First, A bit of pre-history....
At A Glance Author ginger Contact ginger@bme.anon When Six months ago Artist Darrel Studio Retro Rebels Location Aberdeen Scotland
Piercing. My fascination with modifying one's self began during a family holiday in Boston, Mass. in 1993. I was getting tired and bored. While my parents weren't looking, I had found a shop, which sold stuff like incense, tour t-shirts and the like. Looking back it was probably a piercing studio upstairs too.
Anyway, I was looking at the "smoking accessories" when a girl in her 20's wearing doc martin's and a short skirt (remember, I was in my early teens at the time...) complimented me on the color of my shoulder length red hair I had at the time. The second thing I noticed about her (after her legs, that is..hehe) was her multiple facial piercings. Eyebrows, nose, ears & lip: all pierced. I was smitten. Being from a relatively small city in Scotland, there wasn't much in the way of Body Modification here in the early-mid 90's. Just a couple of tattoo shops, I think.
Fast-forward a few years to my first year in college. There had been a shop that sold incense, tour t-shirts and the like, much like the one in Boston, open here for a year or so. They also started advertising "Eyebrow or Navel piercing for £30".
This got me thinking of the nice girl in Boston. I went along so see what all the fuss was about and, even though my knowledge of piercing studios and the various good working practices was very limited then: I was disappointed. I left, £30 sill in my pocket and un-pierced. Months passed before I thought about it again and eventually found a place with a great Piercing studio: Retro Rebels. Years (and multiple eyebrow piercings) later, and eventually I found myself with only the scars of retired eyebrows left...
The Piercing in question...
About eight months ago, I got the "itch" once more. I HAD to be pierced again. I looked through the pages of piercings here on BME, and once again thought of that forgotten favourite, The Labret. Firstly, I am lucky: My Wife, family and my place of work are all great about piercings. So no problems there. Next, the pain. I'm usually ok with pain: If I've chosen to undergo something that is likely to hurt, I'm fine with it so no problems there either (on the other hand, if I cut or hurt myself un-expectedly I need medical grade band-aids and lots of sympathy!). The only problem was cash, I had none! Every penny was going towards Christmas presents and such other festive paraphernalia. It would have to wait. Again.
Christmas came and went without much event (I'm Atheist and Scottish: New Year is much more our thing here!). I found myself with a little bit of spare cash, given to me as a present by my In-laws. I gave Retro Rebels a phone to check whether Darrel was piercing over the holidays. He was, but the next day I could go in was the 30th. December 30th. The day before New Years Eve. Damn.
As I've said New Year is a big thing here in Scotland, and we tend to drink a lot over those three days. Alcohol and fresh oral piercings aren't a good mix, I'm told. Plus he wasn't piercing for two weeks into the New Year. I had to choose drink or labret. So, the 30th it was then.
The few days till the 30th were gone in no time at all, and I found myself trudging through the sleet and snow up to Retro Rebels, with a freshly shaven chin. Darrel wasn't busy at all, so we went straight through to the studio. Now, I could go on for another few paragraphs about the pre-procedure stuff (hyper cleanliness, fresh everything, placement, clamps etc) but anybody who reads the BME experiences and frequents great, reputable piercers knows the drill well.
I was lying on my back on Darrel's full-length doctors style chair/bed, lower lip clamped, antiseptic everywhere and ready to go. "Take three deep breaths, and you'll be pierced on the third" One, two, then Whoosh! Adrenaline time! You gotta love the feeling...hehe. A little fiddling to get the ball screwed on, clean up the tiny spot of blood and another glance in the mirror. We chatted about a few of the other mods I want done in the near future, what the other was doing for New Year and some stuff about aftercare. I paid my money out at the front of the shop, and went on my way.
Healing was easy: Saline soaks twice a day, and a little clean after eating. I ate soup for a week, and was very careful when I ate in the two weeks after that. Eating was a little strange at first but not impossible. The only drawback I have encountered so far, is that I find it impossible to eat apples and other circular fruit. It just doesn't work!
In the six months since I've had the piercing done, I've only caught it on my teeth a handful of times and even that was only before I downsized the bar. Everybody I know loves it, and even my mother commented on how it suited me, which was nice. I've definitely got the piercing bug again, and have a few new ones planned in the coming months.
Finding a great piercer, who makes you feel relaxed and comfortable as well as being very skilled is a great bonus. I wouldn't dream of letting anybody pierce me now! It would feel too much like cheating...
And one more thing...
One thing that always puzzled me is how do men with any lip piercings shave their face?? And it still does, as I have never tried: I grew a little goatee beard instead...