I found BME while looking for piercing and tattoo websites and have found it to be the best by far. There are so much information and pictures on this website. Anything you want to know about or see, it's all there. Just thought I'd say that firsthand.
At A Glance Author tRuEcRaZe When A year ago Artist a girl that worked there, sorry, didn't catch her name Studio Atomic Tattoo's and Body Piercing Location Austin, Texas I got my tongue pierced on New Years Day Night at a popular place in my city called "Atomic Tattoos & Body Piercing" in Austin, Texas. This place was recommended to me by a friend who is no stranger to the piercing world. This piercing was my first piercing, and I would have to personally say, that even though everyone is entitled to pierce first whatever they want to get pierced first, getting your tongue pierced is a good first piercing.
Unlike what a lot of people on BME seem to have done, I did not research the risks and procedures involved. After hearing some of the experiences and risks, even though my procedure went beautifully, I regret not finding this site sooner.
I had a friend go with me who had previously had his tongue pierced, and we walked into the place. We looked around for a bit and the lady that was there asked if she could help us. I told her I was there to have my tongue pierced. In Texas, there is a law that you have to be 18 to get ANY body piercing, otherwise it is construed as statutory rape. We had to go through the whole bit of copying the I.D. and signing a paper saying all information was correct, and we payed beforehand. It was $60. No problem. She asked me to stick out my tongue, looked at it, and said "Okay" and took me back to a room.
My friend got to come in with me. I was very nervous and was having second thoughts, but I stuck with it. My friend held my hand, and I watched her as she put on her gloves, her mask, and pulled everything out she would use for the procedure. Now I knew that things were supposed to be in their proper packaging and everything was, so I was very pleased with her preparation.
She asked me to stick out my tongue, where she proceeded to dry it off with a paper towel. She then marked it with a purple pen and showed me in a little mirror so I could see where the placement was. I said, "Okay" and she put the clamps on. She gave me a paper towel to hold at my chin for the drooling. She kept looking at the top and bottom of my tongue in the clamp, making double sure everything was situated. I appreciated that she didn't seem overconfident, and took her time. Even though I may have wanted to get it over with at that moment, I surely wanted it done right. She picked up the needle and told me that she was about to do the piercing, that I might feel a little sting, and she wanted me to take some deep breaths. By that time, my adrenalin was pumping SO hard, that all I felt was pressure when she pierced it, no sting at all. It was over in less than 30 seconds. She gave me the mirror to look at it, and everything looked great.
After a few seconds it bled just a tiny bit at the top. She informed me that this was normal, and would stop soon. She explained to me how to take care of it afterwards, but I was coming down from that adrenalin rush, so what she said really didn't click in my head. I remember her saying "Listerine" and "Advil for the pain" and "ice". At this point, I wish I could've been given some paperwork on aftercare. But I thanked her and we left.
Now I know that if there were any doubts, I should've called or asked, and I do recommend that you do that, but when I asked my friend who had his tongue pierced, I went by what he did, figuring it was what you were supposed to do. He told me his piercer told him to use straight Listerine after everything, even water, then advil for the pain and ice for the swelling. Now I had another friend who had her tongue pierced, who was told to use 1/2 Listerine, 1/2 water, but her tongue got infected. I also much later, read on BME to use Oral B, etc., not a mouthwash with alcohol as its main ingredient. Well, I used the straight Listerine and I can honestly tell you that my tongue healed beautifully. It never got infected, and I also practice good hygiene.
For the first week, my tongue was swollen, not badly, but it did affect how I talked and what I ate. I babied my tongue, so I stayed away from solid foods and drank cold beverages. I tried to make myself some scrambled eggs at one point, thinking they were soft enough, but chewing them was another thing. I was just really careful. I ended up trying not to use my tongue much when I talked, so it came out slurred, but not everyone does this. And I really don't think I sounded as bad as I thought. Beyond what myth's people say, you do not have to reteach yourself how to talk. Once the swelling goes down after about a week, everything is normal again. And after you've had the tongue ring as long as I have, it becomes part of you, you don't realize it's there, and when you take it out to clean it, it feels as if part of you is missing.
After having your tongue ring in for the considerable amount of time for it to heal, you can change out the ring. I would recommend cleaning your jewelry on a regular basis, unlike some people I know. I am picky with the jewelry I use, I don't go for that acrylic stuff. I only have my original barbell, and a slave ring that I purchased from the place I got my tongue pierced at made from the same type of metal. I soak my tongue ring in Listerine and brush it regularly, as well as brushing my tongue. I also have never chipped a tooth. This also has to do with just being careful. This experience has proved to be a great one, and if you just follow directions and use common sense in cleanliness, getting your tongue pierced is no sweat at all.
I would definitely recommend researching your piercer, research BME. Again, BME is a most helpful tool in preparing for piercings or tattoos. Don't necessarily go with the first piercer you meet. Look at pictures, befores and afters, ask questions, let them show you what they use and what they use to sterilize, get educated! And USE COMMON SENSE PEOPLE. If the person is filthy or sneezes on your jewelry and refuses to clean it, or it's their first time doing something without the aide of a professional, then seek your services elsewhere.
I hope that this experience helps, if you want to contact me at all, you can reach me on AOL IM: truecraze.