I've toyed with the idea of getting a facial piercing for a while now, but never really knew which one I really wanted. I liked the way eyebrow piercings look, but after talking to some friends who have/or had them (one of whom is a piercer), they have a good chance of rejection/and or migration. I also looked at the tongue as a possible option, but it seems that a lot of people I know have tongue piercings. So after looking around on BME and saving up some cash, I decided to get a labret. It would be unique to me and satisfy my desire for a facial piercing. Now it was up to me to figure out a time that I could get it done...
At A Glance Author Schnaa Contact Schnaa@bme.anon IAM Schnaa When A month ago Artist Chris Studio A-1 Tattoo Location Gladstone, MO I stayed at my mom's house in Nebraska over winter break. She is pretty conservative in her views and wasn't too happy when my sister got her tongue pierced, so I knew my mom would flip if I got my labret done while I was home over break. So out of respect to my mom, I waited until I got back to school. Little did I know I would be getting it done the night I got back to school.
So I get back into town around two in the afternoon, unpack a little bit and hang out with my girlfriend Rae. Later that evening, Rae, our friend Dave and I drove about 30 minutes to Overland Park, Kansas to visit Rae's parents. After hanging out there for a little bit, we left. I mentioned something earlier that night on the drive to O.P. that it would be cool if I got my labret done that night. Sure enough, after we left Rae's parents' house, we were off to A-1.
When we pulled into the parking lot, I was pretty nervous. I usually don't make impulsive decisions like this, but it was something I wanted, and you only live once. So we go in, I start filling out paperwork, feeling a little bit nervous, but having Rae and Dave there really helped. I talked with Chris, the piercer, for a little bit because I was concerned about possible gum recession with the labret piercing. Chris said that gum recession is a process that occurs over a long period of time and that with the right size jewelry and placement, gum recession really is not that big of a deal to worry about. I settled on a 14 gauge stainless steel labret stud (sorry, I don't remember the length off the top of my head). Chris told me it would be a few minutes because he had to clean up the piercing room and get his tools ready, so he gave me a few more minutes to freak out.
After what seemed like an eternity, Chris called me back to the piercing room. His apprentice, Richie, asked if he could sit in on the procedure and I said that I didn't mind. You gotta learn somehow! So Chris starts off by making me wash my mouth out with some nasty tasting Listerine (Cool Mint my ass!) and starts to mark the placement. I think he went over this part a little bit slower than normal because he wanted Richie to see where proper placement for a labret is and whatnot. Chris then gets out the clamps and puts them around my bottom lip. This part is a little uncomfortable, but nothing too terrible. Chris instructs me to start taking deep breaths and on my third exhale he shoves the needle through. It stings, but it doesn't feel as bad as I heard it would. The worst part was after the initial piercing, when Chris put the jewelry in. I can now say I imagine what a fish feels like after getting hooked. I felt the needle slide out of my lip very quickly, creating a b urning sensation in my fresh piercing and then the stud slip in just as quick. It hurt like hell, but I think it happened so quickly that my adrenaline dulled the pain a little bit. It honestly felt like the bottom half of my lip was being ripped upward and out along with the needle. I mustered a feeble ouch and then it was done. I looked in the mirror, a proud owner of a new labret piercing. One that was red and extremely pissed off at me. Chris and I went over the aftercare and then I paid, thanked him, and left.
Overall, I am extremely pleased with my labret. The aftercare is pretty much the same for a tongue piercing (Listerine, wash with Provon twice a day, and sea salt soaks twice a day) and in about 6-8 weeks it will have healed. I've received nothing but compliments from other people, the best being that "It looks as if you always had it." This piercing has taught me a lot. I used to worry about other people's opinions of me and how they view me, but after getting this piercing I realize that only you can create you own happiness and I found mine in my labret.