I thought I may as well give a detailed account of how the piercing was done, because from what I've been told, people like to read them. And like, maybe one day in a hundred million years it'll be of some comfort to someone else who's planning to get one themselves and is freaking out.
At A Glance Author anna Contact anna@bme.anon When A month ago Artist Sam Studio Ice Accessories Location Melbourne, Australia I've wanted a labret ring for a little while, but never really thought that seriously about it, because it's a facial piercing and the last time I got a facial piercing (eyebrow) it ended in disaster. I pined, and I fantasised, but as far as I knew it wasn't something I'd actually ever do - my parents freaked out enough when I got my tongue pierced, surely a labret was out of the question (even though I don't live at home, they tend to look down on me when I do this kind of thing).
On Saturday, I went to Southland with Dad because he wanted to get his hair cut or something, and, as I usually do, went in to Ice Accessories to look at their body piercing stuff and dream about other piercings that I want. This incredibly nice (and gorgeous, think Fiona Horne) sales assistant (who I later found out was the piercer) came up to me and asked me what I was after. I'd been thinking about the labret piercing at the time and yeah, it was the first word to come out.
"Labret."
"Oh cool! Let's do it right now!"
"Uhh.. maybe not right now.. how about tomorrow? Yeah. Tomorrow." no intention of doing it at all
"Cool! Let me give you my number, call us tonight and make an appointment?"
"Yeah, sure, ahuh.." walks off quickly, door slams
Walking around Southland waiting for Dad's haircut to finish, and thinking more and more about how it would actually be pretty cool, I decided I'd do it. Birthday present to myself. So I went back to Ice Accessories and booked an appointment for 2pm on the Sunday.
Then I pissed my pants for the next 24 hours.
When I went in on Sunday, I was a nervous wreck. I was shaking. I'm not unpierced - I've been through the piercing thing 8 times before, but for some reason this was incredibly scary. It may have had something to do with the fact that Sam (the piercer) had told me it would really hurt. heh. I drank Creaming Soda to get my sugar levels up and chain smoked for about twenty minutes, before silently (and still shakingly) making my way to a certain death.
She wasn't ready, so I had to hang around outside for another 10 minutes. By this time I was about ready to turn and leave. heh.
Eventually, she led me out the back and told me to sit down, marked the spot, didn't like it, changed it, changed it again, until we were agreed. Then she got out this huge needle and said "Oh, I'm going to prepare the needle. If you don't wanna see it, look away now." Pity I'd already seen it. Then yeah, she clamped my lip and picked up the needle, was about to pierce it when I piped up with "Do you do it from the inside to the outside or vice versa?"
It would have been over by the time I'd finished asking, but I just wanted to prolong the agony, apparently. She stepped back, put the needle down, explained the procedure again to my cheese-grater mind and started over.
THE PAIN WAS EXCRUCIATING. It really, really fucking hurt. She was going "Fun, no?" and I was going "Holy mother of fuck." But, as they say, the worst part was over, she put the jewellery in, told me I had swelled up like a bitch and was also "a bleeder", gave me alcohol swabs, and let me lay down for awhile so as I didn't pass out, because I usually do. heh.
Then yeah, I paid money, and went home, and my family disowned me, and I almost ripped my lip in half trying to eat stuff, but it's all good now.
Now, 6 weeks later, the piercing is fully healed and fabulous. I can change it without problems and it's stopped being crusty/weepy. I've only bitten on it a couple of times, and although that hurt like all buggery at the time, it didn't have any long term ill effects. I'm yet to get it tangled up with my tongue ring either :P Oh, and the boyfriend absolutely adores it. ;)
Next on my list? A vertical clitoral hood piercing, or a christina - only saw a photo of a christina today and they look fantastic. But yep, definitely taking the step to genital piercings next. Excited, nervous, intrigued.. addicted :D