I had wanted a Monroe for a very long time but was too chicken shit to actually put in the effort to go find out about the piercing process and see whether or not I had the guts to do it. I have had my nose pierced and plenty of tattoos but I was so scared. Not to mention that I'd heard horror stories about scars when people took their piercings out.
At A Glance Author Carms Contact Carms@bme.anon When Two years ago Artist Dan Studio Adrenaline Location Montreal I started hanging out with a piercer from the studio where I had gotten all my tattoos done and watched alot of kids go in, get their piercings and leave happy as pie. It made me so jealous of their guts and I had to start re-thinking my own personal fears. I had gotten my nose done when I lived in Israel and kept justifying my fear by saying that my nose had been done with a gun and thats why I hadn't been so scared- it didn't involve needles. So not true and had I known then what I knew now the gun probably would have scared me a whole lot more.
So I was sitting as the Eatons Centre in Montreal having lunch with my friend Bianca when I decided that it was now or never. I was tired of thinking of it and about it and not having the guts to do it. I called Adrenaline to find out whether Dan was there that day because I figure my best bet was to get my friend to do it and when they told me he was there and he had time to see me, off we went. No pain no gain right.
A short hike up from the mall later we arrived, I filled out my forms and sat nervously waiting for him to get his stuff prepared. He came out, helped me to pick out jewelry that would be long enough for the initial swelling and into the back room we went. He knew I was nervous (shitting my pants) so he closed the blinds and made sure that we were alone in the room and that no one was going to come in.
We dotted the spot I wanted and I checked and rechecked it in the mirror a hundred times and then he had me sit down and hold my friends hand. Deep breath in and out and on three he told me he was going to pierce. one, two, thre...ouch, then it was pierced- over and done. He slid the jewelry in quickly and ouch- more pain and it was over. It hurt but I think my nose actually hurt more. I was still really shaky so I sat there being a nervous wreck for like ten more minutes then I proceeded to get up, pay, grab all my cleaning instructions and shakily make my way out of Adrenaline.
I turned into an egotistical fanatic for a week afterwards, every mirror I found (ok windows too) I would stop and stare at myself. I loved the piercing and the way it looked on me. I couldn't believe how beautiful it was and how happy it actually made me.
It had been two years since I had gotten the piercing when last year I took a job at an Orthodox Jewish school so I had to take it out. I felt like I was saying goodbye to an old friend and for a long time afterwards I would look at pictures of when I had jewelry in and sigh longingly.
The piercing however was not without it's physical problems as well. All the jewelry I had tried bothered my gums and when I finally decided to see another piercer, a reputable guy who is known for his skills at a different studio which he owns and runs (Black Sun), he informed me that due to bad placement I had about 6 months till my gums would be so bad that they might require surgery. Not something you want to hear.
The reason I thought to write now is because two days ago I decided I really missed it and tried to stick an earring through it and realized that it had closed but really it had only shrunk. I went out, bought new jewelry and so now I have my monroe all over again and am wearing a fishtail labret in it and I'm so happy to have it back- for now at least. I can't sleep in it and have decided that I will only wear it selectively so that my gums won't get bad but still now I catch myself looking in the mirror and smiling like a school girl.
If you want a Monroe go for it. I love the way it looks and I can't even remember why I was so damn scared to start with. Just a reminder though- if you get a friend to pierce be sure that the placement is right for your mouth and not just aesthetic to you.