At first I was apprehensive. I was apprehensive about this piercing for almost 2 years. Nipples that felt like flaming matches being forced through them? Okay. Labret? Okay. But I have seen a lot of Monroe/Madonna piercings go wonky or just plain not suit the face they are on. I went as far as to photo-shopping a stud onto my own pictures, which was probably the point where I decided - I just had to have it when I saw it on my own face. I was terrified I would look like a cheap whore - luckily! I don't think I do.
At A Glance Author Godiva Skin Contact Godiva Skin@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Karen Studio Yo! Location Port Elizabeth, South Africa After I decided I absolutely NEEDED it I went to Yo! at Greenacres mall. The girl out front gave me the wrong gauge and length (she was an airhead anyway, so I couldn't expect too much from her anyway). Karen took care of that, however. Karen was my piercer - She did my labret about a year or two ago, and it was a very painless process despite me being absolutely terrified to the point of breaking out in a cold sweat, shaking like a leaf in the wind.
This time, however just as she was prepping the jewelry, she dropped the ball (this ball is cursed I tell you!) and I got to see how she handled it, which was quite professionally with sterilization of everything. This was most important to me, as I didn't want any risks of becoming infected.
I was a bit worried about the placement - I didn't want it too close to my nose or too close to my lip, and there's nothing to line it up with! But luckily she has a great eye for it, and she placed the dot correctly on the first try, even answering my questions about the placement such as "will this hit my teeth or gums" (Really important to a girl that had braces for almost 4 years!) and where the ball will be when I smile.
Karen was calm and relaxed and talked me through the experience but just as she was about to put the needle through she said, "This is going to hurt, okay?" - which frankly scared the bejebus out of me, but as I was about to say "Don't tell me that now!" the needle was through. It's harder to go through than the labret for some reason and was a bit slower, but I think it was because of the placement. It's quite far up on the lip and you can't pull at the flesh or else the piercing will be crooked.
I have a really high pain tolerance compared to most, but I can honestly say it was more painful than my labret (because it was slower) but less painful than my nipples. For those of you who haven't gotten a facial piercing and you're thinking of getting one, don't expect the needle to hurt all the way through, only expect pain on the skin and the inside. You do not feel it pass through the fat and muscle tissue due to placement of the ends of your nerves.
The piercing itself is worlds less painful than, say, a canker sore. (For some reason, these are the most intense kind of mouth pains I have ever experienced, it was even worse than braces).
When I got home - which was almost an hour later - I put ice on it off and on and there was absolutely no swelling (though Karen prepared me for the worst, I thought it would be horrible but there was nothing!) and absolutely no redness, save for my sensitive skin reacting to the coldness of the ice. There was maybe a drop or two of blood, but nothing major. My only problem is that it is quite tender still (which is to be expected) and I can't grasp the stud firmly enough to tighten the ball, and it has fallen off twice today. (Cursed I say!)
Overall, Yo! on the outside may seem very busy because of their location but they have two very talented piercers. They are clean and nice, you really couldn't ask for more!
My significant other isn't very pleased with me however, and I feel somewhat guilty for getting it now which makes me sad but it has caused me to think it through a bit more and ask myself why I have gotten it. I honestly can't think of a "damned good" reason except that I feel like it is one step towards completing my mental image of 'me'. If you are thinking of getting it it is sincerely worth the wait and the price and please - do it right! And make sure you are getting a piercing for the right reasons and make sure they are /your/ reasons!
I have placed photos in the photo gallery if you can find them!
Remember - pain is beauty! Happy piercing!