About my labret...
At A Glance Author Jen-nay Contact Jen-nay@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Dani Studio Maine Tattoo Location Brewer, ME This piercing was completely spontaneous... sort of...
Some people I work with had labret piercings, and I thought they were nice but rather impractical at a place where piercings aren't allowed (which is an annoying yet unrelated topic). Then one day yet another of my coworkers came in with one. By now there are three girls working there with labret piercings and I'm quite jealous. As one would expect, the girl with the newest piercing gets crap from the management, and basically made to feel horrible about what she's done. In an attempt to rectify the situation, she goes to Hot Topic on her lunch break and picks up a retainer for the new piercing. I asked her if it hurt to change it so soon, since we all know that the jewelry is not supposed to be removed until completely healed, and she said no. That one fact was the only thing really keeping me from doing it, but what works for her I figured would work for me too. Hooray!
So I'm thinking about getting it done and decide on the following week. However, I can't get the thought of doing it out of my head. I hadn't had a piercing since my second (and now only) eyebrow piercing about three years ago. I needed a barbell for my eyebrow so I went over to Maine Tattoo to pick one out. I get the barbell and while I'm there I ask about prices. They're very affordable, at only $8 a piercing (with jewelry included). I was very tempted to do it right at that moment, but I knew I had to work in the morning so I decided against it and told him I'd be back the next week. As I drove away I had a very strong desire to turn my car around and run in there and get it done... but I kept myself under control.
The next day at work all I could think about was getting a labret piercing. I wanted one of those beautiful silver balls just under my lip. I absolutely HAD to HAVE IT! So I went over immediately after work and walked in for the second time in two days. The piercer, Dani, asked what I wanted, had me fill out all the paperwork, and so on and so forth. Once that was all squared away she took me into a room at the back of the establishment and got things ready. I was so excited I couldn't stop smiling. She must have thought I was a goon. She used the pen to mark where the piercing would be and asked if it looked good. I said yes and got even more excited knowing that the moment of truth was about to arrive. She clamped my mouth, told me to take a deep breath, and then said "There, you're done!" She wasn't REALLY done, as she still had to put in the jewelry and screw on the ball, but the most stressful part of it was over. I was completely amazed at how fast she did the piercing . In addition, it barely hurt at all! It was a little sore afterwards, but the actual penetration of the needle induced very little pain. She wiped off the minimal amount of blood that had come out of the piercing, and then I was on my way.
I really want to emphasize here how awesome Dani was. I had never had her pierce anything before, because she didn't work at Maine tattoo the previous times I had been there. I definitely do want to go back, though, and have her pierce something else. She gave off a sense of confidence in herself, which is always nice, and she made the experience as painless and easy as possible. Thanks Dani, and I hope to see you again for another piercing soon!
I currently have the following piercings: eyebrow, tongue, industrial, labret, and many holes in my lobes and cartilage that usually aren't filled with anything. Of these piercings, the labret is probably the next to least painful, after the eyebrow. I'm not sure what I'll do next, but I'm sure it will be spontaneous and, if Dani does it, a quick and not too painful experience.
As far as advice goes, I have the following to offer to anyone considering a labret piercing:
~Don't let anyone or anything keep you from doing it. If you want it, go for it. In my circumstance, my job is rather restrictive. I was apprehensive because I knew that jewelry isn't supposed to be removed for six to eight weeks. However, I have used the retainer and have had no problems. I certainly don't advocate changing jewelry within the first day you get your piercing, but if that's what you need to do to be who you want to be, then don't worry about that issue.
~Don't let the pain scare you. This piercing was not very painful, and the soreness afterwards is minimal. It is somewhat difficult to eat, as my bottom teeth tend to catch the back of the jewelry and tug it, but it can be done. It's definitely not as difficult to eat with a labret piercing as it is to eat just after a tongue piercing!
~Do it for yourself. I was worried that since I had mine done so soon after a coworker had hers done, that people would think I was a copy-cat. However, I knew that I truly wanted it, and seeing someone else overcome the difficulties of a corporation that does not encourage body modifications motivated me. I realized that it's stupid to worry about what others think of me and do it for myself... so I did!
Now run along, children, and get yourself modified!