The first piercing I ever had done was my tongue and about 3 years later, I still have absolutely no regrets.
At A Glance Author stephanie Contact mrsmathers122@aol.com When Two years ago Studio Vibes Location Redwood City California My facination with the tongue piercing started when I was very young thanks mostly to Scary Spice of the Spice Girls(a little embarassing now, i know). I remember being in the 4th grade asking my mom if I could get my tongue pierced and her face going pale white. Unfortunetly for her, I am a very persistant person and nagged and nagged. Finally, she promised me that if I still wanted it when I turned 14 she would take me to get it done. I happily agree and waited a very very long 7 years.
Who would have thought after 7 years I would still adore tongue piercings and desperately want one? My mom certainly didnt thats for sure. When I brought it up, I had done my research. I knew the healing times, the possible problems, how to care for it etc etc. I had literally piles and piles of information and skillfully argued and debated my way to my piercing.
On the drive to Vibes, the piercing studio, I was surprisingly calm. Both my parents were coming and they were sweating more than me, for sure. As we got to the place and pulled into the parking lot, I felt my first set of pre-piercing jitters. I was a little shaky, definitely nervous, butterflies in my stomach and almost to excited to stand it. Vibes staff were all very nice and suppportive, and told me how lucky I was to have such cool parents. I waited about 10 minutes or so and then was called into the back rooms.
I was definitely scared by now. But much much more excited and ready for my LONG awaited piercing. I sat down on the medical table they had while the piercer set up. He had me stick my tongue out to look where to place the piercing. He checked the bottom for veins and then made a small purple dot to check the placement of my piercing. He also placed a paper towel "bib" on me, tucked into the top of my shirt, which confused the hell out of me...at first. Next he pulled out the clamps. He attached them to my tongue and then pulled it out ridiculously far. I remember dying for him to take the clamps off because they were actually painful! Not only that but after having your tongue pulled as far out as possible it becomes VERY hard not to drool, which suddenly made it very clear to my what the paper towel was there for. And it was everywhere. =)Which really sucked because my piercer was really cute too. Then, the moment of truth. He grabbed the needle and stuck it directly up from the bottom of my tongue. I heard my parents gasp and my dad actually had to leave the room. As for me, if I couldnt see that I had an enormous needle through my tongue I wouldnt have known a thing! He finished up by tightening the balls or my super long barbell and it was done!!
I was absolutely amazed at how painless the piercing was! It makes no sense to me, but in all honesty I felt little more than slight pressure on the bottom of my tongue and then it was finished. For the record, biting your tongue hurts literally 1000x more.
Over the next few days my tongue was sore but it was much more just annoying and uncomforable than really painful. I, luckily, did not have any speech problems and my tongue barely swelled at all. Eating is a new task however! For the first few days I stuck with lots of ice-e's, ice creams, soups, and very easy foods with out much chewing. I cleaned it regulary with listerine, and after I ate or drank. After the first week, the swelling and soreness went away and I felt completely healed! I continued to clean my piercing with listerine and warm salt water rinses for about 2 and a half 3 weeks and then was back to normal.
Obviously this was just my own experience, and everyones is different. I havent found too many people who say they're tongue piercings hurt however. My close friend did get her tongue pierced about 2 years after I did and she had a big lisp for about 2 or 3 days after due to the swelling, going to show everyone is truly different.
I've had my tongue piercing like I said for almost 3 years now and have yet to have ANY problems with it. Since my first piercing I have gotten my navel, rook, tragus, and an industrial and I can definitely tell you, the tongue WAS my least painful piercing by far!!! So for any looking into, do your homework, be responsible with it, and go for it!