Well I had wanted my lip pierced for a long time. For years I had put fake rings on my lip. I never thought I would actually do it though, because I was so afraid of the pain. I don't even have my ears pierced, and that's nothing. But finally, one day in August 2001, I just decided to go ahead and get it done. I thought I could handle a few minutes worth of pain for years worth of happiness. I'm underage though, which of course presented a problem. My dad was completely okay with it, but my mom didn't even want to discuss it. I kept talking about it to her, and I even told her to come here, look around, and read experiences. Finally she decided to go ahead and let me get it done.
At A Glance Author 21 Contact wisteria385@hotmail.com When Three months ago Artist - Studio Hot Spot Location Orlando, Florida, USA A week before I went, I started calling places. I decided on a place called Hot Spot because both of my parents had gotten tattoos there, so they felt safe with them. I decided to wait and get the piercing on September 1, because I was going to be out of school a few days and it would allow my lip to heal.
So finally the day came. I was pretty nervous all day. I tried to eat before I left, because I didn't want to faint, but it was hard. I was so jumpy that I couldn't eat. At 7:00, my dad (haha my mom wouldn't go with me), my friend Jennifer and I headed out to Hot Spot.
Once I got there and filled out all the paperwork and paid, my nerves got even worse. I knew there was no turning back, and all I could think about was the fact that a needle was about to be pushed completely through my skin. I was shaking so bad that I felt like an idiot.
The man working there led me to the back where I sat on a table. He got everything out, which is when I saw the needle. Hollow needles look frightening for some reason. I think it was the fact that I saw how it was going to take out a chunk of skin with it. I picked out the placement, the left side, and he marked it. If I had been thinking clearly I probably would have gotten it a little further left, but at this point I just wanted it done. He put the clamps on. I shut my eyes. I could feel him pulling my lip, making sure it was lined up, then pushing the needle through. It hurt in a very strange way. The main thing I felt though was the clamps. He squeezed them so tight, which caused a lot of pressure on my lip, but it probably made the needle pain a lot less. It felt for a second like my lip was being split open, and then it was gone. My whole lower lip was completely numb. He grabbed a mirror and showed me, I was so happy. It looked great and was exactly w hat I had been dreaming about. He had me stay seated on the table and drink water for a few minutes, told me how to take care of it, then I got up and left.
In the car ride home is started hurting. Well, not really hurting but it would sting. When I did get home the real pain started. My lip started throbbing, but it still wasn't as bad as I thought. I took some Tylenol, which did seem to help a little, and started sucking ice. Sucking ice works extremely well for pain. I also cleaned it soon after I got home. Yes, like everyone says, Listerine is just nasty. But cleaning the outside was worse. I had to clean all the dried blood off and use anti-bacterial soap. That really stung. I also had to rotate the ring starting with the ball in the front, and moved it until it was in the back. The next morning it wasn't a sharp stinging, but it still hurt. It also got really swollen. The only time it seriously hurt was having to rotate it, I hated doing that. The rest of the time it just felt uncomfortable because of how swollen it was. Also, waking up in the morning it would be really crusty. I would just run it in hot w ater and that would help though. After a few days went by, it just felt a little tender, but I could move it fine. I never had any trouble eating or talking or anything.
I've had it for a few months now, and have only had one problem. After having it for three months I started the change the jewelry in it. I had to take it out one day for a school function, which was a disaster. I have no idea why I thought leaving nothing in the hole for seven hours would be okay, but it wasn't. After I got home that night, I immediately went to put something through it. And, of course, it had halfway grown in. So I had to forcefully shove a ring through it. This was a lot worse then getting the actual piercing, because a ring isn't sharp. This was a dull object going through my skin. It took almost an hour, but I got it through. The next few days it felt bruised, so I took care of it as if it were a new piercing. I have since gotten a retainer which works really well, and have not had the problem since.
Other than that little problem, I love my lip piercing. Most people I know like it too, after they've gotten used to it. It's a great conversation starter =D.