At A Glance
Author	Kat
Contact	Kat@bme.anon
When	It just happened
Artist	cant remember his name
Studio	under the skin
Location	aldershot

Hey everyone, I'm Kat. I'm a pretty typical 19-year-old student, living up the student life enjoying partying, sex, drugs, rock and roll and everything in-between. I first got into body mods when I was 16 and the belly button piercing got big, I got mine done, it got infected, started to grow out and ended very sadly. I loved that piercing, but since then I thought that maybe my body just doesn't like having metal shoved through it.

Then I started thinking about tattoos, I decided these were an amazing and personal way of creating beauty, individuality and memento's. So as soon as I turned 18, that addiction began- in one year I've had four tattoos, each one gorgeous and each one meaningful. This summer I have been thinking about my next one, but will need to save up as it's going to be a biggie. But with the urge to get something done still running through my veins I started to think again about piercing.

One piercing I have always admired and thought would suit me is the tongue piercing, it's discreet and well- looks dam cool! My friend had it done and I decided, if I really want it, just do it! So I thought screw it, I'm gonna get it. Hearing stories about bleeding and fatalities did kinda scare me, but thought I should just be brave, after all these are really rare cases. My parents weren't too impressed, but I think they know now that they can't stop me, and at least it isn't too in your face. They have learned to accept my tattoo's so I'm sure they will come to at least tolerate my piercing.

So the day came when me and four of my friends made our way to under the skin in Aldershot. I had been there before for tattoo's and trusted them. As we walked in there was a huge crowd of kids just out of school ready to be pierced. I gotta admit, I felt very uncool then. Soon every 'original' teen was being ushered in, getting pierced and pushed out the door- these guys were busy, speed was necessary.

Then it came to be my turn to be ushered in. I was shaking like a leaf- tattoo's were ok, I knew what to expect with those, but this was having someone shove a metal skewer through my tongue. I sat down as my piercer explained what he was going to do, and checked my tongue to see if it was ok to be pierced. He then sprayed some numbing stuff on my tongue and told me to hold it in my mouth. That was odd, my whole mouth went numb, a very strange feeling, felt like I was at a dentists. Then they dried off my tongue, held it out and without warning, pushed the needle through. It was an odd sensation, at first all you felt was pressure and the feeling of the needle going through your tongue, and then the pain as it pokes through the top of the tongue. The pain wasn't bad at all, it was like 'ow *insert profanity here* that hurts' but then it's all done. He then put the jewellery in, went over the aftercare and shoved me out the shop. It was over so quickly I was thrilled. I walked out with my tongue poked out to my friends and the shop full of kids who all looked at me in awe- that's when I felt cool again! I had done it, I was on that amazing high. I looked in anything reflective for the whole day at my new metal and had an uncontrollable urge to stick my tongue out at strangers and to scare little kids. After seeing it in its full glory in the toilet mirror in the shopping centre I though- this looks amazing, that's when I knew I had made the right decision.

There was no bleeding, and I was speaking perfectly. The next day there was a little swelling, but I could still speak fine so I was happy! Its now the second day after getting it done and it still looks amazing. It's still slightly swollen, but hasn't affected my speech or anything. I've been eating soups and milkshakes- a pretty dull diet, but trust me- eating solids is tricky. I've been sucking on ice cubes and taking ibuprofen to help with the swelling. The aftercare is easy, just common sense really, rinse your mouth with mouthwash after you eat- not hard. It stings a bit if I talk too much, but that's it. I've had very mixed reactions, from gasps of shock, to 'that's so cool!!' to looks of disgust. I don't really care about what other people think, I didn't do it for them! I'm so glad I got it done and can't wait to show all my friends at uni, they won't be surprised, they always see me with something new on my body- lets hope this addiction doesn't get as crazy as my tattoo addiction!