My stretched lip was not premeditated.
At A Glance Author anonymous When Six months ago Artist Not sure Studio The Piercing Urge Location Melbourne, Aust I first pierced my labret some 5 years ago. I enjoyed the piercing experience, and have enjoyed the piercing even more. It seems to have suited my face and has slowly become a part of me I couldn't do without.
I also serially played with the piercing and found that I really enjoyed the feeling. Over time, I started to notice that when I was studying, I would end up with a pool of drool - as disgusting as it sounds - on the paper I was leaning over. The first time it happened, it was highly embarrassing - I was sitting in a class room when I looked up only to see the whole class staring at me! It appears that my lip piercing had automatically stretched, and I then started to enjoy tricks such as spitting water, etc. (Not very mature I know).
After a while, it became annoying. I took to taking the piercing out, however because I had had it for so many years, it did not close up in the slightest. (I know this is not necessarily usual see below). In any case, I did not and have never had any intention of retiring the piercing. I loved it and still do – as does my wife – and started to look at other possible options such as some kind of different backing to the piercing. It was only after talking at length with my piercer that I had a revelation about two years ago, where she came up with the idea of simply putting a bigger piece of jewellery in. Well, sure enough I sterilised it, waited until I was in the shower, and then slid in a 12g bar without any problems. It immediately felt a tiny bit saw and went red for about two to three days, however after a week it was as if the piercing was originally that size. I loved the look of the piercing at the bigger size also. However I then resolved not to play with the piercing, as I thought 12g would suit me just fine. After a while though I couldn't help myself. Old habits die hard.
I'm sure you can see where this is going. Despite my original intention to not play with it, sure enough after 6 months liquid started oozing again. And at the same time I discovered the joys of stretching elsewhere, my ears had been stretched to around 18mm. As I've read from many others, stretching is of course addictive and I found that my addiction carried over to thoughts of my lip. I started checking out the few stretched lip pics on BME and started doing some research.
I also liked the look of the larger gauge in everything. As a young buck I counted piercing by the number, but I was moving toward the fewer, the larger, the better.
I kind of evolved naturally. I stretched up to 10g without effort, and then 6 months ago went in and bought some simple, 8g plus designed for ears. Well, through simple playing, tugging, pulling (amongst other things I won't print here) I had soon slipped in the plugs will little effort.
The look is amazing and the feeling is amazing too. I've since spoken to others who have had stretched lips (its amazing how they seek you out when you have one, I seem to get approached by all these people I hadn't noticed before) and it seems my experience is not usual. Once again, talking to the piercing at the Piercing Urge here in Melbourne she was suggesting I have quite elastic skin and that I am quite fortunate.
I must admit to fantasizing about a larger size. My next problem is one of the "permanency" of the piercing and the reality that, I have quite possibly hit the point of no return. The reactions I get don't bother me - although I must say I often get the old fashioned "double take", and of course get the usual questions with regard to pain, how was it done, etc. What I now need to consider is, whilst my current employer has no issues with piercers, will this restrict me in the future? While some (such as piercers themselves) are fortunate enough not to have to worry about this issue, and I do envy them, it is something I will need to consider long and hard about.
The other thing about the larger sizes, as I discovered with my ears, is that the jewellery is so much more fun at the larger sizes. Other advantages – I can shoot water (and beer) a couple of meters now.
However logic aside I will find it difficult to stop. I've seen a girl in the large gauge lip piercing section on BME, from memory she has 0G and it looks sensational. Hmmm...