On a normal day in small town Kenora back when I must have been thirteen or so I ran across a man in the local mall. He was by far the coolest person I think I had ever seen. He was older, wore all black, a trench coat and had his cheeks pierced! Then I knew I must have my cheeks pierced one day, but I was a busy teenager, with little money or time to really think about that type of thing. The idea kind of slipped away to the back burners of my mind. Now, five years later, and with thirty-three or so piercings (not including the retired ones) I had decided rather randomly to have my cheeks pierced.
At A Glance Author swilzbymocosi Contact swilzbymocosi@hotmail.com When It just happened Artist Kristian Studio The Crypt Location Winnipeg, MB The idea came when my mother, who is a wonderfully supportive woman, who knows very little about piercings themselves, but is keen on following my interest asked me what I wanted for Christmas. That is a dangerous question to ask a girl so early, and after contemplating my options I immediately chose a new piercing, she agreed, but questioned wither I truly needed more piercings. I explained to her that I most certainly did, and more so that I –needed- my cheeks pierced. After that, she just stayed quiet, as she had already agreed, and there's no changing my mind. About an hour later, the idea running through my head I got on the phone to a shop to book an appointment. The Christmas present turning into a money loan for the trip I needed to take out of town two days later. (She was a little pissed about this, as I had just returned from an expensive trip just days earlier.) So the appointment was set for that Friday, and I was excited.
Ninety percent of my current piercings where all self-done, some crookedly I'll admit, but I still cherish them. Although I didn't feel that I would go through with cheeks piercings myself, I'd probably sit in front of the mirror contemplating it, but not going through with it. So that's why I called up The Crypt in Winnipeg. I can't say for certain that The Crypt is the best establishment in all of Winnipeg, as honestly it's the only one I've gone too! But I certainly give it stars for it's easy going employees, and very clean piercing room. Not to mention the quite informative and professional piercer Kristian. As a matter of fact I'll most likely return to Kristian for any further piercings I require. I have been pierced by only one other person and honestly I was quite terrified after the experience. So Kristian it is.
The entire experience was just like the last time I had been pierced there. I don't think there is one thing I can complain about. He talked for about 10 minutes on aftercare, and other related things. And told me the pain would be like that of a tongue piercing, which didn't help me much, as I've never had a tongue piercing. But I took his word for it that it wouldn't be nearly as painful as I had worked up in my head. And he was definitely right! I could name many piercings that hurt much more then my cheeks. The whole process was clean, efficient and quick. They weren't painful, or bloody, I loved the placement, all in all I was definitely happy. I took home their informative aftercare sheet, which actually IS very informative. They also have a free number to phone and update them on the state of your new piercing(s), which I haven't done yet. But I will.
Although personally I believe these have been the most pain-in-my-ass piercings I have ever gotten, and hopefully will ever get. Two days later, after having barbells stuck between my teeth, the cheeks started to swell. Unlike anything I've ever seen before. The insides of my mouth had swollen right to the ends of the barbell, and started indenting. I shrugged it off figuring it would soon all end, and I could go back to living my life not looking like a chipmunk. But I was wrong it just wouldn't go away. After a week and a day I got fed up and took some Anti-inflammatory pills with a little painkiller thrown in the mix. Three days of that, and I was back to new! I did downsize them on the two-week mark, but the left piercing is not doing as well as the right. So I've put the longer bars in until it feels all good. I love them for now, and my experience was great! Even the painful stuff afterwards was livable, would I do it again? Perhaps... Although I wonder how long my body would have taken to calm the swelling without the aid of anti-inflammatory medication.