Last Monday, my friends Sara and Charlie decided they wanted to go to Kansas City as a way to relieve boredom. I volunteered to drive and we were soon on our way. During the drive, Sara and I discussed stopping in at Freak's while we were in Westport showing Charlie the sites. Sara had work done there before and wanted help removing her eyebrow piercing as well as considering getting a vertical labret. I mentioned that I've been interested in getting my tongue pierced for several years and maybe today was the day! She started telling me urban legend horror stories about paralyzed tongues and speech defects, which did make me start to worry just a little bit but I kept an open mind.
At A Glance Author Melancholly Contact Melancholly@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Mary Studio Freak's on Broadway Location Westport/Kansas City, MO When we arrived at Freak's, we looked through some pictures and Sara decided to get her vertical labret. I was still a little worried, but after I joined Mary outside for a cigarette, she explained the basics to me, having a background in matters of the mouth (she used to work in a dentist's office). I decided to go ahead and do it!
Mary had me sit down in a big dentist's chair and begin preparing her needle, clamps, etc. I was getting pretty nervous but Sara and Charlie were standing right there so I just smiled and acted tough. Mary had me rinse out my mouth with Listerine and then began looking at my tongue...she mentioned how short it was and that she'll always remember me because it will be a bitch to change my jewelry. She then applied the clamps and instructed me to breathe deeply and she would pierce on 1..2..3. I was expecting blood and pain, and I was getting ready to cry.
But it didn't hurt at all!! Honestly, the worst part of the whole experience was the Listerine, it burns! I've been told that it hurt less because she pierced from the top of my tongue downs instead of entering the needle in the bottom. She inserted the barbell and told me I could go ahead and close my mouth. I looked down and laughed, I had drooled a giant puddle all over the front of myself and even into my lap. Mary told me that she had pierced at a little bit of an angle to compensate for my short tongue, and I just nodded because that made sense to me. Checking it out in the mirror it looked great. We had already gone over aftercare, so I was ready to go.
We watched Sara get her vertical labret, which she's very happy with, and then left to go shopping. That night I had a milkshake and the next day I had mashed potatoes and ice cream, but by the second day I was used to the balls and could eat regular food again. The first day my tongues was really swollen and I sounded funny when I talked. I also couldn't talk for long periods of time because the barbell would shift and pinch my tongue. That all went away in about a day.
I was surprised when the swelling went down that the angle of my piercing was even greater than I had thought! I only have about 1/2 inch of tongue that's not "tied" and my barbell lays at about a 35 degree angle. The top ball is centered and just slightly forward of where a "normal" tongue piercing would sit. By normal I mean on someone who is not tongue-tied. The bottom hole is DIRECTLY in front of my tongue web, and the ball even rests on the left side of my tongue web sometimes when I have my mouth closed.
At first I was upset by this strange placement and considered taking it out and starting over again, but as the past week has gone by, I've come to love my new tongue piercing and get adapted to it. The only thing I don't like is that I can't lick the front of my teeth anymore, but I've gotten used to that.
Because of this experience opening my eyes to the problem/inconvenience of my almost tongue-tie, I've decided to opt to get a tongue frenectomy some time this winter. Hopefully I will gain enough length to add another, more vertical piercing.
One piece of advice to all future tongue piercees:
AVOID oral activity the first few days...this may have been mentioned in my aftercare, I don't remember, but no one specifically told me not to kiss. And I made out that same night, which I think may have caused my swelling to be so severe and sore, but lots of ibuprofen and ice helped with that. Also...always use your mouthwash and use your toothbrush to keep plaque off the barbell and away from the hole.