I was recently toying with the idea of getting cheek piercings, and I called up my guy but he told me they would be $80 a piece. I wasn't having any of that, and I asked him what other piercings he would give me for cheap. He said he could do my smiley/scrumper for $50, and with that I ran to the bank to pull out money. I'd seen smileys on a lot of my friends and always thought they were pretty cute. Before I headed up to the shop, I looked at some of the piercing pictures on BME's gallery just to make sure I really wanted it.
At A Glance Author jasper bro When It just happened Artist Shane Studio Bear's Den Location Catonsville, MD I had been to Bear's Den before for my septum piercing, and had a pretty great experience. It's a family run business, with my piercer being the son of the shop's owner. It's a very clean, relaxed environment. Half the time, you end up chilling and talking for a few hours before you even get your piercing! What better place to get my smiley done?
When I got to the shop, and filled out all the necessary paperwork, he took me into one of the back rooms. "I don't know how much research you've done," he said, "but these tend to reject VERY fast." I told him I knew all about it, and was willing to get it redone however many times once it rejected. He explained that the piercing would heal in 4 to 5 days, but wouldn't last for much longer than 2 to 4 months. Shane had his smiley before, about 6 times, and he told me if I thought it was rejecting then I should just take the jewelry out so that I don't rip the tissue.
Everyone's body is different, but I figured mine wasn't going to be around forever anyway, no matter how well I hold my piercings. So I sat in chair and waited. We chose some small jewelry, a CBR, and I watched him pull out a wrapped needle. He never did tell me what gauge it was; he's got a tendency not to, haha. But he opened it right in front of me, fresh from packaging- he did the same with the clamp (I don't even think he used the clamp though, just a needle and cork). After I swished some nasty Listerine and spit it back into a cup, he dried my lip and frenulum. I was told I was probably going to have to help him hold my lip up since these piercings can be pretty tricky. No big deal, except my hands were shaking like mad! I knew the pain factor wasn't going to be high, but I always get an adrenaline rush before and after a piercing.
I tried to relax, which was hard with him less than an inch away from my face, but I managed, and watched his concentration as the needle started to go through the skin. No 'breathe in, now exhale for me' shit, just getting it over with. The pain was, seriously, nothing. A small pinch, if that. The most uncomfortable part was when Shane was fucking around in my mouth trying to get the CBR through the hole, and that was nothing anyways. I actually pulled a, 'that's it?!' Afterwards, he threw away all the supplies right in front of me, and quickly went through some aftercare. Not sure if I'm allowed to kiss my girlfriend or not until it heals, though I can always ask later!
I recommend Bear's to anyone in the Baltimore area. Shane is blunt, and tells you that of course it's going to hurt, it's a needle. But he'll also make you feel comfortable, and he'll sit there for an hour calming you down if he has to. =)
When I stepped outside, I was stoked to show off my piercing. It's just discreet enough that it only shows when I laugh, and I enjoy it that way. It's almost like it's my little secret. I spent the entire drive home smiling and making faces in the mirror. The price may have been a little steep, but I'd definitely rather have Shane do it than try and DIY. It isn't even sore, slightly tender maybe. But I've cut up my food as opposed to chomping into it, and that definitely helps. All in all, I LOVE this piercing and I will most definitely get it done again when it rejects. I can't help but smile everywhere I go now.
I think everyone should get a scrumper piercing. They're an easy starter piercing, because the aftercare is basically nothing- same with the healing time. And the pain itself is comparable to a regular earlobe piercing, or maybe a bee sting. I'll certainly be trying to convince my friends to go get them, too.