I finally took the plunge on 12th Feb '06 and got my cheeks pierced.
At A Glance Author vienna_star@lj Contact gg2710@hotmail.com When A month ago Artist Lovely girl- can't remember her name! Studio Cold Steel Location Camden, London I went to Cold Steel in Camden, London.
I had been considering these for many months, if not a year. I went today after getting all the facts from the piercer the day before, although I had read all the stories I could get my hands on online.
I also saw a girl in Camden who had retired hers, and got a glimpse into what the scars would most likely look like, and in all honesty, I loved the way they just looked like dimples.
So, after paying £80 for the pair, we went into the piercing room- my sister was there too for moral support.
The lady who pierced me was lovely, and spent a long time getting the marks lined up for perfect placement. She had pierced my Earl before this, so I knew that she was a perfectionist, and just the right person for such a pair of piercings.
I was expecting a ton of pain, but after she had checked for veins and put the clamps in place, the pain was ridiculously small. Quite like a labret. I even mumbled "Oh my God, that's nothing" as she pushed the needle through- silly me.
She was so professional, extremely hygienic and friendly. It was nice to get them done at a place I could trust for its standards as well as friendly piercers. I just had to leave her a £10 tip, because she pierced them PERFECTLY and was just brilliant all the way through!
The jewellery I have in is 2.0mm gauge and 22mm in length to allow for swelling. I am to go back once the swelling is down for a free change of jewellery.
The cleaning involves sea salt water- the same "strength" as when doing a sea salt soak. I combine this with an alcohol free mouthwash after I eat, drink, brush my teeth. It is also recommended that you use mouthwash after smoking, but I am a non-smoker. I do have some ready made piercing solution, which is what I find useful to clean with when in a hurry/not able to make up salt water.
The swelling itself didn't kick in until around three days after the piercings. It started one evening, and continued to swell for about two days.
The swelling itself was uncomfortable, but not exactly painful. I think that the worst part about it was that I had a pale bruise on my left cheek, along with looking like I was storing a kilo of hamster food in my cheeks!
I tried sucking on ice, and only eating cold/soft food, but in all honesty that didn't really work for me.
After about five days of discomfort, the swelling started to go down to a reasonable level. The bars once again started to have spare room at the end of them.
I do sea salt soaks whenever I can, using two shot glasses. I really did find that this helped to make them feel slightly more comfortable when I had the bad swelling, and when combined with some painkillers the discomfort was much reduced.
Now, a few weeks on, the swelling has mostly subsided. There is only a small amount completely focused around the bars.
The only annoying factor about the piercings at this moment is definitely the amount of lymph secreted!! It is pretty much constant, meaning that I find cleaning just twice a day impossible. I am probably cleaning them around 4-5 times a day, just to make them look less grim when I am out and about. This does result in a small amount of dry skin around the end of the bars, but nothing as noticeable as a lot of dried lymph ;)
Another negative factor that I currently have is that the lymph dries and kind of sticks my cheek skin to the bars, making it sometimes awkward when I smile/talk.
Alcohol is definitely not a good idea during the healing process, as I have found out. Not only does it cause some swelling- not only just around the piercing, but across most of the cheek- but it also seems to cause me some physical discomfort. I was told by my piercer that cheek piercings heal the best on those that don't drink alcohol at all. However, I am a student, and I think that moderation is the best way around it for me :)
But overall, a lovely pair of piercings that I hope will stay with me for a long time yet! I am looking forward to changing the bars to a smaller length, once I am sure the swelling has subsided, and also putting on a coloured ball. They are very much worth the few negatives, which only really prey on my vanity :)