Approximately two years ago I had my tongue pierced. It was the second time around, but it was repierced at the same spot since the very original one had been retired a good year previous to this one (See "Tongue Tale"). My very first tongue piercing was not the best experience and was rather painful. When I came back two years ago wanting the piercing back, I wasn't sure how well it would go or if I would feel comfortable with it back. Of course, as soon as it was back in my mouth, I was flooded with nostalgia and was a happy camper.
At A Glance Author Marsdweller Contact marsdweller@hotmail.com IAM Marsdweller When It just happened Artist Matt Cottrell Studio Planet Ink Studios Location Ottawa, Ontario This good experience lead me to think of what else I could get done in my mouth. I like the look of a tongue piercing. I find it attractive and it always makes someone do a double take if they catch a glimmer of something shiny in your mouth. It attracts them to your face and your expression rather than any other part of your body which you'd think of as flawed. It's not as obvious as a nostril piercing, bridge or eyebrow piercing or a large ring in a septum piercing. It's also something that employers are less likely to worry about or ask you to remove. You simply need to be tight-lipped.
After a couple months of having this single tongue piercing I came up with the idea of having a couple more in a straight line. Kind of like the buttons down a shirt, but down my tongue instead. I liked this idea for decorative purposes but also for functionality and practicality; since the Lizardman showed the world that it is safe and possible to split a tongue, I've wanted it done. I figured with three tongue holes my eventual and "one day" tongue split will be simplified. There is something that fascinates me about remolding the body without removing or adding anything. The way the tongue heals when it is split to become two separate parts simply captivates me. With every tongue piercing down the middle I figured I would be that much closer.
Therefore, after hum-ing and haa-ing about it for a short period, I went back to see Matt Cottrell, my piercer at Planet Ink Studios in Ottawa. He of course had no opposition to this, given he knows I know the risks associated (not that there are many or serious ones). This was approximately 6 or 7 months after my repiercing my first tongue piercing. I happen to be in that day with a friend getting pierced so I went on a whim and asked him to do my tongue. He did it for me without missing a beat and I was well on my way to healing. While I did encounter some minor problems in healing due to how close it was to the first hole, most of them we're easily resolved. This second piercing had been placed behind the original one so it was further back towards the back of my mouth. Pain associated with this placement was generally localized at the back of the throat and to the sides of the tongue, as well as any swelling that I sustained. The healing was very different from the first; pain was minimal, swelling was hardly noticeable apart from mornings where I had that distinguishable "pie crust" tongue effect from the swelled-up tongue pushing against my teeth, and I was able to eat without any discomfort as soon as it was done. I washed with a mild salt-water solution and within a week I was comfortable with this second piercing.
The most common problem I ran into with the second tongue piercing was the bottom bead getting imbedded into the bottom of my tongue. This occurred because the primary piercing would pull up and pull the bead of the other one in deeper. At some points I had a very deep groove in my tongue and had to forcefully push out the bead. Eventually I visited Matt and he advised me to either remove it or try a larger bead on the bottom of the second piercing. While the larger bead risks simply making the hole bigger, it was worth a shot; I'm not one to easily give in to removing a piercing. Indeed the very slightly larger bead worked and after a good 6months all issues with both barbells were resolved.
I had had two for a while now and after having had a large skin removal project started, I was craving something simple, easy to heal and that did NOT require a high pain tolerance! I had had my fill of pain from the skin removal. I wanted something that brought me back to the basics of piercing.
The day in question was not the day that I had actually planned on getting it done. It Sunday, December 12th, 2004. IAM: Tirial (Warren) had invited me to come witness his ampallang piercing procedure and it just so happened that Matt was the one doing it. Once this procedure was over, I happened to run into two of my friends who had stopped by the shop to get a piercing! Sarah and Mel are good friends of mine and Matt so we browsed and took our time choosing. Sarah decided on having her septum stretched to a 12gauge, Mel decided on having her nipples done and I... well I was cashless at the moment and was disappointed I could not join in the fun.
Lucky for me, Matt being the friend that he is offered to do my tongue piercing and have me pay on another day. I was absolutely excited. I hadn't been pierced somewhere "typical" in a while and I couldn't wait to have even MORE metal in my mouth!
After Mel and Sarah had their stuff done, I was next. Matt removed the middle piercing since this third and final piercing was going to be placed ahead of both piercing. Closer to the tip of the tongue where there's a few more sensitive nerves than the back. Matt first checked with a gloved-penlight for any veins or arteries in the way, which there weren't. He marked, allowed me to check the placement and moved on to clamping. I always thought that was the worst part especially that the clamp ends often pinch my oral web, making the whole thing slightly more uncomfortable. He used a cork on the underside of my tongue and with one swift push, it was through. Jewelry threading was not painful but at this point my tongue was throbbing with the pressure – although light – of the clamps.
Once the clamps were off, he reinserted now the middle and primary barbell from my original tongue piercing. The feeling of an extra barbell would be exactly what you would expect – something extra was there. I smiled. I love that feeling.
I thanked matt and headed home. It was a cold night and the cold air felt marvelous against my tongue so by the time I got home it was rather frozen and painless. However, with the first bite of food (I didn't know my limits yet – my last tongue piercing hadn't imposed any dietary restrictions for me) pain show down the tip of my tongue.
This last tongue piercing if proving to be slightly more challenging, but also most likely to be less problematic than the second one. It is provokes more pain with speaking and eating, however does not illicit a lisp nor does it dig in to any oral surfaces. I find the look is neat and always makes people gawk, which is kind of fun sometimes.
Thanks to Matt Cottrell (IAM: hellspawn) at planet ink studios in Ottawa, Ontario!