My only body art had been a butterfly tattoo on my tummy, which I got 13 years ago. My earlobes had been gun-inflicted (one hole in each at age 6, and a second hole in one ear during college). What's more, I was introduced to Monroe/Madonna piercings via a short profile of a rockabilly-hardcore-looking chick in Marie Claire magazine, of all places. Needless to say, I wasn't at all a member of the body mod community. So I was a little worried about looking/being treated like a Philistine (though I myself get mad at bimbos who acquire tattoos because "my boyfriend wants me to, but I don't know what to get"), not to mention the pain I might experience.
At A Glance Author ELEC Contact ELEC@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Eldo Studio Body Manipulations Location San Francisco, CA But as soon as I saw that photo in Marie Claire, I absolutely HAD to have a Monroe (or more accurately a Madonna, since both the mag profilee and I got pierced on the right side). It just spoke to me, as intensely as the idea for a butterfly tattoo did when I was in elementary school and a book character had one. I hit the Internet and looked up absolutely everything about that piercing in particular and piercings in general. I checked out aftercare, jewelry quality, numerous experiences on BME, and ratings of piercing studios around SF.
Eventually I decided Body Manipulations would be the best place for me. I sent an email asking basic (and probably silly) questions, and got a very friendly, very detailed response from the owner, Paul. Then I visited in person and talked with Eldo about gauge (he said the shop used 14s for Madonnas/Monroes), the ideal time to get pierced before working on a Monday, and jewelry. The onyx size and gauge I needed weren't in stock, but Eldo promised to put a rush order in for me. I left, totally psyched and with soothed nerves.
Fast forward six days, to last Friday. Since I was unable to make a previously-considered trip to the East Coast, I used the planned day off to get my first "real" piercing. I visited the dentist that morning to get an overdue cleaning (dunno what'll happen if I need to get a cavity filled), then decided to kill time before BM opened by getting an overdue mani/pedi.
That's when Paul left a voicemail saying the onyx he'd gotten (he told me the day before that it was ready) was a 16 gauge, not a 14, but that he could go get a 14 for me. I called back and told another piercer, Christopher, that the gauge didn't matter too much to me and that once I got there we could decide which gauge to use.
All three guys--Paul, Eldo, and Christopher--were at the counter when I arrived. They said they thought I should get the 14G, since more jewelry comes in that size. It would take Paul about 20-30 minutes to get the 14 onyx, which was fine with me--I got a smoothie and perused the studio's piercing and tattoo portfolios. Then Eldo called me to the back.
I first had to rinse out my mouth with Listerine in the bathroom--which was so spotless, even my insanely picky mother would have approved. Then I walked into one of the mini-rooms, sat upon the shop's famous Dr. Seuss physician's table paper, and Eldo took me through everything step-by-step. He cleaned my lip with waterless surgical soap, then used a fresh Sharpie to dot my face. I liked the placement, but he encouraged me to "make faces"; after doing so I decided one millimeter lower would be perfect. I deliberately did not look on the tray 'o tools because I didn't want to see the needle or any other scary implements. Eldo got out the clamp and used it to hold my lip. No pain at all. He checked for veins, and then I sensed the moment of truth was upon me. I shut my eyes and barely felt the needle touch my skin. Eldo gave me the "deep breath in, deep breath out" spiel. I breathed accordingly.
I felt the needle through every layer of my skin, yet the needle traveled VERY quickly. Kind of like one's entire life flashing before one's eyes, I guess. The pain? Well, a quick bit of sharp heat, and then the needle was through to the other side. It was barely a pinch, less than biting my tongue or lip. And it was WAY less than my ear-gunnings had been. Eldo threaded the jewelry, which was also just another pinch, and then I was done.
The next day (yesterday) I had some swelling, which I didn't mind because it filled in the extra-long titanium labret, but hardly any redness. Today's the same, with slightly less swelling. No pain, just a twinge when I wash with Provon. The salt soaks (made from sea salts Eldo gave me for free) are soothing. The back of the labret very slightly touches my gum/teeth, but nothing uncomfortable. That's the biggest relief--I was dreading dealing with the long post before downsizing in a few weeks. I'll try to post an update after I downsize or after healing in 6 to 8 weeks. I don't anticipate any problems, since I will follow aftercare instructions to the letter; Eldo even gave me some non-alcohol mouthwash, which will be handy for times when I can't dilute the Listerine I have.
Now here's something that's probably old hat to regular body-modders, but that was an absolute surprise to me: I felt a total rush when it was over. This overwhelming sense good-feeling didn't go away--not as I walked around the Mission gabbing my head off to strangers, not as I went shopping downtown for a dress to wear at a wedding, and not through the rest of this weekend (it's Sunday now). In fact, I'm now considering an industrial or a cleavage dermal anchor--even if the pain is worse, I can look forward to that amazing high.
:.) [Note my smiley face has a Madonna/Monroe.]