Basically I had wanted my lip pierced since I was about 15. However at that point in my life I was even too afraid to get my ears pierced with the nasty mall piercing pagoda gun! So I had to build my courage, wallet and wait till I was 18.
At A Glance Author nicole Contact nicole@bme.anon IAM jenocide When It just happened Artist jessika simmons Studio river city tattoo Location n. boulevard, richmond virginia Fast forward to the year 2006. I am 20 years old with a bunch of piercings and a handful of tattoos. Yet I began to get that itching feeling for a new piece of jewelry. It was between a belly button piercing and a lip piercing. I decided, since I work at an animal shelter and I sweat a lot, that a lip piercing would be the best. I didn't want just one piercing in my lip, I wanted two. I had heard them called snakebites so I decided to search for those experiences on BME. After reading a few experiences, I decided to get them but not right away.
So after mulling over my decision for a month I decided I was ready. I sat nervously in my living room for more than an hour and then finally came to the conclusion that if I sat there any longer I would lose my courage and not go through with it. I drove to River City Tattoo and told Jessika what I wanted done. I mentioned I wanted snakebites and Jessika laughed and said she hears that name more for the two piercings in the tongue. As I filled out the necessary (and annoying!) paper work I started to get the butterflies. I asked where to find the bathroom and sat in there breathing slowly and began rethinking my decision. No way did I come all the way out here to just turn around and run out the door! So I went back to the lobby but on the way I was asked to go into the piercing room where Sean began talking about numbing spray (20 dollars extra! no way!) and how 14 gauge may be too big. He told me to rinse out my mouth with Listerine and wait for Jessika. I sat there nervously and starred at the many CPR and Tattooing certificates hanging on the wall. Jessika came in and we talked a bit about my concerns over dental recession and cleaning procedures. Since I already had my tongue pierced I figured it was similar enough. We then discussed the piercing placement. She placed one ring on the outside of the right side of my lip and one on the left. After looking in the mirror I decided it was a perfect placement. Now came the marking of the placement which took sometime. Next came the piercing.
Altogether it wasn't too bad. However since I chewed on the right side of my bottom lip the skin was much thinner than the left side. She told me to lie down on the piercing table. Right as she was going to pierce me she got called to the front of the store. She apologized and excused herself. I did some deep breathing to calm my nerves until she came back. She got new gloves and asked if I was ready. I nodded. She looked at me and said "Alright here we go a little pinch, one, two, three and we're done." The right side hurt but really wasn't so bad. Next was the left side of my lip. This side HURT a considerable bit more. I started to feel a little bit faint. I asked Jessika if I could lie on the table a bit and she said she would get me a coke. She sent Sean in to watch me and I asked if I could have a wet paper towel for my forehead but someone was in the bathroom so I had to just wait it out. Jessika came back and we talked for some time. After about 10 minutes or so I felt better and thanked Jessika for her fine work. I went out front to pay. It came out to 101.50 since I bought a large can of H2Ocean (it would have been about $85.00 without the H2Ocean).
When I came home I took some Ibuprofen and swished out my mouth with mouth wash. The rest of the day it was just using mouth wash after I ate and spraying Q-Tips with H2Ocean to clean of the piercing holes!
This morning everything looked great. No blood or crust, barely swollen and just a bit sore. I really recommend this piercing for those who want a lip piercing but don't want just one. The pain is bearable and the after care is easy! Also if you happen to be in Richmond go to Jessika, I can't express what a wonderful piercer she is and she is very professional!
Happy Piercing!