It all began back in February when I was starting to look at the pictures on BME. I was looking at all sorts of piercings. I came across tongue piercings and never really thought much of it (I never saw myself getting my tongue pierced). Then a friend of mine had also been thinking about getting venoms. But she hasn't gone through with it yet. The more I thought about it the more I grew to liking the idea of having them. Sometime in June I decided I was getting bored and needed a new piercing. My ears are mostly filled up and my parents have told me as long as I don't get any on my face they would buy me a new car when I graduate college so venoms were sounding more likely as the days progressed. In case you don't know what venoms are...they are two off center tongue piercings and look super sexy (I think).
At A Glance Author Lindsey Contact Lindsey@bme.anon When A month ago Artist Matt Studio Mystic Piercing Location Crofton, MD I continued to read about other people's experiences online (some of them were pretty scary) and asked everyone I met who had their tongue pierced how their encounter went. All of them however were regular center tongue piercing so I was really on my own. I was going to wait until the end of the summer to get them done because then I could take off work right before school started back up again (this would give them time to heal).
The time came when I was off work for a week because I work on the weekends and was going to go on vacation shortly; so I had the whole week off before I left.
I went on a Tuesday to Mystic Piercing in Crofton (they had the best price around where I lived). My piercers name was Matt; he was really nice. He looked at my tongue and said it was about the perfect tongue to get this done because my veins go to the center and shouldn't interfere at all. He took me to the back and let my friends come and follow. Another person who worked there asked if he could watch. I had no problem with that at all (this was before I knew I was going to drool like crazy). Matt went over all of the safety precautions, told me how to clean them, and also that I shouldn't play with them. Then he marked my tongue; I checked to make sure they were even (which they were) and grabbed my friend's hand. While researching, I had read that they didn't hurt too much but still the thought of two needles going through your tongue is a bit scary.
Take a deep breathe and the first one was done. Only a slight prick as the needle went through. I never even felt the jewelry go in after wards. He asked if I was fine and wanted to wait a little for the second, but I said go right ahead. By this time I was drooling all over myself because when you are holding your tongue out for so long you do that (wow was I cool). I took my second deep breath and the second needle was through. The second one hurt just a bit more but not much. "Okay you're done." Sweet I was thrilled.
They took a picture and gave me an icee pop thing to suck on to keep the swelling down. I was free to go. Rinse with Listerine every two hours and come back in two weeks to have us change the bars they said. I went to a 7-11 and got a slurpee to drink because I had already finished my icee pop. All my friends wanted to see my new piercing so the first day was a lot of showing everyone.
So I went on vacation and never really had any trouble at all with my tongue. Sometimes it would swell over night so it hurt pretty badly in the morning but I would read cold water over it for a few minutes and it would be just fine again.
After two weeks went by I went back, got some new jewelry, and got them changed. No major problems what-so-ever!
I can't stress enough how important it is the rinse with an ADA approved mouthwash every 2 hours and every time after you eat or drink diary. This is what really helped my tongue to heal so nicely. I rinsed all the time when I needed too (you can't do it too much or you well kill your taste buds). I had a friend who didn't rinse when she was supposed to and she had to take hers out. After about two weeks you can rinse less often and don't have to do it every time after you eat.