Hi. My name is Jennifer. I am 20 years old and this is my experience of my first tongue piercing.
At A Glance Author Jennifer Contact Jennifer@bme.anon When N/A Artist The Reverand Studio Ace Tattoos Location Minnesota I was 18 years old, and psyched to get my first body piercing. I had waited for years to get this done; my mother wouldn't take me as a minor to get it done. She didn't want to "condone" it. I went in on the day I turned 18 with my cousin who was really excited to see me get this done. I wanted it done so bad I didn't care where I got it done. I called around and finally got in at a shop called Ace Tattoos. Ace was a very professional and clean place, in business for 10 or so years, so I felt great about getting this done.
Anyways, I showed up and was just a little nervous. I looked around at all the tattoo pictures on the wall and was just regretting I didn't have enough monies to get one of them done.
Finally it was my turn. So I sat myself down in the chair and took a couple of deep breaths. I was really nervous now. I mean I'm going to be putting something through my tongue! The reality was here and I knew I had to toughen up. I'm not usually too good with pain. So he talks me through it a bit, telling me basically what he's going to do. He was so cute too, so that also calmed my nerves.
So he gets everything out and prepared. I rinse my mouth with a little Listerine, spit. Ok, I'm ready. He has me stick my tongue out and he makes the mark. I like it just where it's at. So he gets out the clamp thing that they use, and I have to say I think that's what hurt the most out of the whole piercing experience. I mean it wasn't excruciating pain, but it hurt. So the clamp is on and he takes out the needle. And now I'm kind of nervous again. (I had a thing with needles, which is long over with now, since I've gotten pierced plenty more times.) It was over so fast. The needle was in and that was that. I was so surprised. I hadn't felt anything! He took the barbell and slid it over the needle, screwed on the ball and I was done.
I was so excited! I was done, and it felt great...at the moment. I had barley any bleeding, but I was starting to feel the affect of putting a hole through my tongue. It was throbbing and feeling a little sore, but I was still happy. I sucked on some ice cubes and took a couple Ibuprofens and it was okay for the time being.
The first night it started swelling. I expected this, so that wasn't a big surprise. I had a cousin who had gotten her tongue pierced so she told me a little of what to expect. I learned that every healing time is different. My swelling lasted a good four or five days, when she said hers had lasted only the first couple days. So that was probably the worst the part of it. It was hell to try and eat anything. But I survived. After the first week everything was awesome. I had no pain or anything, and I loved the feeling of finally having it done.
So a couple months go by and I get a new barbell and that. I had bought a plastic blue dice to put on it. Well after having it changed for only about a week, the damn thing falls out!!! Now I was just going crazy trying to get that thing back in. It had only been out for a minute or two, time enough so I could get my old barbell, and I tried to put it back in and it just wouldn't. And I was not about to shove that thing through there. I was severely pissed. Surprising even my mom offered to help me get it back in, because she could see how upset I was. But I was stubborn and pissed so I said screw it.
So that was my first piercing, and it was an experience and a lesson. #1. In my opinion, don't use plastic studs, because they suck. I will never again. But if you do... #2. Just remember to keep 'em tightened and everything should be okay!
I now have my tongue pierced again, and everything is fine. Its been pierced for almost a year and no problems at all. The second time around was awesome; I actually enjoyed getting it done. I had a little more bleeding then the first time, no big deal, and I had no swelling what so ever! I'm getting addicted to piercing, and I love it. I can't wait to get more than I already have. Its heaven for me!