For about 6 years I've been begging my mom to let me get my tongue pierced. But when you're 11, no one takes you seriously. Not much changed between the ages of 11 and 17, although I had managed to convince my mom to let me get 2 tattoos and convinced her to get one herself.. For the past month or so I've been thinking about getting my tongue pierced again although I knew my mom would never go for it and my dad would like it even less, so I didn't even bother to ask.
At A Glance Author Courtnie Contact FXCMYROCKSTAR@aol.com When It just happened Artist I don't remember Studio American Tattoo Location Baton Rouge, LA The other night I went to spend the night at my friend Amanda's house, and our friend Whitney also joined us. Whitney has had her tongue pierced since she was 14. Hearing her play with it and seeing it whenever she talked and laughed made me want it even more. I decided to talk to my mom about it, even knowing what my answer would be. Whitney gave me some points to talk to my mom about, such as I can always take it out, I should get it done now so it can heal before I go back to school, and that I've read up on it, can take care of it, and I wont ask for anything for a while.
I woke up at 4 yesterday, and asked my mom if I could get my tongue pierced. Her first words were "absolutely not"...so...I played it cool. I told her all the pros to letting me get it done. I also told her that I had the money to pay for it and all she had to do was sign for it. For some reason, she gave in. After 6 long years of begging, I was finally getting my tongue pierced.
My mom called American Tattoo, talked to Ryan (our tattoo artist) and asked him if there was someone there who could pierce my tongue. He said that he went to Wal-Mart but should be back. So we got my birth certificate, my driver's license, her license, and my cash and were on our way. About 15 minutes later we were at American Tattoo watching the piercer (whose name I can't remember for anything) put the balls on this girl's earring. We talked to him, told him what I wanted, and paid him. He took me to the back and let me watch him set up. Everything was taken out of brand new packages, so I knew it was steril.
He made me stick my tongue out and flip it upside down so he could mark it. He marked it with dye on the end of a matchstick which was very professional, considering most places use the same sharpie marker on everyone to mark the area. He then told me to go look in the mirror and see if I liked the placement. I told him I did but he moved it up a little to make for better healing. I sat on the table on he gave me a paper towel in case I drooled. He got out the clamps and put them on my tongue. This was uncomfortable but not extremely painful. Keep in mind I have tattoos, so nothing really hurts anymore compared to those. He got the needle and told me to take a deep breath and let out, and then do it again. When I breathed out the last time, he pushed the needle through. It hurt, I will admit. It wasn't excruciating pain. It was more like "Okay, that hurt." He then put the barbell in and put the other ball on. That part didn't hurt at all. Then I had to rinse with that horrib le Listerine. I went and looked in the mirror and loved it.
I tipped him 5 bucks and then he told me about aftercare. He told me I needed to get Biotene mouthwash, distilled water, and sea salt. Then he gave me a free pack of sea salt which was really cool of him. He told me to mix the sea salt with a gallon of distilled water and rinse with it three times a day. Then I had to use the mouthwash when anything besides ice was in my mouth. That was about the end of the aftercare instructions but I've read enough stories on here to know I'd be eating soft foods for a while, nothing hot or spicy, I couldn't kiss for a while or do anything "oral" related, and that, like any piercing, I couldn't touch it.
I came home and sucked on ice for a while. Then I tried to conquer the great adventure of eating. My mom made mashed potatoes. That was harder than expected. It took me forever to swallow them because I couldn't tell the difference between my barbell and my potatoes. I ate like 10 bites in a matter of 15 to 20 minutes, and eventually I gave up because my tongue was getting sore and it left a lot to be desired. So I did a salt water rinse, used mouthwash and went back to sucking on ice. I took some Aleve for pain and swelling and went to bed.
When I woke up this morning, I was in pain. My tongue was swollen and sore so I took some Aleve, sucked on ice, and then ate pudding which was also not so easy. My tongue isn't really swelling much which is nice. I can still talk pretty well although I'm trying not to because the more you talk, the more it swells. It doesn't hurt horribly, but it's sore. Eating makes it worse. I think I'll try to conquer a baked potato tonight. I wish I would have eaten something really good before I got it pierced. Now I'm craving Taco Bell and Pizza Hut but I know it would be impossible to choke that down. I almost don't want to eat because eating and then having to rinse gets old.
I highly recommend American Tattoo for anything you want to get done. That's the only place I trust for anything. They're very clean and very professional. I've gotten both of my tattoos there and I always will.
I love my tongue piercing. I'm so glad I got it done and I know in a week, when it's not swollen and I can actually eat normal food, I'll love it even more.