I've wanted to get a piercing for quite some time. So I decided that I'd look around BME to see if anything really interested me. I decided that I'd go and get a center tongue piercing.
At A Glance Author Alex Contact astephens1989@yahoo.com When It just happened Artist Autumn Studio Warlocks Location Raleigh, NC After arguing with my parents for about fifteen minutes, I finally got the approval. Since I'm not 18 yet, and in the state of North Carolina you have to be in order to get any piercings besides ears, I had to bring my father along.
So we found a place and went to have it done. After paying for the piercing, rinsing with mouthwash, sitting in the chair and having my tongue clamped, the guy told me he had to talk to me. He told me that my tongue was too short for a piercing and warned me that if I did get it, it could split my tongue. So I decided no to get it and left very disappointed.
The day after, I went back on BME and looked at some alternative oral piercings and I ran across the web piercing. I knew that I wanted it right away, and seeing as how I have a huge lingual frenulum (tongue web), I knew that I'd be able to get it.
Once again I had to convince my parents, and for some reason they were even angrier with my decision to get this one. I think they thought that I'd give up the idea since the first attempt was a failure. Anyway, after a whole day of arguing, I got the OK. I decided to go to a different place this time because the first one was OK, but it wasn't as clean as it could have been.
After looking up parlors around my area and calling to see if they did the piercing, I finally decided to go with Warlocks. I've heard nothing but good stories about this place. So, my step mother and I went and talked to the piercer, Autumn. We filled out all of the paper work and gave her our I.D.'s. I was just about to go back into the room when it hit me that I might not want to do it that day due to an infection that I just found out I had in the back of my throat. So I decided to ask her if I should wait until it is healed to get the piercing. She told me that it would be a good idea to wait because the infection could spread easily from my throat to my tongue.
So I left the parlor and came back a week later. We didn't have to fill out the paper work again because we kept it with us. I was immediately taken back to the room where Autumn put everything in the autoclave right in front of us. On top of that, the room was spotless and smelled of disinfectant, which is a really good sign. After she took the materials out of the autoclave she explained some more about the piercing. She told me that the frenulum is actually a gland and getting it pierced would likely make my throat swell. I told her that was OK. So we went on with the piercing
I rinsed with non-alcoholic mouthwash and sat in the big black dentist's chair. She made me open my mouth as wide as I could and stuck the clamps on, which weren't uncomfortable like everyone says. Then she told me to breath deep. She slid the needle in and it was over. It wasn't painful at all, it felt like a very small pinch. After the needle was was in, she slid the jewelry in, which was a horseshoe shaped barbell. I've heard many people say that this is the most painful part of the whole piercing. For me, I couldn't even tell she was sliding it in. It was an extremely easy-to-handle piercing.
After we were through, she made me lay back on the chair because I felt a little nauseous, which she told me was normal. She made me eat and icee pop and gave me a bottle of water before I left. She also gave me very extensive aftercare instructions. I let my step mom drive home because I was still a little nauseous.
When I got home I showed my dad who hated it. But I didn't get it for his entertainment so that really didn't bother me. It's been three days since I got it and it hasn't swollen or bled yet. However, on the second day everything I ate or drank just tasted like salt. I can't explain that but other than that and a slight discomfort while eating, everything is great. The discomfort while eating is getting better and I expect it to feel normal again in 3-5 more days, at least that's what I've heard.
Anyone who is considering getting this piercing should definitely go for it. It has so many advantages over others, especially the fact that it is extremely easy to hide and it is one of the least painful piercings available.