About two months ago I started to seriously think about getting a smiley. Before then it had been a bridge piercing, but I wear glasses and my parents would beyond freak. I figured a smiley was pretty easy to hide when it needed to go and it was a nice, unique kind of piercing. I'd seen pictures on BME and thought they were very cute.
At A Glance Author Chimera Contact Chimera@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Rhys Studio Piercing Skin Art Location Fortitude Valley, Brisbane I decided on a date – yesterday, actually – because my parents went away and I'd have a long weekend to baby it before school. So after school I jumped on a train and got my way to the Valley Piercing. I'd had piercings done there before but they'd been restricted to ears – two on left and one right, plus two pairs I'd gotten done elsewhere. Miss Happy smiley would bring total up to eight. Plus I knew if I went with someone they'd either talk me into it so much that I'd be too amped up to sit still or they'd freak on me.
I took mouthwash myself – I have to use a non-alcoholic wash and I wasn't sure if they'd have one on hand. Then I just showed up and asked if they could do it. Tanya (resident apprentice) got me to sign the waiver-type sheet they have and gave me an aftercare sheet, and then brought me in and sat me down.
Rhys had to check if I had enough stuff there to support the smiley – I'd checked it myself and thought it was good but I'm not a professional – but he said that it'd be fine. So I made my way in and they got set to go.
Tanya got to hold up my top lip and Rhys just put the needle through. I'd expected it to hurt. A lot, actually. But I hardly even felt it. It was like biting your cheek pretty firmly, but centred in one little spot. Twice, on the entrance and exit. Then he left the needle there for a second while he got the ring – I opened my eyes and it was more than a little weird to see a piece of plastic hanging from under your nose. It wasn't painful at all. There was just a pressure there. It felt like something was just tucked under my lip and held against my gums.
The ring had to get fiddled into place, but the ball went on easily enough. I got handed a mirror and loved it. This little shiny thing was peeping out at me! Tanya tried to take a photo for their website – but every time I smiled the ball twitched off-centre. After about twenty shots Miss Happy finally decided to behave and give a decent photo, and I paid ($88 with jewellery included) and left.
I spent the train ride home just getting used to something foreign in my mouth, then as soon as I got to my home station I bought a bottle of water and started drinking. For about the next two hours I was preoccupied with adjusting to this metal thingy in me. And then that night I had a couple of friends over at my house – lesson learned, do not mix pizza and smiley piercings. Nothing bad happened, but it kinda "swung" sideways and I panicked a bit, but it was fine. And I had fun scaring one friend of mine – she freaked every time I smiled at her. My brother was just disappointed I'd "wasted" $88 on "that", but when I asked him how much the alcohol he was going to drink tonight cost he shut up.
I can talk normally; I was alone for a few hours after it was done but three hours afterwards I was talking fine. The only thing I needed to adjust to was an occasional missing "s" sound, and I've lost my ability to whistle without care. The best thing about mine was that it was perfectly placed to hide under my top lip while I'm talking, but if I smile it'll live up to its name.
I can't really remember what that little bit of skin looked like before, but it's not too swollen or anything. It's gone down even from what it was last night so it must be nearly to normal size already. Considering I'm not taking an anti-inflammatory or anything, I consider it a pretty damn good little piercing. Now, to get it through school...
I'm not stupid, I do know that eventually this will probably come out, and possibly sooner than later, but I love it while I have it. And I've gotten a couple of strange looks from my friends ("Did you get your teeth pierced?!") and brother's friends (was called up to show everyone) but that's alright.
My advice to anyone wanting this particular piercing? Get it. It's a beautiful thing and hurt a lot less than any of my ear piercings. It's a nice choice for anyone wanting a little oddity in his or her body. Stick to bite-sized food for at least the first few days. Drink lots of water and little bits of ice. And I hope it stays for a while.