Well there is a first time for everything. First piercing, first publication.
At A Glance Author Bug Contact Bug@bme.anon When A month ago Artist Sarge Studio Metal Fatigue Location Bournemouth, UK. About two years ago I went into Bournemouth with one of my closest friends to get her lower lip pierced in the centre, I was sorely tempted but at the time my mothers powerful voice still controlled a large portion of my mind and it said, quite plainly, no.
A few months ago however, another friend had his lower lip pierced to the left side and I fell in love. As soon as I saw it that was the placement for me however my parents thought otherwise.
I gave up after a while, as you would. But then one day was sat in our common room at school talking to someone about it and realised that she couldn't stop me. I was over 16, I needed no permission, go for it. So that night I went home and informed my family of my intentions. There was nothing they could do and I was good to go.
I planned my piercing trip carefully over about two weeks of definitely definitely wanting this done. I organised for the friend that I had been with to come with me, to go to the same place as her and to spend a nice girly day shopping around the main event. I had the money all saved up and was planning to go into Bournemouth the first week of the summer holidays, Monday the 24th, I even remember the date. After all that was organised I remember a week and a bit of constant buzzing and annoying everyone I came into contact with about this amazing thing that was about to happen to me, I was so excited it was a constant high and the only thing that dampened it was my mother's constant reminders of piercing horror stories and dangerous infections. I knew all this to be true but also had six A4 pages of aftercare information posted to my wardrobe, she wasn't going to get me on a safety factor, and I had done my research.
I am sorry to keep you here with such a lengthy post but I feel that if you are going to read up on something like this it helps if the author of the experience gives you some personal insight and background information as well, in-case you too experience similar events. And if you have tricky parents like mine go to websites and find as much healthcare info as possible, it definitely helps grease the wheels.
So to continue, the weekend of the piercing rolled around and my boyfriend reminded me that I had to confront my boss about this new addition to my face, ouch. Being on such a high I had forgotten all about my boss, describing him as a gorilla, in looks as well as personality, would be an understatement. I love where I work and was terrified of losing my job. However being a waitress health and safety around food was something I had to own up to. I plucked up the courage to ring him on the Friday, whilst in the common room. I say I plucked up the courage it was more my friends dialling the number and shoving the phone into my hand. Going completely white I sat there and spoke to him. He was angry at first but we made a compromise. Blue plaster for shifts where I am handling more food than usual and a clear piece of jewellery as soon as I can. To be perfectly honest I was just thrilled he didn't fire me.
So I will skip to the actual piercing experience now, it is what you all came for. Walking into Bournemouth I took stock of the rest of my body. I have two holes in each ear and little scars where third ones closed up a year ago due to inexpert piercing. My left bottom hole is decidedly bigger than the rest, having been stretched up at one point and then left to shrink back, more the fool on me I didn't do it properly. Other than that I am a complete new comer to body mods. However for some reason my family has strong links with tattoo's and even though my parents hate the idea of needles going through me they will happily pay for the three or four tattoo designs I have come up with to be imprinted onto my body. Roll on December because the next mod involves ink.
Nerves only hit as we were getting our food before hand. My friend made me eat some fried chicken and laughed at how nervous I was, we both laughed at how she had completely flipped out and sat in the chair three times before anyone could go near her two years previous. My friend doesn't do well with needles although she has about 10 pieces of jewellery around her body now, and I might add that they look fantastic. I was always her "needle virgin" friend because my holes were gun ones.
Skipping the hour or so avoiding the place we finally got to the studio. There is a flight of stairs up to the place and it took me three attempts to get up there. Once into the door then straight out again, once halfway up the stairs then running back down, lastly forcibly pushed up the stairs and into the studio. You have to understand that I wasn't scared of the needle; I was scared of the guy piercing me.
It sounds stupid but I remember how impatient he was with my friend, and although he is so good at what he does he scared the shit out of me. Getting in there the place was bizarrely full, then we realised that the three or four people ahead of me were foreign students, Spanish I think and a bit pushy. The woman behind the desk and the guy in the studio looked annoyed. And as a result I ended up going before the Spanish kids, partly because I think he didn't like the idea of them.
Next bit is standard, I washed my mouth out over a sink and sat down in the chair, he marked the place with a cocktail stick and some ink and I asked him to move it. That part was what I was most worried about. Would I have the nerve to ask this guy to move the placement if I didn't like it? He had put me at ease with jokes about the Spanish kids however and I felt completely relaxed.
Clamp doesn't hurt no matter what others say and to be perfectly honest and no bullshitting, getting my ears done with guns hurt 10x more than getting my lip done with a needle. Where a gun in the ear feels like a wasp sting and lasts for ages a needle feels like a very light pinch and doesn't hurt afterwards.
He pulled the jewellery through, tightened the ball and asked me to look in the mirror. I was simply beaming I couldn't believe I had my lip pierced! Smiling at how happy I was he told me it looked good and gave me some aftercare advice, then grumbled about the Spanish kids a bit more then we left. It was a fantastic euphoric feeling. It sounds stupid and like I am making a big deal of just one little body mod but the need and lust I had over this piercing was incredible at the time.
I had no aftercare problems, I had it done about three weeks ago but changed it from a bar to a horseshoe ring after two with no irritation at all which I love the look of so much. I had one day of wanting to take it out about four days after getting it done because my dog hit me in the face and it went purple but I am so glad I didn't. It looks fantastic and if I wasn't so camera shy I would post photo's up as well.
My advice would be to just relax, freaking out agitates your piercists temper in most cases and leads to a bad experience. Have a laugh and joke around because if its what you want there is no need not to enjoy yourself. I am now considering septum and more ear jewellery because I loved the experience so much and would definitely recommend metal fatigue to anyone in the south of the UK, its worth the travel, the studio is fantastic and the people are the best.
Relax and enjoy because it's all about you.