I had wanted to get a labret piercing for a year. I had asked my parents numerous times, and the answer was always a flat out No! My complaining and debating was futile. They wouldn't budge. Eventually, I gave it up, leaving it on the terms that they knew I still wanted it done, but wasn't going to persist.
At A Glance Author Michaela Contact Michaela@bme.anon When Three months ago Artist Matt Studio To The Point Location Abbotsford, BC, Canada Christmas Day came, and, to my pleasure, one gift was a $50 certificate to a local piercing studio (I had visited it previously, with a friend, and was quite impressed with the piercer). My mother wanted me to get my nose done, as she thought it was more subtle and feminine (because goodness knows I really care about that), but I was stuck on getting my labret. So, I made plans to go down on January 2nd with a friend who wanted to get an inverse navel piercing.
It was a long build up, but January 2nd finally came, and we got to the studio at around 12:30. There was a guy ahead of us, also getting his labret done, so my friend and I paid, chose jewelery and waited. She was freaking out over whether it was first, and was very adamant that she wanted to be pierced first. I could see the piercing room through a window at the front, and watched as the guy before us got pierced. He didn't seem to take it well, and had to lie down and have a drink of water afterwards. I knew I had a fairly high pain tolerance, but grew a little nervous on the pain factor. Finally, the guy emerged, a little pale, but grinning. He said it didn't hurt, but I'm not sure he believed that himself.
My friend and I went into the room, and Matt, the piercer, went through his 15-minute speech on why piercing guns are awful, after-care for our piercings (the studio's slogan is "after-care is our number one priority"), and signs of infection. I had heard it before, and it was the reason I was so impressed with him. He showed genuine care for the people he pierced, and told us that even his surface piercings had a very high healing rate. He also uses aromatherapy to calm the piercees nerves, which is something I found interesting and relaxing when he used it on me.
My friend had her navel marked, and then pierced with a curved barbell that had a little purple stone in it. It looked very cute, as she has a trim figure. According to her, it did hurt, but not as much as she had anticipated.
I noted that Matt used KY Jelly while piercing, which amused me, and he joked that it was used for the people who pass out when getting pierced/tattooed. He also joked about the drama kings and queen that come into the studio sometimes, and complain about the pain. He said he wanted to get a sign saying 'drama kings and queens will be sold on the internet'. Another use for KY Jelly.
It was my turn to be pierced. I rinsed my mouth with Listerine for a minute (it burned!) and had my lip cleaned and marked. When I was happy with the placement, Matt held my lip out (he doesn't use clamps) and prepared the needle. I closed my eyes. Breathing... In on one
Out on two
In on three
Pierced on four
It stung briefly, but really didn't hurt at all. The initial shock intensified the idea of pain, however, once the labret stud was in and the ball was screwed on, I felt great. No pain, just a little tenderness.We thanked and tipped him, then left to go find something to eat. We stopped at a little diner around the corner, and I attempted to eat a chicken burger. The stud kept getting caught on my bottom teeth, and I'd bite it. It didn't hurt, but I worried that I'd screw up the piercing somehow. Luckily, my mouth got used to it after a day, and I was able to eat properly again. It took a few weeks to heal, but I never had any problems with it. Just cleaned with saline two or three times a day, and kept my mouth clean with Listerine. I'm extremely happy with it now. My mother doesn't mind it too much. I hope to get my tongue pierced sometime (mum hates that one even more!), but I realize that there's no rush. I'm only sixteen after all.
I'm turn seventeen at the end of May, and graduate in June, so I think I might get it done during the summer, before I start university. But, seventeen is still quite young, and I want to make sure I don't try to do everything before I become an adult, just because I happen to want it. Part of the excitement and pleasure of piercing is waiting and really enjoying the experience, knowing that it's something you really want.