I started off going to HTC to get my lower lip re-pierced. I already had the jewelry I wanted (a 14 g ring) as I had taken it out about 6 months prior, after I had my daughter. The piercer looked at my lip and told me that because there was a small mole where I wanted to be pierced, that she was unable to do the piercing for me, despite the fact that it had already been once. I had seen the 'medusa' piercing before and thought that this would be a perfect chance to get that done. I asked her about that piercing option, she said it would work, and sold me a very expensive flat back piece of jewelry. According to her, it was not supposed to swell up all that much, and would be totally healed in about 2 weeks.
At A Glance Author Anya Contact Anya@bme.anon When A year ago Artist Do Not Rembember her name Studio HTC Location Tempe AZ Within one hour of this piercing, my top lip was so swollen that couldn't even talk. 2 days later I could not open my mouth, and 4 weeks later, it was not healed at all. I had followed all of her instructions on care. I did not smoke, or kiss, or drink. I swished with LISTERINE after every meal, when I woke up, and went to sleep. Because I had a flat back in there, it would constantly get caught on my front teeth, even chipped on of them. Not only that, but there would be times when I would just be talking and I would bite it, or it would get caught on my tooth preventing me from opening my mouth. My gums were constantly bleeding, and my top lip l look deformed. Still, I continued with its care, salt water soaks, swishing with it, etc. etc.
I got a new job about 6 weeks after that piercing and UN fortunately had to remove it for about 20 minuets while I interviewed. When I went to put the piercing back in my mouth, there was no way. It had already closed up. I tried to get it back threw, but all that did was make it bleed again. By the end of that day, just from me tying to put it back in, my top lip once again was swollen and bleeding.
One year later, I returned to HTC to get the piercing re-done. (I had decided that I liked it a lot, despite the initial pain and swelling which was like none of my other 6 body piercings). I brought back in the flat back she had sold me, minus the back screw. That is when the SAME piercer told me that they had NEVER carried that piece of jewelry before. She told me that she couldn't IMAGINE that anyone would ever even pierce someone with that piece of shit and then tried to sell me once again, another very expensive option. I pointed out to her the fact that SHE was the one that pierced me, and that I LIKED the jewelry that I had. I also went ahead and mentioned the problems that I encountered with the piercing such as bad swelling and pain. I showed her my bottom lip again and the fact that I would have originally prefer to have had that done instead. She continued to deny that she would ever be the one to do such a thing, and to let her just re-do it with different jewelr y.
Then she accused me of not taking care of the piercing.
Frustrated I went to HALO in PHX. I explained to the piercer there that I liked the medusa piercing I had, and wanted it back. I showed her the flat back that I had, and explained to her as well about the problems I had with it. She looked at my skin, my lips, gums, and then she advised me against it. She said that the reason it had swollen up so bad before was because my gums were in the way, and the other piercer should not have ever done it in the first place. The reason for this is that the inner part of the jewelry rubbed against the inside of my gums. That this may be all right for a short amount of time, but it would in fact eventually rub dawn my gums, and cause a lot of problems for me.
That is when I asked her about the original lip piercing that HTC had told me was impossible on my lower lip, in the middle. She agreed that with a fish- tail that would not be a problem. She pierced right threw the little mole that the other piercer had been so afraid of. It was painless except for the initial eye watering that usually happens when you pierce threw scar tissue. I have now had that lip piercing for a year and a half. I did not use any Listerine with this piercing. I swished with salt water as well as salt soaks on it. It was healed within 4 weeks, and I did not encounter any swelling or pain with it.
I wish I could have my medusa piercing again. I think that it as it a very cute piercing. However, I would advice anyone who is considering that piercing to look at the connection between their gums and lip before they do it. I would also advice them that if they can, to use a fish tail piece of jewelry instead of a flat back as that always catches on your front tooth. I would tell people to be very careful with a piercing like this one, I guess only a very few can actually get it done. Since my medusa piercing failed, I have pierced a Monroe with no problems, as well as my bottom lip in two more places. I may add that all of them have been done at HALO. I may also add that they are all healthy beautiful holes in my face. The End.