As my eighteenth birthday was approaching, I kept thinking more and more about getting my tongue pierced. I had wanted to get the piercing since seventh grade, but was never allowed. Five years later and hundreds of tongue piercing sites later, I finally decided to get it done.
At A Glance Author Tiffany Contact Tiffany@bme.anon Artist Derek Lowe Studio Body Work Productions, Inc. Location Cleveland, Ohio I chose Body Work Productions, Inc. which is located in Cleveland, Ohio. The studio had a very impressive and informative web site, great portfolio, as well as experienced piercers. The thing that impressed me most about BWP (other than Derek Lowe, which I'll get to later) was that it was a studio created for piercing and nothing else. I was excited that I wouldn't have to hear the sound of a tattoo gun buzzing in the room next to me as I got a needle shoved through my tongue.
I called BWP about a month before I was planning to get my tongue pierced to check on prices, jewelry, and piercers. I had wanted to speak to Derek Lowe because I had read so much about him though BMEzine and was impressed by his experience as well as his piercing beliefs, which reflected my own. Derek wasn't there the day I called, but I left my number and he called my back the next day (completely unxpected). We spent about a half hour on the phone discussing the piercing, which completely blew me away because all of the other places I had called could have cared less about my business.
Derek set me up with an appointment for a few weeks later, and after that all I could do was wait.
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I got pierced about a week and a half after my eighteenth birthday. My best friends Julie and Anna came with me for moral support, as well as to drive me home if I wasn't up for it after the procedure. After filling out some paperwork and picking out my jewelry (12g silver barbell...I found out when I got there that BWP only pierces tongues with 12g) Derek took me back into one of the piercing rooms. I was very impressed with the cleanliness and thorough explanation of the process. The piercing in all took about five minutes, but I was there for over and hour due to heavy explanation, which I was greatful for.
After measuring my tongue, marking some spots, giving a nice tongue massage ("Bet you've never had your tongue massaged before...nice, isn't it?" was the comment from Derek), and drying off my tongue, everything was set.
Derek clamped my tongue, which really wasn't all that uncomfortable despite what I had read. He placed the cork under the marking, took the 12g needle and my jewelry, and told me to take a deep breath. I knew he was going to pierce on my second exhale, so I took my time breathing. On the second exhale, he pushed the needle through.
I'm not going to say it didn't hurt, because it did. The pain was quick and sharp, but faded away shortly after. I bled a little bit from the bottom of the piercing, but didn't slobber at all, which I was happy about. Derek handed me a mirror, and I flipped out when I saw it. It was absolutely beautiful; exactly what I had wanted. I told him so, and he was quite impressed with my speech ability right after I got it done. He said that I was one of the best he'd ever heard.
After Derek talked me through the aftercare steps one more time, I went out to show Julie and Anna. Anna loved it, Julie almost passed out. I felt confident in my driving skills, so I drove the girls home.
It was then time to face my parents, but I was so happy about the piercing that I could have cared less about what they thought. They weren't happy, but I was eighteen and there wasn't much they could do.
The week after the piercing was hell. My tongue swelled, the tip went numb, and I basically freaked out. I wanted to take it out, but still loved it and was quite upset. After two or three frantic calls to Derek (in which he assured me that the numbing was actually a normal side effect) and eating not much more than applesauce, I got over my fears and the swelling started to subside and the numbness disappeared. Everything returned to normal within eight to ten days.
I broke two of the rules Derek gave me about the piercing (no open mouth kissing and no oral sex for one month). My boyfriend and I lasted for about three weeks "following the rules" and then gave in.
It's been about eight months since I got my tongue pierced, and since then I've bought a million new barbells and have actually shrunk the piercing from a 12g to a 14g. I love having this piercing because it not only satiates my oral fixation, but it's also a piercing that not everybody has to know about. I absolutely love it, and would recommend that anyone who wants to get it done should go right ahead. The pain is worth the pleasure.