For at least 3-4 years I had been attracted to the idea of having the right side of my lower lip pierced. My girlfriend at the time had her lower left lip pierced, and it was a phenomenal sensation during kissing and such. After many long sessions of browsing BME photos and experiences, circumstances converged and I decided to act on my desire.
At A Glance Author sonick Contact sonick@bme.anon When It just happened Artist JD Studio HTC Body Piercing Location Tempe, AZ Having learned about the APP from the BME site, I located the HTC studio by using the search on the APP website. The rigorous standards of the APP set my mind at ease regarding aseptic environment, standards in practice, etc. I had no desire for a lip piercing to turn into something bad!
I had a sandwich and listened to a little Mickey Avalon to calm my nerves, and then made my way to the HTC Tempe studio, just a few miles from my home. The HTC Tempe studio is on the Arizona State University campus so it was a nice calming drive under the Arizona sunshine. Approaching the studio, I noticed that the car in front of me had a HTC sticker in the rear window. All signs point to getting pierced!
Upon Arrival, I was getting more and more nervous, as much as I tried to not show it. I believe it was Andy who was at the counter at the time, greeted me and asked what I was looking to do. I pointed at my lower lip with a slightly shaking finger and he grinned disarmingly and took my ID while I filled out a 1-page form with the standard information on it. It was busy, as all Saturdays are in there, so I sat and contemplated my fate for about 20 minutes at which time JD emerged from the back.......
"Jayson we're ready for ya". I gathered my strength and walked towards JD as he introduced himself with a huge disarming smile and handshake that immediately put me more at ease. We walked to the piercing room which was private and very roomy, and so sterile and spotless i doubt there was a speck of dust or contaminant anywhere in the whole room. JD had me take a seat on the comfy medical recliner and we chatted while he set up his tray and such. JD is a really cool guy, my mind was put more and more at ease the more time I spent with him.
This is both the focal point of the story and ironically the shortest. That's how damn good this guy is. He went over the displaying the new needle, jewelry, etc. coming out of the autoclave packs while I swished with Tech2000, and then he had me lay on my back. I noticed an absence of clamps and asked if he freehands, he said yes which i was SO hopeful for as i did NOT want bruising from clamps. He marked the area once with a clean toothpick and gentian violet, had me verify in a hand mirror, it was perfect the very first time (which surprised me as I'm picky). He asked me if i was ready, then had me open my mouth and said "take one big breath and exhale"...... slight pinch.... another slight pinch 1 second later.... 2 seconds later a couple small motions and he declared "that's it!". JD had managed to pierce, follow through with jewelry and secure a fantastic looking 16ga. captive bead in less than ten seconds. This guy rocks!!
Enter nausea/exhileration combo. Now I understand what people mean by post-pierce effect. I sat up and JD immediately saw that i was not stable (which I then noticed at the exact same time!) and helped me lay right back down. He fetched me an apple juice and helped me get it down. A couple minutes later and I was still VERY woozy from the trauma/adrenaline/dopamine/etc. so he went and got a cold compress that fits under the neck and head.......... THAT felt so incredible as
he let me lie there as long as I needed to recover, making small talk and laughing about this and that. He was willing to sit and talk (or not talk) and let me lie there as long as I needed, without so much as even a subtle hint that I was taking too long. HTC / JD is a CLASS ACT, this impressed me. After a few minutes I told JD I was better , and we went over aftercare and then out to the lobby to pay.
Out in the lobby he noticed I was still shaky on my feet, so he put me in the most comfy spot in the lobby and asked me to stay long enough for him to do his next piercing since I was driving, and he was worried I was not ready to drive (as was I!) I agreed, and after another 10 minutes I was back to 100% and up walking around the (huge) jewelry display counter. I noticed in the lobby mirror that my piercing was EXACTLY on the dot JD made with the toothpick..... his freehand skills are without equal!
He emerged 15-20 minutes later and again made sure I was OK, and then went over aftercare one more time, and rang me up.
The total for piercing, ultra-high quality steel 16ga. cbr, 2 bottles of Tech2000, 2 cans of H2Ocean, and 25 minutes of the best bedside manner ever, was $62 and change. I made my way home without incident and religiously followed the aftercare until it I fell asleep.
I am writing this after waking up for the first time since being pierced..... and there is NO swelling, NO pain, NO lymph or blood, and just all around no ill consequences whatsoever. This is largely because I am a bit of a freak when it comes to lack of swelling and healing extremely fast...... but I also attribute it to the amazing skill and quality of JD's work. Extreme attention to aftercare surely plays a part as well.
RUN, don't walk to HTC Body Piercing in Tempe/Phoenix. These people are consummate professionals.
Thanks JD!!!!