I love all my piercings, and my mum and dad are really good about them, but there was one they hated the idea of. Dad didn't so much mind, but it was mum's reaction. Since I was 14 I wanted my tongue piercing, mum hated the idea and insisted that while I live under my parents' roof, I was not getting it no matter what I said or did there was no way.
At A Glance Author DeadlyPoison Contact kayleigh.a.smith@gmail.com When A year ago Artist Debbie Studio Piercings By Debbie Location Stamford, Lincolnshire, England I remember when I was in school; the "popular girls" came in after summer holiday and were showing off their new navel, eyebrow and tongue piercings. I had wanted my navel done for a while but mum had said after my GCSE's.
I really like the tongue piercing but I was too much of a wuss, and I wasn't even going to ask my mum, (I was 15). I went through the final two years of school pleading with my mum to let me have my tongue pierced as well. No surprises that she said no each time.
She had been told that if the piercer gets it wrong and hits the vein then the person with bleed to death in under a minute. So she was adamant that I was not having it done.
I got my navel after my GCSE's. But I still wanted my tongue piercing. I tried everything to convince her to let me have it done, even her being there and watching the piercer doing another. She wouldn't have it.
When I was 17 I asked a piercer if it was possible to pierce my tongue, I had the money and I wanted it, I was willing to go through my mum having a go at me.
He said (and I quote) "there is no way I can pierce your tongue. The veins are all in the wrong place and I would never chance it. Plus the webbing under your tongue is to long compared to your tongue so it would be very awkward even without the veins."
Mum was pleased as punch and told me I can now forget all about it, but I didn't. My then boyfriend was also happy; he didn't like the idea of shoving bits of metal in my face. (Even though he had an eyebrow piercing).
For my 18th birthday I got my first tattoo, we got chatting about piercings to and once more I touched on a tongue piercing, mum wasn't there, but dad just rolled his eyes, knowing what mum would say. I was given all the main warnings about chipped teeth, swallowed jewellery, and more chance of TSS with a tongue piercing than any other piercing. I still wanted it.
After around 9 months and a couple more tattoos and piercings, I went back to the shop and asked Kelly if she could pierce my tongue, she took a quick look and said that it would be really close to the front and I would always be catching it, and so she wouldn't recommend it.
I was in college doing a Childcare course by this time, and was being told horror stories of piercings gone wrong by tutors who were desperately trying to stop me from "making the biggest mistake of my life".
Once more my mum was happy, but I was still hell bent on getting my tongue piercing, I did all the reading I could on it so I knew exactly how to take care of it and such, and found some pictures of "short tongue piercings" like mine would be. Mum was not impressed and tried her hardest to talk me out of it, again.
I was in a different college on a different course when I found a friend of mine was doing a piercing course and had recently done three tongue piercings, we got chatting and I was telling her about my quest for a tongue piercing. She took one look and shook her head, I wasn't surprised. She said it was to higher risk and nobody would take that risk at all.
I kind of gave up on the idea for a couple of years, until last year. Debbie, who had been in business in our town before, had just set up in a different place, Kissing Fish.
I went and had a talk with her, told her what I had been told by three other piercers, she laughed and said, "Let me have a look." And after a couple of minutes she stood back and said, "yup, I can do that. Will be at a slight angle, off to one side on the bottom but it will be so slight, you won't notice it."
That was it I started saving, and I ignored new music and only gave my mum board money the rest I saved. I told my mum the day before I was due to have it done. She was not impressed, but said that if I was so insistent, then fine I could get it, but I had to take care of it, she was having nothing to do with it.
I didn't get any sleep the night before, which is never a good thing, but I felt fab.
That morning I was having my dog clipped, and I was all excited about the afternoon, I had paid a £10 deposit already a full week before. I was booked in for 1pm. I was first in that day.
It was nice and warm and sunny, and I had sorted a bag out with tissues and lots of water, put my money in so I couldn't forget it and made sure my phone was charged so I could let mum know I was fine.
I was sat patiently waiting when Debbie came in and got set up, I signed my consent forms and she went through the procedure with me showing me everything she was going to use, what was going to happen.
The fun part was after she had marked my tongue, I couldn't get my tongue to poke out AND relax it. Every time I relaxed my tongue went back into my mouth, Debbie grabbed it with the clamps this time I poked it out got it right on target, I was giggling by then but was still nervous, I hardly felt the needle go through.
I knew it was there but it was a strange feeling, it was a numb pain. Bar was in and ball was on before I knew it.
It was about ten minutes after before I felt any pain; talking, drinking and swallowing of all things were really painful. But I had my tongue piercing. It had only taken 6 years and three piercers before I could find one able to do it.
After a week I had the bar changed from a 20mm to a 14mm, talking was A LOT easier, drinking was still a bit of a problem,
It is nearly a year now since I got my tongue piercing, and it's the only one that hasn't caused me any problems. It healed quickly, never got any infections and the swelling was minimal. Although I have to say if it ever had to come out, I wouldn't have it re-done, at least I don't think I would. I don't think I can live on ice cream for four days straight again.