freaks" have their tongue pierced.
I have been a little swollen for the past couple days, but Advil and Listerine definitely keep that in check. From what I read, this can take anywhere from a week to a month to heal, and I am looking forward to when eating won't be painful anymore.
It's not painful enough that I can't eat, because I've had no problems eating normal foods, it's just discomfort mostly. I can't wait for the swelling to go down so I can put in a shorter barbell...
My friends have told me to just keep swishing with Listerine and it should be down in a couple days.
I absolutely love this thing.