The first piercing I ever made an appointment for was my labret. June 14, 2002. I called the night before and made an appointment. This, of course, meant I had to do it because I'm obsessive about appointments. I hadn't made an appointment for my tongue or for my helix, why was making one for my labret so important?
At A Glance Author Alithium Contact Alithium@bme.anon IAM Alithium When Six months ago Artist Glenn Studio Halo Precision Piercing, LLC Location Tucson, Arizona The pain factor, of course!
"The worst five seconds of my life!" my friend Mike cringed when I asked about his. Looking at the other piercings and tattoos on his body, that was a pretty strong statement. So I was eternally condemned to be afraid of labret piercings.
Or was I?
I was soon to find out, for the day of reckoning was quickly upon me. A whole group of us met up at Kentucky Fried Chicken, where my best girl friend was working. I wanted to get some food in my stomach because I am known to get quite light-headed immediately after a piercing. I munched on chicken and biscuits while waiting for my best friend to arrive and drive me across the street to Halo. I could see it out the window, calling me, begging me to come and let Glenn violate my chin. I ignored the pleading of the building, however, and continued eating my fast food until Timothy (my best friend) pulled up.
I ran outside, jumping up and down. Excitement was already turning my stomach into knots and I shrieked that was had to go right right right now! Another friend of mine, Ashley, proclaimed that she would pierce her nipples after I did my labret. Yes! There is power in numbers!
Across the street we went. I was shaking and nervous and pacing like the dumbass I always turn into right before a piercing. I went outside and smoked a cigarette to calm down. Ashley and Megan had gone across the street to get a coupon out of the Tucson Weekly, so I had some time to settle down.
It didn't help!
Once inside again, it was time to go into the piercing suite. Glenn asked if Brian, the apprentice, could watch. I said of course, as long as he didn't laugh at me! We joked about that for a bit and then Glenn got down to business. Like with every piercing I've had there, he showed me the needles, the clamps, blah blah blah. Showed me the 16ga fishtail. Told me about aftercare and all the other fun stuff I already knew. He suggested Provon, of course; I was glad I had half a bottle left over from my helix piercing a few months before.
And then it was go time.
He marked my chin. It looked off center, until I smiled. Then it looked perfect! I hopped back in the chair and he clamped me. Here came the moment of truth.
I closed my eyes and he told me to breath. In and out... in and out... in and...
Oh thank god, the needle mercifully slid right through my skin, without a pop or a snag. There was no pain! Mike was insane. It didn't hurt! (Timothy later told me I make sounds like I'm having an orgasm when I get pierced.)
But then the pain did come. When Glenn was adjusting the goddamn fishtail! Worst piece of jewelry known to MAN! Ow ow ow ow ow! Not a nice feeling! Sheesh!!
I tipped Glenn and waited while Ashley got her nips done, all the while staring in the mirror, convinced the stupid fishtail was falling out! As my chin began to adjust to having a foreign object in it, however, that feeling slowly went away.
Cleaning was not a fun experience the first time. It felt weird as hell when the fishtail moved around against my gums! It was odd to be taking care of an oral piercing (using Biotene and water, 50/50) and a non-oral piercing (Provon in the shower twice a day) at the same time for a single piercing.
About two months later, I changed that annoying fishtail to a nice 16ga circular barbell. Let me you, after having only changed the jewelry in my huge tongue piercing, changing something THAT small at such an odd angle is not only difficult, it sure looks funny to people watching you! I tried to do it in the car on the way to the airport and I managed to only jab myself with the threaded end a few times.
Here I am, nearly five months later, with a 14ga circular barbell in my chin. I had to change because the fishtail kept falling out and I catch a flatback on my teeth/gums. Not every piece of jewelry is right for everyone.
In conclusion, I'm really glad I didn't listen to Mike about the pain of a labret piercing. I'm quite glad that I went through with it and found out for myself. If I had just taken his word for it, I wouldn't have this glorious ring in my lip today.