At A Glance
Author	Naked Faery
Contact	Naked Faery@bme.anon
When	N/A
Studio	Akasha
Location	Portsmouth, England

I've been really into body modification ever since I was younger. When I was small, I'd walk down the road totally in awe of the visibly pierced, wishing I could look like them!

My parents absolutely detest piercing, tattoos and any other kind of visible modification, so I more or less took it for granted that I couldn't get any body art work done until I'd left home, or I'd have to get something easy to hide. After my experience with my navel piercing, I decided against that. I'd just be walking around in pain, and not be able to moan about it to them.

My parents decided to get divorced a few months ago, and I shamelessly took advantage of the unrest to press ahead with the body modifications I wanted.

I wrote a long list of all the modifications I wanted, including tattoos, henna work and piercings. The list is as long as my arm I tell you!

I had difficulty in choosing my first mod. Technically not my first mod, as I have my ears pierced many times. And also there was that navel disaster, but anyway... According to my mum that doesn't count. Whatever. **rolls eyes**

I wanted to choose a visible piercing, to balance out my face. I have very heavy eyes, and small lips, so in the end I decided on a lip piercing with a BCR hoop.

Having mostly friends who aren't interested in body modifications (I have no idea why not), I only managed to get a few opinions. Neither of the people I consulted had the piercing done, but my friend Katherine assured I it was one of the least painful facial piercings. Looking back, I have no idea why I believed her.

I was pretty psyched up when I got to the studio, having researched many places in advance and decided this place was the best. I didn't start feeling nervous until I was sat in the chair. My hands started gripping the sides of the chair.

I have to say this for the studio, everything was well done, and everything looked very clean and sterile.

I had the inside of my mouth numbed with something that was supposed to taste like banana, but didn't at all. The minute I was told not to swallow, I felt like swallowing. It was like being at the dentist. So I swallowed, and my throat went numb, which scared the living shit out of me.

She said it would be pretty well numbed...and me being an innocent piercing *virgin* believed her. Either I'm oblivious to local anaesthetic, or she didn't leave it to numb for long enough.

She sprayed the outside of the lip with the anaesthetic, and literally seconds letter pounced on me.

The whole experience lasted about 45 seconds, and must have been the most painful thing I have ever undergone. Not painful my arse! I wanted to kill Katherine at the time! The needle went in and I wanted to scream. A big lump formed in my throat as I stopped the scream from emerging.

By the time I had regained my composure, i.e. prised my hands off the chair, and shakily stood up, I had tears pouring out of the corners of my eyes.

Bless the piercer, she was so helpful, especially when she thought I was about to pass out. I must be SUCH a wimp, or have the lowest pain threshold ever.

Of course, because it's me, the whole thing couldn't be over then. If I'd remembered the time I got my navel pierced, I would have remembered two things. Firstly, according to the place I donate blood I have elusive veins. I couldn't believe that when I got my navel pierced and it bled for hours. I should have realised it would bleed. Secondly, my body swells a lot, more than normal. Most piercers pierce with a size bigger jewellery than they think you will need after healing, to allow room for swelling. I should have asked for two sizes bigger, to make sure.

So it bled. Which of course it would, because it's me. The piercer was standing there squeezing it for like 15 minutes, before it eventually stopped bleeding. Then, it swelled a lot. For at least a week it looked like I'd been punched in the face.

I had also overlooked the fact that the piercing would be on my mouth; you know the place where the food goes!? For days I couldn't eat, and I forgot that I couldn't eat, the waves of pain when I bit into something sure as hell reminded me. I had to cut up my food into very small pieces, and stretch my mouth very far open to eat. I must have looked like such an arse to the people watching me.

I couldn't kiss my boyfriend for two weeks. I guess if I'd chosen a labret bar rather than a BCR hoop it would have been easier... but it was a bit late for that.

I guess in the future I will definitely be considering every possible problem that can come up before I get my next piercing. At the end of the day, it does look great. I really love the way it looks. It feels great; it gives me something to fiddle with when I'm bored. And never underestimate the extra spice it gives to things when you're kissing someone! Being honest though, although it may hurt a lot less than some facial piercings (supposedly), it still does hurt. Not just that, but will be very inconvenient for a while. If you don't like the idea of not being able to make out with your partner for a fortnight, and being spoon-fed for that period, then you should definitely reconsider it!