As time goes on, I've become more and more interested in body piercings. One might say it feels like a natural step; it isn't a case of wanting to look 'cool', rather something that calls out to me. At first I had decided on a labret post, but began reading more and more about a common side-effect: gum recession (which can lead to tooth loss or expensive surgery).
At A Glance Author The Red Fall Contact catastrophe_theory@excite.com When It just happened Artist Erin Studio Celebrity Tattoo & Piercing (Colfax) Location Lakewood Colorado I was looking online for any store selling the fabled rubber backs that I had read about here, which decreased irritation, but suddenly the term "vertical labret" popped up in a discussion thread about post back alternatives.
This seemed promising; a curved barbell that rested on top of the bottom lip and stuck out somewhere in the general vicinity of where a regular labret would. Furthermore, it did not touch the teeth or gums at all if placed properly and as a result, one avoids the problems of gum recession or tooth enamel wearing off.
Admittedly, I was very excited from browsing through the photos. So excited, in fact, that my mind began racing; I immediately began looking up local body mod shops, wondering if I could get it done in that very day before class. Recalling my past experience with Celebrity Tattoo, which had the look and cleanliness of a professional doctor's clinic, I kept that in mind.
I won't go into detail, but let's just say a few numbers of places in the area were disconnected and the Celebrity Tattoo location nearer to me didn't have a very knowledgeable receptionist; he said the artist was out and after rambling a bit about normal labret prices ($25 for the jewelry, $25 for the piercing) and interjecting his ignorance of what a Monroe was, I decided to try the Colfax location.
When I first called and asked if they did vertical labrets, the receptionist also seemed to be oblivious to it. She put me on hold for a few minutes while she talked to the artist. After generally trying to discourage me from it by making it sound like an entirely bizarre placement (which may or may not be a hint of what I had heard: that shops and manufacturers aren't concerned enough about the problems associated with regular labrets), she told me to come in and have a talk with the girl who would be doing it. This made me feel somewhat uncomfortable, not knowing whether I should trust someone who presumably didn't know what I wanted. I was expecting receptionists (and artists) with far greater knowledge than myself, yet for all it looked like I knew more about it than they did.
A few hours later I decided to try again, intending to ask whether they had internet access (so I could point them to BME's photos of the piercing) and to ask about appointments. This receptionist seemed to know what I had wanted after a little explaining; she knew it by the name "angel kiss", and assured me it definitely could be done. I also found out that they were a walk-in only place and would be open until 10.
As I arrived at the small storefront just west of Simms, I saw a cute dark-haired tattooed and pierced girl talking to someone. She eyed me for a few moments; I half-smiled at who I would later learn to be my 'artist' and entered the shop. Nothing new here -- I was given their standard legal form asking for basic info, whether I was drunk or on drugs at the moment, and that I agreed not to hold the shop accountable for anything. After filling it out and letting the girl behind the counter see my driver's license, I slipped into the small bathroom to the side, then perused a magazine in the small 'waiting area' until Erin called me into the room where the procedure would take place.
She looked to be my age or little more, and easy enough to talk to once I got over her attractiveness. I asked whether she knew how to do a vertical labret and she assured me she did, explaining that the earlier receptionist was new and not entirely knowledgeable on matters. After having me swish with Listerine and telling me to tuck my lower lip in as much as I could, she put a few dots on my lips, making sure I liked the placement. As she was getting ready for the procedure, she instructed me to sit on the patient's chair facing her and started pulling out a sterile needle from its packaging.
Holding my lip in place securely but loosely with a pair of forceps, she told me to breathe in slowly, and a few moments later, I felt the needle slowly entering from the bottom up through the center of my lip. The pain was quite bearable and not half as bad as I may have expected. My eyes watered up a little, though quickly went back to normal. She left my lip there with the needle sticking out of it for a few moments as she quickly got the barbell ready. More pain, this more painful than the needle, as she slipped it out the top with the barbell following. After threading the ball on the top, she cleaned up all of the blood.
I was told to look in the mirror again to see how it looked -- interesting -- and then swished once again with Listerine while she very rapidly ran through aftercare, what not to do, telling me not to drink any wine, beer, or eat any yogurt because of the yeast, etc. After I spit out the nasty stuff and she handed me a paper towel, I asked her whether she had that information on a sheet of paper as I'd doubtlessly forget. She handed me their standard labret sheet after scrawling her name on the top. I asked about their downsize policy and was told they'd switch it out for a shorter barbell for free (I'm assuming they'll still charge me up to $25 for the jewelry, though!). All that was left now was to go to the register with the receipt she gave me ($50) and pay. Forgetting to thank her, I went out to pay.
The receptionist jubilantly proclaimed their ability to perform the procedure I just had done, and after paying, I was told tips were encouraged and I could either give it to her or the artist herself, though she was just now outside smoking. I found her outside, and after wryly telling her she'd be nicer if she didn't smoke, gave her a tip and said goodbye.
That all happened two days ago. Now it's Thursday and I'm trying to come to grips with caring for the piercing. The first night I hardly got any sleep at all; partly I think from the intruder resting on the top of my lip, not out of any pain. I often have problems with sleep anyway.
For the most part, the piercing has been pain-free, though I've felt sharp pain when cleaning it in the morning and night; namely when trying to move it back and forth. Blood has gathered and dried on both ends both mornings, this one especially, and a small circular area behind the top looks likes a collection of blood beneath the surface.
Trying to eat cereal the first day, I realized how difficult it was, and how much milk streamed down my chin as I tried to avoid the piercing. I decided to heed the suggestion given in the sheet they gave me about being on a liquid diet the first three days. I looked in the grocery store for "meal replacement" protein shakes and decided to go for Ensure, which boasted about replacing a meal anytime (a few of the others were labeled as meal supplements or occasional meal replacements). It tastes absolutely abominable although I'm glad it's an easy alternative to potentially causing more discomfort or damage to my piercing while eating solid food.
Hopefully, there won't be sharp pain associated with rotating the jewelry or applying soap (the same I used for my other piercing, so I'm imagining it's the sensitivity of the wound, not the soap) much longer, and I definitely can't wait before I can eat or drink anything without rinsing my mouth out with Listerine (or salt water). One definitely has to realize the changes they need to make in their life to accommodate for a piercing around such a 'high-traffic' area as the mouth.
I'll be the first to say I love how it looks on me, especially when I smile, despite not coming down quite as far as I'd seen on pictures (mine comes out just under the colored part of my lips), but of course I don't have the luscious lips many girls have (I am a boy, after all). I'll also be sure to say I'll have to find out whether this is the piercing for me; whether I can get used to it or whether it becomes a bother. Even if it isn't for me, it won't have merely been money down the drain, but a valuable experience for making decisions about future piercings.