I'd like to believe I am a 'spur of the moment' type of person, but really I am not. I dwell on things for quite a while, research and analyze them as though I was creating a master's thesis, the mention them casually and jokingly to friends, in an effort to see their reactions. Since I am the only one 'modified' among the sect I run with, the reactions are always positive. Nonetheless, I usually end up with whatever mod I am considering because if I've dwelled on something long enough to voice it, it's usually enough that I'm going to do it.
At A Glance Author "Anonymous Coward" Contact "Anonymous Coward"@bme.anon When N/A Artist Josh, I believe. Studio Body Piercing By Nicole Location Tulsa, OK Late at night I spend browsing pictures, and venoms come about. I think nothing about them at the time... Then they start to grow on me. They come back into my mind and I contemplate them. A week goes by, and I decide I'm going to do it. Since my overly conservative father at his business employs me, there's always a slight concern that I could be demoted, but never fired because of any piercing(s). But it's never happened, although each time he likes to tell me he's not going to allow me to work there if I get another piercing/tattoo. Fortunately nothing has ever happened, and I'm glad because I'm significantly over-paid and thus can work less, and I wouldn't want to work more.
Anyway, I throw the idea up. He, like most people, thinks I am kidding, and just laughs briefly, says something derogatory, and that's the end of that. I feel satisfied that I've let him know of my intentions and I can proceed.
I go into Eyewitness Tattoos to ask Bryan, the piercer, if I am suited for venoms because I had read accounts that claim some are not suited for venoms because of varying anatomy (veins). I disagree with this notion. I'd say every tongue is capable of 'getting' venoms, the remaining factor would be their placement, but I decide to ask anyway.
Bryan confirms I am suited for them, and he let's me know the price ($100) and I'm on my way (I had already decided I wasn't getting them that evening because of an important meeting the following day). When the schedule looks good, I call the shop, but his wife is have a child and he'll be off for a week. I decide since he already has pierced my nipples, and I was pleased with them, checked if I was suited for venoms, I'd give him the courtesy of waiting a week, plus I think he could use the money with a newborn. A week goes by and I call the shop back, yet he's still not there. I wait ten days. Still not there.
By now my patients have run out, and I decide on Body Piercings by Nicole, on 15th st. I call to find out the cost; after getting a quote I think to myself, 'Wow, -$40 difference in the price, that's pretty significant difference... are you sure this is right?' So I ask them again, and they confirm '$60'. I think to myself 'That's comparatively cheap; the other shop wanted $100'. So, just out of astonishment, I say 'For both of them?' to which they reply:
(Shop) " 'Both of them'? You want two? "
(Me) "Uhh, yeah... obviously'
(Shop) "It'll be $120, then"
(Me) "Ok, would you be able to them now?"
(Shop) "No, we couldn't get to a genital piercing today..."
(Me) "WHAT?! What genital piercing?"
(Shop) "Uhh, hold on... (Some talk with someone in the back and someone else gets on the phone). Hi, sir, what is it that you'd like?"
(Me) "Venoms"
(Shop) "Ohh... my apprentice thought you meant 'frenum'..."
(Me) "(Some laughter) Nope, just venoms"
(Shop) "Sorry about the misunderstand; Yes we could get to some Venoms today. They'll be between $80-110 depending on what jewelry you choose..."
(Me) "Hahaha, no problem. I'll come by and do them"
(Shop) "Alright, we'll look forward to seeing you..."
So, once I reach the shop, where I've never been before, it's very clean, and private. I like it a lot from the beginning, probably because I'm a really introverted piercee and go alone, prefer private piercing rooms. I'd read plenty of accounts of pleased piercees from this shop on BME, so I really don't have any concerns that I'm not walking into some second-rate shop.
I get the forms and begin filling them out and the piercer pokes his head around the corner to ask, "So, you're the 'frvenom' guy?" in a lighthearted manner as he meshed the words 'Venom' and 'Frenum' together. It was funny, and his demeanor was nice so I wasn't in the least bit offended and my liking for the shop's 'feel' grew even more.
Back in the piercing room I was pleased for it to be private, and the cleanest I've seen yet, readily rivaling several doctors offices I've visited. I appreciated him closing the door despite us three being the only ones there in the shop (me/piercer/apprentice).
After determining jewelry, which they briefed me on, I decided to go with the cheapest one (standard starter jewelry), since I'd be replacing them with shorter ones anyway and I wouldn't use them anymore.
Naturally, because I have no current visible piercings, he asked if I had been pierced before (probably to see if I was going to jump out of my seat or need some sort of 'moral support' or something, I'm just speculating). I explained that I currently have my nipples pierced, and retired my lips. He says this will be no-hell compared to the nipples. 'There's not really anything or much that is worse than the nipples... you're good to go for any piercings really'
The needles were opened from sterile packages, which also contained the gauze, marking utensil (toothpick with some ink on it), and standard starter jewelry (apparently these were premade tongue piercing 'kits' from what they looked like to me, which I thought was cool because it gave my a sense of further organization and methodology). Since there was to be two piercings, two 'kits' were opened and laid out on a stainless steel dentist's tray type thing on wheels. Gloves changed. They had me sit on the table prior to this (it's like the same type in doctors offices), and the apprentice put up the back and had me lean back so I'm basically in a slightly reclined sitting position from this point on.
I'm given some mouthwash and spit in back out on the cup, which the apprentice deals with, presumably so the piercer doesn't touch anything now that he's ready. He has me stick out my tongue and lift it up, at which point he places a large piece of gauze under it and has me put my tongue back down. He marks it, asks if I want to view the dots, I decide what the hell, and I look at them, and he notes that one on the left will be done about 1/16" lower that the dot. He marked them up very quickly, which I didn't have a problem with. He tells his apprentice how he can check that they're straight and perfect, and he marks off a few my 'features' of my tongue in order to show this to the apprentice by squaring the dots off, marking several intersecting lines and that was that.
He pierces the tongue 'free-hand', as he mentioned earlier explaining it will do less damages and cause less swelling. I have no concerns, except I was wondering if it would cause the symmetry would be effected and I thought it might hurt more without clamps. The piercing was extremely quick and smooth and the jewelry was secured extremely fast as well. It was so fast I didn't bother to draw my tongue back in my mouth in-between the piercings and just had him begin the second one immediately. During the first one I didn't experience any real sensation or pain. The second piercing felt like some pressure, but nothing sharp; like I was biting my tongue semi-hard, but holding down on it, but it was over EXTREMELY quickly and I was looking at my venoms on the mirror. Completely painless I thought compared to the nipples.
The placement was perfect; I could detect no distortion or error in their placement. I couldn't have been happier. He asked if he could take a picture for his portfolio because he said it's been a very, very long time since he's done venoms. Of course I agreed, I was proud of them but I did have a weird time figuring out the best method to expose my tongue for the camera (I assume swelling had begun).
I'd highly recommend this piercer. I believe his name is 'Josh'. There was tons of more 'chit-chat' that went on, and he was very friendly, I just omitted most of it in an effort to keep the account 'reasonable' and not 'excessive'. I see a lot of people mention that in their stories and, since it seems to comfort them, I figured I'd mention it so others would [hopefully] choose this artist to pierce them.
Mine healed without complication. The worst part about tongue piercings is in the aftermath; the swelling. I could eat regular food throughout the entire heal period; there was not a time I couldn't, but it would take forever. After approx. 6 days it was pretty much gone and I could eat whatever but it was still a little tender and I had to take caution. Spicy food is evil, it hurts. Even 'moderately' spiced lunchmeat would cause my tongue to burn. Make sure if you eat something you're pretty damn sure it's at least 'neutral' as far as that goes.
Now, a few months later, I've noticed a few things. I now chew in a different method; pre-piercing I chewed basically everything predominately on the right side of my mouth, presumably because I am right-handed. Post-piercing I chew on both sides of my mouth and more forward than before (closer to the incisors), 'rolling' the food essentially by 'flipping' my tongue.
I've not had any tooth damage, but it is very possible. I've bit mine about 3 times fairly hard during chewing, but they were in the early stages when I was learning how to chew again. Fortunately after that stage I've yet to bite them very hard. Now I've got to learn how to stop playing with them...
Venoms are badass, but personally I don't care if you have venoms or not, just know that I am way, way cooler than those who don't. Hahahahaha, I'm kidding.
Good luck to those who decide to get them, but I am still cooler than you. Hehehe.
Jp
If anyone has any questions, I'm open to answering them to the best of my knowledge; feel free to message me through here :)