This is an account of my first piercing and one to remember in my books. I had never really considered getting my tongue piercing but now nearly a year on I couldn't really imagine my tongue without it! I wouldn't recommend this line of action in getting it done (being forced to in a way), however I was willing to at the time so I guess it doesn't really make any difference to any other tongue piercing.
At A Glance Author Dan When A year ago Artist Matt Studio Atlantic Coast Piercing Studio Location Newquay, Cornwall A group of nine of my good mates and myself had organised to go down to Newquay, in Cornwall, to celebrate finishing our A Levels. We left the day after the last exam, back in June, and it was all set out to be a brilliant holiday. On one night out in the weeks before going off to Newquay we had all vowed to abide by 10 sacred rules (imagine something out of American Pie), and if we broke any one of them it was off down the High Street bearing all, which I wasn't really up for (blame me?). One of these rules was we had to get a tattoo or a piercing, which most people were OK with as they thought it a good excuse to get the piercing or tattoo they had wanted done. We checked into our accommodation, it was good and we were just overlooking Fistral Beech were we could have a go at some surfing. We had a look around the town and were very pleased with the talent on offer, both with the amount of bars and clubs and the numerous good-looking females around.
Cutting to the chase a bit, we found both a piercing studio and a tattoo parlour to our liking and so after a good nights sleep, I with my best mate who was getting his nipples pierced went down to Atlantic Coast Piercing Studio. When we got there, it was closed so we decided to try again after lunch, and so after some much needed food we went back to see if they could fit us in. They were open so we went in and found out there was a fifteen minute wait which was fine, it gave me a chance to look at some of the photos. We signed out all the consent forms and told the lady what we wanted done. After a short wait a man popped out from the room at the back and asked who was next, I wanted to get it out of the way and done so I raised my hand and walked into the back with the piercer, matt.
The room was fairly small with a dentist style chair, it all looked very clean and the piercer took care with cleaning his hands etc. He told me what he would be doing in the procedure but before he went any further he got me to stick out my tongue so he could look for any blood vessels and thankfully there were none of any interest to him. So, I sat up on the chair and he got me to clean out my mouth with some Listerine which I spat out after a minute or so. Next, he sprayed some numbing spray on my tongue and after about five minutes, I was ready to be pierced. We agreed on a spot to be pierced, pretty much dead centre and he marked it off with a pen and then he pulled out some clamps and took hold of my tongue practically yanking it out of my mouth (that's what it felt like anyway!). Out came the needle from a sterile pack and he told me to breathe in then out, I did, and before I knew it, he had the needle through. No pain, just a noticeable sense that something wa s going through it, but I guess that numbing spray worked. He followed the needle through with a silver barbell and he screwed the ball on the top barbell, and I was done. It felt so wired in my mouth yet so good! Matt went through the aftercare with me, and to my disappointment, it was no alcohol for a few days at least, no pain no gain huh. I decided to watch my mate getting his nipples pierced and he seemed to be in a bit of pain but it all went smoothly and so we were off.
My tongue was fine for the first few hours, I found some ice to suck on and it seemed to be keeping the swelling down, but by about 11 it was starting to swell up, I could feel it in my mouth. In the morning I took to the mirror and had a look at it, I could tell it was swollen but it wasn't half as bad as I was expecting. I stuck to the aftercare well cleaning it rigorously with 1 part Listerine 3 parts water and the occasional salt water. After the third day, I decided I couldn't put off the beer for any longer and so I had a few pints, it stung a little and it got me pissed really fast as the alcohol went straight into my blood stream! The next morning and I was off to survey lasts nights damage, but all was fine no extra swelling and it appeared to be healing ok. BY the end of the week I went back to Atlantic Coast and got it changed to a shorter barbell, the piercer in that day said it was healing incredibly fast, so I count myself lucky really (maybe it was the be er!!!).
Its now nearly a year since I've had my tongue pierced, I had no problems with the new barbell and it healed up fine within a month. I love the sensation in my mouth and its especially fun to play with and for kissing. I'd recommend that anyone interested in getting it done to just go for it, I sure didn't regret it.
Dan