I had wanted to get my Monroe done for a while, especially after reading all the stories and looking at the pictures on BME. It was well thought out, I tried to find as much information as possible, even going so far as to ask my dentist what he thought of me getting an oral piercing as far as placement went. I was surprised when he told me to go for it, and saw no problem with me having a piercing that far up, and how impressed he was that I realized I really shouldn't get a labret because of the already low gum line I have on my bottom teeth.
At A Glance Author krista Contact openether@hotmail.com When A week ago Artist denise Studio divine Location 17th avenue, calgary In fact, it was directly after a dentist visit when I got fitted with a brand new splint, that I decided it was time to get this piercing over and done with, hopefully in time for the swelling & redness to go away before my graduation pictures.
My aunt took me, and we drove downtown from the dentist's office to Divine, a vintage clothing/piercing shop on 17th avenue in Calgary, Alberta. We got there at a bit before 11:00, when they technically weren't supposed to be open. My name was put on a nearly empty list of those waiting to get pierced [most of the clients seemed to prefer coming in in the afternoon] & we sat down to wait for the piercer to arrive. Time passed, and she finally got there. I went up to the front when the bill was written up & I paid for my piercing as well as a new nose stud, that I would have her change for me. The girls who were working there were friendly [which seems to be uncommon there sometimes] and I felt really comfortable, and not very nervous going into the room where I would get my Monroe done.
It was a bit of a different sight, seeing as how I am used to the good 'ol reliable dentist chairs, and what I saw wasn't a chair at all, it was a doctors table. I sat down on the table, my aunt in a chair at the end with my camera & I waited for my piercer, Denise to fill out the forms I needed to sign. When she did so, she introduced herself & began by making me wash my mouth out with the gold Listerine. Worst.stuff.ever. Wow, that burned & made my tongue numb. After that was done, she put iodine on the outside of my face & we marked the spot where I wanted my Monroe to be. It was completely perfect; in the exact spot I had been sporting the eyeliner beauty mark the week up to that day. She washed the iodine off my face and I had to lie down on the table. She put a numbing gel on the inside of my lip & let it sit while she prepared for the piercing.
About two minutes later, she was ready & put the clamp on my lip. My aunt took a picture, and she proceeded to take the needle out of it's sterile packaging, put lube on it, and told me to take that infamous deep breath in & then out. The needle poked through & I barely felt it [truthfully, it hurt less than my nostril & I seriously doubt it was because of that numbing stuff, seeing as how I could still feel it all]. My aunt took another picture with the needle through my face before Denise proceeded to insert my jewellery. I got a 16g fishtail "stud", with a plain silver ball on the end. Although the ball is too large for my liking, it had to be so the swelling wouldn't go over the ball itself. She even gave me a free smaller ball, although I forgot it, which I'm kicking myself for now.
I sat up & looked in the mirror. It was definitely a bit strange seeing yet another piece of metal in my face, but I absolutely loved it. She then changed my nose stud, which I won't get into, except to say it was somewhat painful as there was a small tear on the inside of my piercing. Ouch...three attempts. :-/
Anyway! It is now a bit over a week later [I got it done on March 4th, 2004] and it looks lovely. The swelling has pretty much completely gone, although people tend to ask me if it's infected because of the redness around the piercing. I can smile again, which is nice because it was so awkward at first, and it's beginning to feel like just another part of my face.
If anyone in Calgary is thinking about getting a piercing, I personally from this experience would recommend Denise at Divine. Their prices are more than decent & everything was extremely sterile. She changed her gloves I-don't-know-how-many-times, & everything was in a new package. She was really friendly [unlike most of the other piercers I have been to] & she answered my constant barrage of questions without getting annoyed with me. She also took her time, which was nice because it felt a lot more professional.
So, that is my experience, and so far it is a good one! If anyone has any questions, feel free to email me, just be sure to tell me who you are, and why I should know you :P