Before I turned 18, I constantly tried to figure out what piercing I wanted to get. I wanted my tongue pierced at first and then I decided I wanted my tragus pierced. I thought it was unique at the time, and really liked it, but I was afraid my ears were too small and my little piece of cartilage was too small. Then I didn't put much more thought in it.
At A Glance Author anonymous When N/A Location Richmond A few months after I turned 18, I was looking at a friends Myspace pictures and saw she got her lip pierced. I had never considered doing it before, but I really thought it looked cute on her. She didn't have a ring in, but this little diamond ball. I did some research into it and decided I wanted to get the same spot pierced (even though I never thought I'd actually do it). Being clueless at the time, I thought if you put a labret stud in it, it was called a labret piercing, obviously I was confused.
A reputable piercing shop where I live, opened up several branches in local malls. One of my friends told me about it, and I found it a little unbelievable, but I was curious to check it out. I kept telling one of my friends next time we go to the mall, I was getting something pierced, at that point I was convinced to get something done, plus it was so convenient. So, one afternoon we went, and I found the shop. I walked in nervously and looked around. The piercer there that day was completely unfriendly and down right rude. I told her I was thinking about getting lip pierced. She then insisted I should think about it, and remember it leaves a scar... she also added many girls don't consider that before they get it done. I told her I'd think about it and come back.
We went to have lunch and I sat there and weighed out my options. Not thrilled by the idea SHE would be the one doing it, I started to wonder if I should just wait. Then all of the sudden I decided I would just go and do it. We walked back in, and the piercer just looked at me and said nothing. I then told her I decided to get my lip pierced, and she gave me the forms to fill out. I was a little nervous, but over all I wasn't phased. Before I knew it, she asked me to come to the back. I remember sitting in the chair anxiously waiting to see what she was going to do next. She asked me to pick a spot, and I pointed to this little red dot under my lip, she told me that was pretty low, and asked if I was sure. So, I changed my mind and decided to get it a little closer to the bottom of my lip. I grabbed my friends hand and waited for her to stick the needle in. Then, my phone starts singing right before she sticks the needle in, which scared the crap out of me.
After that, she told me she was going to do it from the inside out, and that it was easier that way. Before I knew it, I took a breath in and out and she had already stuck the needle in.
It was a little pinch, but nothing major at all. My friend said she was waiting for me to squeeze her hand, or have any kind of reaction to the pain, but I had none. It was that simple. The only part that somewhat bothered me was feeling the needle going through the actual skin on my face (sounds weird, I know), not even that was too bad. She put the jewelry in, and handed me a mirror. I looked and saw the new shiny diamond ball in my lip, I noticed the ball was pretty big, and she insisted when I come back to get the stud changed it would be smaller. My lip was a little swollen and red but it didn't look bad.
I went home and was anxious to see my mom's reaction. She was sitting at the kitchen table doing bills, and didn't look up at me when I was talking to her. She actually noticed my body piercing cleanser first and glanced up at me at noticed it. She wasn't crazy about it and still isn't, but she didn't get really mad. I told her I'd buy a retainer when it healed so it wouldn't always be noticeable. She finally just left it alone.
The healing process was simple, the piercer only told me to buy alcohol free mouthwash, body piercing cleanser, and to take ibuprofen for the swelling. The pain was very minimal and the swelling went down after about two weeks. It never really had dried blood around it, or any puss, and never got infected. I was happy with how well it was healing. I went back around three weeks later and got my stud changed because it was too long, and was irritating me because it was hitting my teeth.
It took me awhile to get adjusted to the piercing, and I grappled with whether or not I liked it for some time. It was kind of out of character for me, and surprised a lot of my friends, but I got so many compliments on it I started to feel comfortable with it.
I decided to get my tragus pierced a few months later and it was A LOT more painful than my lip.
I've had my lip pierced for almost 8 months now, and I love it! I had trouble afterwards changing it a few times, and I've lost about 10 balls by now but by now I'm finally good at it. It's definitely my favorite and the least painful piercing I've ever gotten!