Ahhh...another year was rolling around since my last piercing, [I have a cartilage, my nose, eyebrow and navel pierced] and I wanted one bad. I was counting on getting my tongue pierced, and since my next orthodontist appointment was a month away [lots of time for swelling to go down] I needed to get it done NOW, or I'd have to wait another month until AFTER the next orthodontist appointment. Unfortunately, I had no extra funds so the latter seemed to be what was going to happen. I was slightly disappointed, and REALLY needed a new piercing. While recently browsing over pictures of tongue piercings on BMEzine, longing for the day I would have my own, I ran across pictures of tongue web piercings. They looked very neat, were easy to hide if I needed to do so, and someone I had met at a party had had hers done and she said that the piercing had barely any pain involved since the skin was so thin. I then read some BMEzine experiences, and found that the majority of people with this piercing had just done it themselves, since it was so simple to perform. Right then, I knew that in a couple hours this piercing would be mine.
At A Glance Author Caitlin Contact Caitlin@bme.anon When A month ago Artist Me Studio My bathroom Location Ontario, Canada [NOTE: The following procedure was done by ME, with my own instruments in my own house. I do not in ANY WAY condone self done piercings. I took a chance that could have been fatal. Go to a professional, people!]
After reading a few more experiences, off to the bathroom I went! I pulled out a cute eyebrow barbell with lime green balls, a smallish medical needle with an earring backing on one end [making sure it was slightly LARGER in width than the eyebrow barbell], an earring backing for the other end after the piercing, and rubbing alcohol to disinfect all the instruments. I had read stories of people using thumb tacks [since they are as fat as an 18 gauge barbell], and taking cutters to it and removing the big plastic part on the end so it easily fits in your mouth. I managed to find a medical needle small enough for the job, which I felt more comfortable about using. After the needle, earring backing and eyebrow barbell had soaked in the alcohol for about half an hour, and I had washed my hands thoroughly, I went to work. I looked under my tongue and found that my web was quite a bit thicker than those I had seen on BMEzine. No problem, I have a high pain tolerance. I held the needle against my tongue web, with my thumb on the blunt end of the needle and my index finger on the other side of my tongue web where the needle would come out.
One, two, THREE!
I pushed the needle through in one go. There was a slight popping sound after a little resistance as the needle exited the skin on the other side of the web. No pain, no blood. I couldn't believe that I had just shoved a needle through flesh and not felt a thing. I was however, drooling all down my chin and the needle was very slippery in my mouth. I was afraid that if it slipped away it would fall out and I would have to pierce it again, with pain this time, since it was already starting to swell slightly. I knew that if I pulled the needle out right away, the stretchy skin of the tongue web would retract and it would be very difficult to get the barbell in. With that in mind, I pushed it as far in as I could, making sure ALL the tongue web skin was on the thickest part of the needle and NONE was on the tapered part. [This is important for later when you put the barbell in] I pushed the end of the needle into the earring backing so that I could leave the needle in for a while, but it wouldn't poke me in the mouth or fall out.
Several hours later, I went back to the bathroom to put the barbell in. I pulled the earring backing off the needle, pulled it out, and quickly pushed the eyebrow barbell into the hole. I found that it slid in quite easily, but it hurt the tiniest bit since the area was swollen. The hardest job was getting that other ball on. I was drooling EVERYWHERE, and the second I got close to screwing the ball on, it would be spit covered and slip out of my hand. After about 15 minutes of trouble, I managed to get the ball on, and I marveled at my piercing in the mirror. I was very happy that since my tongue web was so thick, the entire barbell was full of skin which meant a lesser chance of migration or rejection.
For the next week I rinsed my mouth out with saline solution [sea salt and water] after every meal, and after just that week, the swelling was gone, the piercing was no longer discharging, and there was no pain no matter how I bent my tongue. I had it for a month, and I had a lot of fun showing people and enjoying their reaction. Some thought it was neat; some were grossed out, and were even more disturbed when they found I had done it myself. I never quite got used to having it in my mouth, and one day I decided to take it out. It was a very simple piercing to do though, so I may re pierce it again one day!
I would recommend this piercing to anyone who wants something that is easy to hide, easy to heal, and fun to show off! But remember; go to a professional because your experience may not turn out as successful as mine!