I decided after reviewing a few different looks on BME that I wanted a horizontal piercing on my lip. I printed out several different looks. One that was below the bottom lip on the side, one in the middle, and some others. I called Greg the and let him in on my new fascination. He said he hadn't seen it before, and that he would name it after me. (I told him it was called the Lane, but it sure would have been great.)
At A Glance Author Veruca Contact Veruca@bme.anon When N/A Artist Greg Montone Studio Studio One Location Norwood Pa I went to my usual studio (Studio One Tattoo and Body) and showed them some pictures and ideas I had. Although Greg had never done a horizontal lip piercing before he was eager to give it a shot. So we decided that to have it really small the way I wanted we would use a sixteen gauge curved barbell. He marked it as he thought it should be and I looked in the mirror to see if it was even and everything. He brought out the needle and we got started.
Holding my lip still he went straight through (trying to avoid my lip piercing I already have, and my lip tattoo was probably a challenge). I felt the usual wince of short lived pain and it was through. It was kind of cool seeing the big needle still in my lip while he got the jewelry ready. As he pulled the jewelry through I had another short pain getting it in. I was in love at first sight.
It bled a little, but actually turned out being pretty easy. I did the usual mouth wash bit, and we talked about bactine and mouthwash and everything else like usual. Then I headed on my way.
As for healing, it was a little swollen the first few days. The fact that it is across your lip makes it a little difficult to smile during healing. But, it was a nice little reminder of the experience every time it hurt a tiny bit. It didn't take long (maybe a few days) before that stopped. Then it was easy.
The hard part would be that my work told me I could have it and changed there minds. So I had to take it out and get a retainer before it was healed. I thought it might be horrible (which I have always been taught is wrong). But lucky for me, it was still okay. I waited the two weeks they allowed me and then had to replace it. I couldn't find a retainer anywhere in town because it was a curved sixteen gauge. I figured they would be used for eyebrow rings, but I guess not because I was looking everywhere. Finally after stopping in every piercing place in the city, I went to Hot Topic and picked one up. It was kind of long but I just cut it a little. I tried to put it in without the little rubber band things on the ends and it fell out a million times. It also works if you just have a short barbell and take the balls off.
One night when it was still healing I tried to put my vertical lip ring in and it was so tight trying to get them both in such a small space that I took it out. It hurt for the rest of the day because that was a bad idea. I think I might try and get it in after its healed. But it is still healing now. I will have to update with more details later.
The best part is that it didn't get anywhere near my other lip ring or my lip tattoo. The skin that the bar is inside is kind of thin, and I am afraid it might grow out (something I have heard about surface piercing). We will have to wait and see. I guess you would consider it a surface piercing.
I guess the biggest misconception is everyone thinks it's a snakebite. They think its two piercing. As soon as I tell them its one piercing, they can't believe it. I think its kind of obvious because the studs are very close together unlike when the usual lip rings are on opposite sides.
If I put in my other lip ring, then it looks like a flower of some sort with all four balls. I kind of really like that. I would like to take pictures and put them on here for you to see. I hope this was informative and if email me if you have any questions. I am hoping to get some more soon.
If you live in the Philadelphia area I recommend studio one to anyone. Greg is very professional and polite and the shop is very clean. All and all a great experience.