My story began eight months ago, when I got the left side of my lip pierced. It was a relatively normal experience and I was completely satisfied with the results. Though I loved my new lip piercing, it left me feeling uneven. Within the first month of having one side of my lip pierced, I developed a desire to have the other side pierced. If it were not for the fact that I was working at the local day camp as a counselor, I would have gone ahead and pierced the other side. The camp director asked me put retainers in my current piercings that were visible so it would have made no sense to get the new piercing. I also knew that my parents would not be pleased if I were to pierce anymore of my face without their consent. So, in that period I got my nipples and industrial pierced. I continued to beg my parents to let me pierce the other side of my lip and would eventually gain their consent when I turned 18.
At A Glance Author Stessa Fallon Contact Stessa Fallon@bme.anon When N/A Studio Big Joe's Tattoo Studio Location White Plains, New York Fortunately, my parents promised me that I was not going to be forced to go on our annual family vacation. Unfortunately, they backed out at the last minute and reneged on their agreement. They knew that I was not going to go without an incentive. Surprisingly, my dad suggested that I could get my lip pierced the day after New Years in exchange for attending the trip. That made me completely ecstatic. The week quickly went by, and in no time it was January 2nd.
My dad picked me up right after school, and drove me to my best friend Kerri's house. I was, as usual, met by her "father", who proceeded to tell me that I would look disgusting with "this new metal in my face." I brushed off his negative comment and proceeded to drive to White Plains.
When we got inside the tattoo parlor, where I was going to get my piercing, my dad told the piercer I wanted "snakebites", not realizing that he sounded ridiculous. I laughed and told the piercer that I wanted to get the other side of my lip pierced. My dad signed the waiver, gave his driver's license to the receptionist, and left while I filled out the paperwork. We waited for about 10 minutes before we were called in.
The piercer asked me how long I had my other lip piercing for (8 months), where I had gotten it (IANS), how I swelled (badly) and how much pain I could take (a lot). He looked on the inside of my lip and commented on how my bar was too short. He changed it with a longer one for free, which was extremely nice of him. Kerri was offered a seat, but politely declined. She was clearly in his way and was stepping on his poor plant, but failed to get the hint. She laughed it off and tried to fix the plant that she most likely killed.
He took a few minutes looking for a ball to match the one I already owned and after that, began his work. He wiped my lip clean and the preceeded to mark it. He measured the length between my lip and the hole, the length of my edge of my mouth to the hole, the space in between and how the piercing was placed on the inside. He marked a possible hole, after an extended period of time, and I examined it carefully, and asked if he could move it slightly to the left. After he made the second mark, we both agreed that exactly in between was the perfect spot.
He changed his gloves, took out his tools and showed me that everything had been sterilized properly, as well as, the mark on the sealed packages that proved it. He clamped my lip and then made sure it was exactly where it should be. Then, he placed the familiar needle to my lip and told me to breathe deeply. The pain was not that bad. I honestly wish it was a little worse because I enjoy the pain that's involved. He put the jewelry in and told me that I needed to invest in some Dial antibacterial soap and showed me exactly how to clean it. When I mentioned how I had been cleaning it before he noted that that was the reason why my lip did not heal as fast as it should have. Then he let me up to examine my new metal. The piercing looked amazing. But, within seconds, my lip began to swell. He was actually surprised, but said that it may be a sign that it won't swell badly later on. We went up to the front and I paid $50 for the piercing, $10 for a new nose screw (he knocked a few dollars off that too) and I gave him a $10 tip, which was all I could afford. He was pleasantly surprised because he claimed he usually never got tips.
My new piercing looks absolutely amazing and I feel so balanced. My lip was swollen for about 3 hours and now the swelling is almost non-existent. Snakebites were definitely a good choice for me. I wouldn't really recommend piercing one side at a time because it was that much harder to line it up. Oh and don't take it to heart when your mom says you look like an animal; she doesn't really mean it.