I had originally wanted to get a labret piercing for my 16th birthday...but because I'm still studying at the sort of institute that lists "regulation school knickers" on the uniform specifications, I was faced with major problems when it came to having such an obvious facial piercing.
At A Glance Author haematoma Contact haematoma@bme.anon When A month ago Artist Stu Studio Otherside Location Belfast, Northern Ireland Saying that, I'd already had my nose pierced for a while, and I had been wearing an invisible retainer in it...but I would have had to let the labret heal for a few months with the bar in before being able to switch to a retainer, so I grudgingly accepted the fact that my labret would have to wait until later.
So my birthday came and went. Almost six months later, after much consideration and research, I decided to have my tongue pierced. I figured that I wouldn't be reprimanded for a piercing if it was contained inside my head and I didn't make it too obvious. I had just been made a Prefect by this stage (don't ask me why) and was told in no uncertain terms that I wasn't to have any of my 8 existing piercings (including retainers) in during school if I wanted my shiny badge of power. I got around this by always wearing my hair over my ears and using concealer over my invisible nose retainer, to be on the safe side. I wasn't going to sacrifice a single hole.
Anyways, it took me a while to talk my mother round to the idea (still living in her house and surviving on her money, I wanted her on board and well-informed, so she would be more likely to accept my growing collection of metal). But she came round eventually.
Cash and passport in hand, there was only one place I trusted to stick needles in my mouth...this was of course Otherside Piercing Studio. If you get pierced in Belfast, you're probably aware that they're the best piercing studio in town. I'd already had 3 piercings done there before and I was really impressed with their attitude, professionalism and hygiene standards. And what's more, they're complete darlings, and really easy to talk to.
So I produced my passport (complete with embarrassing mug-shot) to prove I was 16, filled in the forms and parted with my cash before going into the actual room of piercery itself. Stu (the piercer) said it was okay for my friend to sit in the corner and watch me get it done (although he had to leave his sandwich outside) and he got me to sit on the couch thingy opposite the mirror and then (sterile gloves 'n' all) had me stick my tongue out so he could mark both the top and the bottom and let me check that the placing was good.
The new needle and jewellery were all shown to me first, still in the sterile packages, and then I had the clamp put on. It was a little uncomfortable, but didn't hurt. He told me to close my eyes while he sprayed my tongue with the cleany-desensitizing stuff (sorry I can't be more accurate about that) and then had me breathe in and then put the needle through as I exhaled. I can't say it hurt at all, and there was no bleeding either. To be honest, any sensation I did feel was actually quite pleasant.
Then Stu threaded the jewellery in and de-clamped me so I could finally bring my tongue back in. My tongue was pretty numb. Then he took me through the aftercare (avoiding drinking spirits, eating for the first few hours, using alcohol-free mouth wash, etc.) and gave me a few tips about starting to eat non-mooshy food again and getting used to the piercing and things like that, and answered any questions. We then digressed into a conversation about reptiles and ignorant vets and the suchlike.
Before I left I was given the written aftercare instructions and a receipt to bring back in 2 weeks so that I could have the bar changed for a shorter one, once the swelling had gone down.
A few of us went to the pub afterwards (nothing but a pint glass full of ice for me) and I was able to show off my new piercing, even though I was lisping slightly.
The most swelling I noticed was during the first night, but I'd expected that. The aftercare was easy enough - rinsing with non-alcoholic mouthwash after meals and in the morning and at night and so on. For the first two or three days, my blender was my best friend, providing delicious liquid meals, as my tongue was slightly swollen (although not ridiculously so) and I was still finding solids a little tricky. I was weaned onto mashed potato by the third day, and by the fourth or fifth I was eating noodles and pasta, one little awkward bit at a time. After a week, most of the swelling had gone down, and I could eat most things if I was careful with my tongue co-ordination (trying to keep it in the middle of my mouth to avoid biting the bar).
I went back to Otherside 2 weeks later, as instructed, but was told that there was still swelling in the middle of my tongue (probably caused by a small tear in the piercing during the early stages of healing - nothing too serious) and that I would be better waiting another week before having the shorter bar put in, which I did, and the change of bar was free of charge.
Anyways, almost 6 weeks later I have experienced no problems with my tongue piercing and it is definitely my favourite piercing so far. (My youngest sister's not even 3 years old, and she's very curious as to why I put a "nail" into my tongue...but she quite likes it and always asks to see it).
So...if you're considering a tongue piercing, then I would certainly recommend it...it's fast-healing, interesting and gorgeous...just make sure you do your homework first to make sure you end up with a good, well-healed piercing.