This is the story of my lovely new lip ring. It all started on a clear (ok, a dreary and cold) Monday. I was sitting in my room reading when my sister calls. Apparently, her friend has decided to get her hood done, and since I have had the same piercing, my sister wanted me to go with them. I then call her friend who was in the process of being ripped off by a peircer who wanted to charge her 100 bucks for a vertical hood piercing. I told her to meet my sister and I in downtown Dallas at Skin and Bones, a really reputable shop that I always go to. Then I called ahead to see who was working, and was happy to find out that Dave was there. He pierced my rook and is a very cool guy. Naturally, I love going with people to have new holes added to their bodies, so I changed in a hurry. After brushing my teeth, a thought started forming.
At A Glance Author am Contact am@bme.anon When A week ago Artist dave Studio skin and bones Location dallas tx Hmmm. I wonder how I would look with a lower lip piercing. I have a Monroe, and have had a labret, so I already knew about the healing and all that fun stuff. So I ran into my room to grab my jewelry box and started putting a cbr (without the bead) in different spots on my lip. As soon as my sister got home we started deciding on a placement, you know, just in case. I even thought about getting my labret redone, but then I remembered how it annoyed me when I had it. I have full lips so my lipstick would get on my labret, and then when I talked, it would work itself down under my labret on my chin. After much consideration, we decided that it looked best on my lower lip the same side as my Monroe. Then off we went to Skin and Bones.
Because the other girl lived farther away we got there pretty soon, and I wanted to wait, but my sister was so excited, she insisted I get my lip done while we waited for her. So I talked to Dave about what I wanted, and we discussed jewelry size and gauge. We decided on a 12 gauge cbr, I believe it is 5/8 " but I could be wrong. I also had him look at my rook since it was irritated from all the people I know bumping it when they are drunk. He said it looked like it was healing fine, and explained that ear piercings take longer to heal, and that it would be all healed up soon. I already knew this, but what can I say, I'm impatient.
So back goes Dave to prepare the room, get all sanitized, set up, you know, the usual stuff. Meanwhile I am getting the familiar adrenaline rush. This may seem silly to most people, but for somebody who gets faint at the sight of a needle, this is quite normal, I assure you. Anymore, I don't actually get scared I just get giddy and excited like a kid right before they walk into a toy store on their birthday or something. I look in the mirror. Wow, in a few minutes I shall have a new piece of jewelry. All this time, my sister keeps asking me, are you nervous? Do you think it's going to hurt? Are you scared? I think maybe she thinks this ritual (which we go through every time I get pierced) calms me down, or something, I don't really know. Before I know it, its time to go back to the room.
I sit on the table obediently and Dave takes out the marker and toothpick. He marks a point just under my lip and hands me the mirror. Of course, I, being the picky one that I am, feel the need to have it just 3 mm closer to the center, and just a smidge down. So, the first dot is cleaned off, and the second one is drawn on. Then I swish Listerine for a bit and spit in a paper cup (yum). Next Dave dries the inside of my lip and marks the appropriate place. I had to open my mouth and not talk so Dave could clamp my lip just right. Then he says, " ok, I just want you to relax". As he says this, I feel the needle go through, but by the time I realize what he's done, my lip is pierced. Usually they say to take a deep breath in, then exhale hard, or count to three, but this time, I got surprised and I have to say, it made it much better. I think maybe he was just trying to avoid my usual stream of profanities, which by now is more anticipation and habit than response to pain. I i mmediately jump up and look in the mirror. Perfect as always (I love these guys). So once again, the aftercare instructions are recited for me, and I ask the same questions I always ask just to be sure. He hands me an aftercare sheet, and I'm back to the front to wait for my sister's friend. I was advised not to drink beer for several weeks, and told that while I didn't have to stop wearing lipstick, it would be a good idea for several weeks at least. Both of which are not completely fun, but oh well, its just temporary.
So, tomorrow will be 2 weeks that I have had my lip pierced, and I completely love it. Interestingly enough, several people talked to me for a while before noticing that I had gotten a new lip ring, and I even convinced some of my coworkers that I have had it for months (yes I am very easily amused). I was advised not to drink beer for several weeks, and told that while I didn't have to stop wearing lipstick, it would be a good idea for several weeks at least. Both of which are not completely fun, but oh well, its just temporary. Pretty much everybody who has seen it loves it completely. One person has said that she thinks I'm just in a weird phase (um yeah, a 4 year old phase that has progressed quite a bit, at this point I think addiction is more fitting). My grandfather lectured me for a bit, but like I told him, it could be worse, at least I don't do drugs;).
As far as aftercare, I rinse with Listerine whenever I eat, drink, or smoke, and clean the outside with provon soap, turning the ring so I get it good and clean. Surprisingly, it has not been very sore, nothing like I expected it to be. My lips have been chapped a lot lately in spite of the tons of chapstick I use. I think they are going through lipstick withdrawal as I am a makeup artist and only go without lipstick when I sleep. A good bit of crusties, always attractive, but no bleeding or oozing. There has been some minor swelling, but nothing noticeable. I know you all want to know if it hurt or not, and what can I say, it didn't tickle. Actually it wasn't that bad at all, much less painful than my Monroe and labret, so maybe it was the surprise factor, or maybe my body is just growing accustomed to having needles through it. I will say that smoking was a bit akward at first because the ring is in the place that I normally hold my cigarette, but other than that, no probl ems. I don't even feel like it's there now. So, in closing I'd just like to say that it is a bit more aftercare than the normal, clean twice a day with provon, but it is definitely worth it.