I had decided on getting my vipers several months ago. I went into Beyond Body Piercing to see Sean and have him make the final decision, like I always do with my piercings. Sean told me that he could do it, but that the jewelry had to be ordered, and it shouldn't take more than two or three weeks to get. So I order the jewelry, and pay for everything at once.
At A Glance Author sfwizkid Contact sfwizkid@bme.anon IAM sfwizkid When It just happened Artist Sean Philips Studio Art with a Pulse Location Glen Burnie, MD The order for the jewelry had been received by Sean about a month and a half later. The only problem was that the company has sent the wrong jewelry. They had sent one inch barbells instead of the 9/16" that I needed. So the order was sent back. In the time since then, Beyond closed down, Sean moved to a new location, and my order was lost in the chaos of life.
I was beginning to get really impatient with the whole ordeal. I work a lot, and I am almost never able to find much time to get my piercings done. So on a Wednesday afternoon, I actually had the time to once again try and get my vipers done. I really didn't expect to, I had no idea on the status of my order. So I randomly called Sean at his new shop, and he tells me that he could do it, but with a 12g instead of 10g. I headed home quickly and then started on the hour and a half trek to Glen Burnie.
So I arrive at Sean's new shop, Art with a Pulse. The place is kind of hidden between several other shops on a storefront. Sean had been walking out the door as I pulled up, so we both went back in, and he showed off some of my piercings to one of the owners. We then went back to his room. Nice little room, not as comfortable as Beyond, but at least it still had privacy when it was needed.
So I sat on the only chair in the room. It looked to be brand new, almost right out of the box. Sean starts his prep work. The one major thing that I like about Sean is how clean he is. I have never seen anybody take so much care in making sure everything is sterilized. Two pairs of gloves and everything right out of the package.
Sean hands me a towel when he's done, and I shove it over the top of my shirt. I had seen my friend get her vipers done, and there had been a lot of blood. He then dries off my tongue and takes a look at the placement. He puts the marks where he thinks the piercing should go. I take a look, and like Sean always does, asks me what I think. Not all piercers do that for their customers, they just pierce it. I told him that whatever he thought best was good for me.
Sean places the clamp on the right side of my tongue, and compares the entrance and exit placement. I take two deep breaths, and the needle goes through. There wasn't much pain, and almost no blood. The sound of the needle going through was awful. Only thing that I can compare it to is the sound of ripping dry cardboard. The clamp came off, and the first barbell put in. The procedure was exactly the same with the left side, almost no pain and little blood.
Sean then cleans up my tongue of the almost non-existent blood, and has me take a look. I like what I see, until I raise my tongue and notice that the first piercing was really off compared to the other. I show Sean, and he takes a really good look at it. Somehow the piercing was slanted really close to the outside of my tongue on the bottom.
Sean pulls on new gloves, and all new equipment. I sit back down, and he dries off my tongue again. Sean takes several minutes looking at my tongue, and re-marking where the exit should be on the bottom of my tongue. I take a look and discuss it with him, deciding on the placement together.
The final mark is placed, and Sean hands me a new towel. He tells me to put pressure on the piercing after he removes the barbell. He pulls it out, and the blood starts flowing. I put the towel over it and pinch my tongue between my fingers. We both wait a minute for the bleeding to stop. Finally it slows enough so that he can work.
The clamp goes back on, and he takes a long look to make sure the placement is correct. Satisfied with the placement, he puts the needle slightly inside the original hole. I take two deep breaths, and the needle goes through. I saw stars flash before my eyes this time, and I think I might have kicked Sean. The pain was quick though. The jewelry was in, and my tongue was already starting to feel better. I stood up and took a look at the bottom of my tongue. It was still a little off, but the difference between where it was and had been was huge.
Sean and I talked for a bit, I tipped him, and said our goodbyes. I have been to several piercing studios to have work done, but by far, Sean is the only piercer that I fully trust.