I had been thinking about getting a medusa piercing for about 2 years although I only found out it was called a medusa about two weeks ago after doing some research into it. Until then I always referred to it as a philtrum piercing. Anyway, This wasn't my first piercing as I already have my nose pierced on either side although I took the left side out about a year ago as it wasn't healing properly and also have my side lip pierced.
At A Glance Author Jennybattycat Contact Jennybattycat@bme.anon When A week ago Artist sean Studio pierced up body piercing and tattoo studio Location Bristol About a month ago I decided to look into getting the medusa after I had contemplated this on and off for a long time as I mentioned above.
I was getting bored with my side lip piercing as loads of people have started to have them done so I changed the stud to a clear retainer as I didn't want to take it out but I wanted it to be discreet.
After contemplating whether the medusa would suit me and the exact position I would like it to go (I read that this piercing had to be positioned correctly or it could highlight any asymmetrical features) I chose to go to pierced up as thats where my lip was done and the place is clean, sterile but also decorated well with lots of interesting body modification pictures and a big range of jewelry on display to take my mind away from the impending needle about to puncture my body parts.
The day of medusa arrived fast and i'd been trying to psyche myself up all that week in imagining what it would feel like.
My side lip went smoothly and although there was swelling afterwards the healing was quite quick so I comforted myself with that memory.
On the day I could feel my stomach churning with anticipation and was anxious to get it done. I brought along my brother as company and because he was interested in seeing me have a 4 inch needle sticking out of my mouth.
The weather that day was really odd. It started out sunny then without warning a huge snow cloud engulfed everywhere in a blizzard of snow. As it was the last day of february I found that quite bizarre. So we had to trek to pierced up freezing cold and I was glad that we were going inside where it was warm rather than being nervous about going in.
I didn't have long to wait because the place wasn't very busy mainly due to the strange weather.
Sean the piercer ushered me inside of the piercing room, made me sit on the green piercing chair and began to proceed with information about the piercing itself. I noticed that he had his medusa pierced and was pleased as he would have empathy with me getting mine done.
He told me that this piercing was a bit different than a lower lip piercing because its situated near the nose and therefore is more sensitive and nervy and can make your eyes water. I thought back to when I had my nose pierced and how it hurt much more than my lip did and my stomach was doing somersaults and my head was hot.
He cleaned my lip with an antiseptic wipe and made me rinse my mouth with what looked like pink dental mouthwash.
Then he marked the place where the piercing would go and felt underneath my mouth (with gloves on of course) for the webbing so he knew where to position the clamp.
I had a look in the mirror at the positioning and was satisfied so Sean placed the clamp on my lip.
The clamp I always find the most nervous part as I know there is no escape!
We had decided to go for a 1.6 gauge stud to match my other one and he took out the needle from the packaging and told me that he was ready to pierce.
I closed my eyes and took in deep breaths through my nose and as he was about to pierce I opened my eyes slightly out of curiosity. Then came the sharp pain as I felt the needle slide through each layer of tissue and my eyes started watering uncontrollably.
So I closed my eyes again as he took out the needle and fitted the jewelry which hurt only slightly less than the piercing itself.
I opened my eyes again as he started to wipe away blood which I didn't expect as my last one didn't bleed.
He was right about this being a very sensitive piercing. My lip started swelling that very day which I did expect and he said also that this would happen. By morning I had fat lip it and looked like I had been punched so I had to take some ibuprofen to calm it and also had quite a few ice lollies which was a bonus.
Its been two days since getting my piercing and the swelling is still there and im still taking Nurofen/ibuprofen i've even found a way to sleep comfortably without risking the jewelry embedding into my lip by keeping some clean tissue firmly against it to relieve the pressure.
After all this effort I hope that when it heals all the hard work is going to pay off and i'll be left with a nice neat medusa piercing and a normal sized lip!