I've spent the past three years begging my parents for a monroe piercing...As with most situations involving my body modifications, my mom didn't care as long as I didn't look like a "gaudy ass freak", my dad wasn't pleased with the idea. I've been through a piercing apprenticeship in 2003.
At A Glance Author Courtney Contact syntheticdeath31@hotmail.com When It just happened Artist I think it started with an R... Studio Blackwater Tattoo Location Schofield, WI As for prior piercings, I've had a 16G nostril piercing, an 18G nostril piercing, 14G nipple piercings, 13 ear piercings in various sizes, like 0G lobes, a 4G cartilage, 12G navel, 12G inverted navel, 3 14G surface piercings near my navel, etc. I have a pretty high pain tolerance. Out of everything listed above, I'd have to say the 4G cartilage stretch was the most painful.
So...On Saturday night I was at my Dad's house for the weekend and he asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I gave the usual answer, "money and a monroe piercing..." My Dad gave the usual reply, "I'll think about it". Twenty minutes later he offered to make a compromise. If I got rid of my hot pink hair, aka went back to my usual blonde (yet i could still keep my 2/3 of black hair) and took out my 18G nose ring I could get the monroe piercing for my birthday. If I change my hair color or pierce anything else before my 18th birthday, my car will be sold.
Sunday night I dyed my hair, took out the nose ring. Wednesday night (September 28th) I went to my birthday dinner with my Dad's side of the family, planning on heading to Blackwater Tattoo afterwards to get pierced. My family freaked out when they heard I was getting a needle "shoved" through my lip after dinner, but seemed to take it better than expected. I called my Mom after dinner so she could meet me and my best friend at the shop to sign the wavier.
I didn't have a clue what to expect, I've done all of my own piercings since I've been through an apprenticeship and have all my own tools and sterilization equipment...all I lack is the money to open up a shop. I would've pierced my monroe but I figured it would be best to go to someone else just to be completely safe. I have a few friends who've had their monroe done and they said they bled a lot, it hurt, etc...though that does vary highly from person to person.
I walked into Blackwater Tattoo and their new piercer greeted us and made my mom and I fill out paperwork and hand over $40 for the piercing. By that point, I was talking way too much from excitement about finally getting the piercing it seemed like I'd waited for forever. The piercer asked me what side I wanted it on, I chose the left because I have scar tissue on the right side of my lip from attempting to be the only girl playing football in 5th grade...not a smart idea. She told me to come back to the room and my mom started yelling across the waiting room "but wait! I want to watch and see her in pain!"
So I practically skipped back to the room (wow...writing that really makes me feel stupid...) and sat in the sparkly chair. My friend and my mom came in and decided to take out camera phones to take pictures. We went through the normal "see everything's sterile...here's the jewelry" procedure... then the piercer cleaned my lip with iodine and told me to suck on ice chips the next few days. She marked the spot, it looked perfect, right in the middle of my lip line and nose, slightly inward from the crease when I smile. I chose to get a 14G labret stud in the piercing, with a silver ball and a crystal jewel.
She tilted the chair back, told me to open wide, clamped my lip and pierced it from inside to out. a few seconds later I had a needle sticking out of my lip and I was slurring "ah...that was fucking awesome! I'm ready for the other side right away". Just what my mom wanted to hear. As soon as the needle went in, I felt nothing more than a bit of pressure, maybe a little pinch as it came out the front of my lip. Then the piercer said, "We're not to the fun part yet...I'm getting the jewelry...". Not bad at all...I think I might have said "oh wow...that pinched a bit". I didn't bleed at all, the jewelery post was a bit long, of course that's necessary for swelling. After getting mouthwash, aftercare info and Satin soap, I left.
I went to the gas station to pick up a bag of ice...the woman at the register asked me if that "thing" went through my lip...at school today a teacher asked me "what the hell possessed you to do that?!" It's been a bit over 24 hours since the procedure. I don't really have any problem talking, but eating seems really weird...it takes a long time. The swelling is minimal, I've been cleaning it regularly...two to three times a day I clean the outside with Satin, I rinse with alcohol free mouthwash after I drink/eat anything besides water. I'm also taking Zinc to promote healing. I've also been chewing on ice chips and taking ibproufen.
If you're considering a monroe/madonna piercing, go for it. It's a great piercing, I love mine. It's my favorite piercing so far and I don't even realize that I just had it pierced, it seems like it's been there forever. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message on AIM- syntheticdeath31 or email me at synthetic@trustkill.net or syntheticdeath31@hotmail.com