On my 18th birthday, I decided I wanted to do something special, I had contemplated getting my lip pierced a few weeks prior. I finally decided it was how I wanted to spend my day. My friend recommended me to Attitudes in Portland Oregon, it had been where she had gotten her lip pierced.
At A Glance Author ariela When Two years ago Artist caron Studio attitudes Location portland,or We headed to the studio and I was so nervous, I decided to eat before hand because I had read that it reduces the chance of fainting. We headed into the studio and I talked to the piercer(Caron)for a bit, she was very helpful and friendly, she made me feel relaxed. She told me that getting my lip pierced would hurt slightly more then biting my lip.
I had to fill out a form giving my consent which also had questions on it such as "did you eat at least 4 hours ago", "are you under the influence of drugs or alcohol", "are you prone to fainting" etc. I also had to show her ID that I was 18.
Since I had checked "yes" to prone to fainting, Caron said she'd pierce me lying down.
I had to pick out the type of ring and ball I wanted. Caron measured my lip and told me the ring they first put in, is a size bigger to allow room in case there's swelling and in 2 weeks I could come back and get it switched to a smaller ring for free.
Finally I went into the piercing room I sat on a chair and had to drink listerine and hold it for 30 seconds. Then Caron cleaned my lip and around my lip with I think iodine then cleaned it off, then marked where the ring would go. She asked if I wanted this thing to numb the inside of my lip to lower the pain. she said they don't offer it to many people but since i was worried about the pain she was offering it to me. so she gave it to me, I had to hold it on the inside of my lip till I felt it was numb.
So then it was time...
Caron asked where on my lip I wanted it, she said my lips are a good size, so whether I got it on the side or middle it would look good either way. I decided to get it on the left side. Not at the very end of my lip but between the middle and left side.
she had me lay down and she put the clamp on my lip, she had to keep adjusting it to make sure it was in the right spot and she said that would be the longest part, then she told me to breath so I kept breathing in a out then JAB! the needle went through and it did hurt. it was like a SHARP pain, it didn't hurt when it went through on the inside(since she had numbed that area), just when it went through on my skin.
She then put the ring and bead on which didn't hurt at all and I was done.
So getting my lip pierced DID hurt,but the pain only last a second, it was very quick.
I was told to use listerine after everything I ate and drank. I was also to clean with bactine twice a day. She also told me not to have acidic drinks such as orange juice or coke and that I shouldn't have hot or spicy foods. I was also not allowed to kiss or have oral sex for at least 2 weeks. i can't kiss for at least 2 weeks or have oral sex. I don't smoke but she told me that smoking is also bad to do for 2 weeks.
My piercer was SO nice and very friendly which made the whole experience much better. She made me feel calm. She knew what she was doing.
The first 2 days it was hard to eat with it I got accustomed to it pretty fast and most of the time didn't even realize it was there. There was also white skin around the inside but was told it was normal.
A piercer told me to use peroxide to help the white skin go away, I strongly advice NOT to do that because it dries out your lip and made it much worse. It made the area around my lip ring hard and it would often get stuck so don't do that.
I soaked my lip in warm salt water which helped with the healing process.
If you get white stuff around your lip/inside, know that it is normal and DON'T pick at it!
Now 2 years later, I still have my lip ring, I've had no problems,it healed nicely, I love it. I'm contemplating getting one on the right side so that I am more symmetrical. I'll see.
Feel free to contact me with questions or anything. spork422@aol.com