I am here to write about my first (not including my lobes that i got at 4) piercing. My tongue!!!
At A Glance Author Ashlee Contact Ashlee@bme.anon When Two years ago Artist Harry Studio Headlight Tattoo Location Deptford, NJ I was 16(this was a little over 3 years ago)and had been interested in piercings since I was probably about 12 or 13. I had debated over different piercings that I wanted to get first; nose, lip, eyebrow, or tongue. I liked the idea of all of them, but I fell in love with tongue piercings when I first saw someone with one at the roller skating rink I used to go to.
It took about 2 years of convincing (plus I had to be 16 to legally get pierced) but my mom finally agreed to let me get my tongue pierced.
I looked online and in the phone book for places that were local to me and had good reputations and portfolios.I found a place that I had heard of people going to and that seemed to have experienced piercers and a professional shop.
So the night finally came when I had enough money to get pierced, and my mom had the night off. I was so excited to finally get a piercing, but I was also extremely nervous. I had heard a million different things about getting your tongue pierced. Ranging from it being the most horrible pain anyone has felt, to barely a pinch.
My mom drove me over to the shop along with my sister who waited in the car. We walked and talked to the girl at the counter about what I wanted. She gave us some papers and asked to see my ID or birth certificate and asked to see my mother's ID. Then Harry asked to look at my tongue to make sure it was suitable for a piercing. It was. I was so nervous that my leg was twitching and my hands were shaking as I waited to be called to the room to get my tongue pierced.
After only maybe 5 minutes I they said they were ready and would take me into the room. They asked if my mom wanted to come as well, she politely declined. She had no intention of watching a needle go through any part of me.
I sat in a chair against a wall, Harry gave me some type of mouth rinse (I don't remember exactly which) and then he prepared the needle and clamp and everything else. He gave me a bib type thing to tuck in my shirt so if I dribbled it wouldn't get all over me. Then he asked me to stick out my tongue, and he dabbed it with a paper towel and tried to prevent me from drooling. Then he placed the clamp on my tongue, not too hard. It didn't hurt at all, I have heard that the clamp can be the painful part and some piercers choose not to use it at all. Then he told me to count to 3 and bam he stuck the needle right through. It was done in no more than a few seconds, I barely even felt it. It felt like I had just bitten my tongue slightly. Then he stuck in the extra long barbell to prepare for swelling and tightened the ball. Then he gave me more rinse and I rinsed out my mouth.
After that I went back to the main room, paid 30 dollars (the price has since been upped at that particular shop to 50) and tipped him between 5 and 10 dollars. He gave me a care packet and told me what to expect over the next few days/weeks, and told me to call if I had any questions or problems.
The healing process was the worst part. It wasn't in too much pain, but it was extremely annoying to have difficulties eating and talking. It was worth it though.
My tongue was swollen and in slight pain for about 4 days and then after that it stopped hurting and the swelling was completely down. I decided to change it to a shorter barbell then, which was quite a feat. It took me probably about 10 minutes to unscrew the ball on the original bar bell, and then another 10 to gain the courage to take it out and put in the new one.
Overall, my tongue piercing experience was very good. Definitely a first good piercing. The shop was very clean and professional, and I returned to the same shop to get my next two piercings. It was definitely the least painful, and fastest to heal.
Sadly, and now with regret, I retired my tongue piercing about a year ago. There is still a hole there, but it is not wide enough anymore for a barbell. I am still debating on getting it redone.
I hope you enjoyed my story, and make sure to always go to a reputable piercer!