For about the past couple years (since at least the end of Grade 12) I've been enamoured with the vertical labret piercing, since seeing it on here and on another website for a local business. Upon turning 18 I was determined to get it done, and set up an appointment at one time, only to cancel it due to pressure from my work.
At A Glance Author kevin Contact kevin@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Eric Studio Soul Survivors Location Winnipeg, MB, Canada Fast forward 6 months and I realize that my job is not my life, and that it would be discriminatory of them to tell me how I can and can not express myself. I set up an appointment about a month before my 19th birthday, only to have it cancelled due to Eric's being sick (and Eric is rarely sick). Due to their cancellation they gave me a discount on the piercing, which was really cool and unexpected of them. I booked an another appointment for 3 days later, and got everything set up (paper filled out, jewellery measured etc). However, to be safe I mentioned to Eric that I was under the weather (I was in the midst of flu or mono like symptoms at the time, and felt like I would pass out at any moment. I had been dizzy all day, and my hands shaking left and right.) and he recommended that I wait, and was not upset in the least. We discussed how he could pierce me but that he wouldn't recommend it, and that a weeks wait would be extremely beneficial. I asked him if he minded and he said that although the point of a business is to make money, a healthy piercing is more important and that customer satisfaction is what he goes for, not money. His insistence on a healthy piercing first, and him making money second is extremely admired by me. Furthermore they even said they would pass my discount on to the next appointment, but I wouldn't hear of it and made sure I paid them normally.
A couple weeks later I finally got to the day, and was feeling up and atom after school walking to
Osborne. I met up with my friend Jamie (she surprised me at the cd store across Osborne, and we checked out some Blood Brothers, then went to Fuel for sodas). After we headed over and waited in the lobby of Soul Survivors (the 3rd time I'd been there in a couple weeks, so I was quite familiar with it). I filled out the paperwork with my hand shaking a bit apparently (haha) and then the moment came when I had to head in, and Jamie had to head to catch her bus home.
When in the studio Eric explained all the equipment and sterilization procedures and told me that he would explain each step as he does it. I started getting really antsy and nervous at this point (as I always do with any needle, even the smallest vaccine) and he asked if I had second thoughts, to which I replied a confident, resounding "i definitely want this" :)
Upon marking and measuring over and over again to ensure precise placement (Eric also asked me how I would like it to look on my lip, and designed it as such). He alloted a lot for swelling, and made sure I knew that downsizing is 100% free at soul survivors after the swelling period. Alas he placed the clamp on and told me that he was getting ready. At this point my nerves shot up extremely. He told me to take a deep breath and I took several, as the needle went in. I did feel a sharp pain, but not nearly what I expected. As he took the needle out and placed the bar in I could feel what felt like a heavy squirt of water, so I assumed I was bleeding but he confirmed that I wasn't. A couple tightens of the beads and it was done.
He went over the sterilization procedures, we discussed the show a few days before, and I went to the lobby and paid. I then walked back down Osborne downtown proud, with a large smile on my face as I walked.
Currently it is about two weeks since I've been pierced and it appears to be healing nicely. I've followed a daily cleaning routine pretty strictly, but I've been horrible keeping my hands off it. The worst part of the healing I found was my lips drying up and swelling so much they appeared they would fall off. I could see pieces of my skin peeling away, and I had to put on lip balm religiously. After a few days this subsided and everything was fine. Currently it crusts up a lot (and those crusties hurt when you suck them through the piercing by accident!!!!!!) but it looks like it's all good in my unprofessional opinion. I go back for a checkup/downsize in a couple weeks so Eric will be able to tell me. I can't wait to get it downsized, as although I like how it looks now, the bottom bar is far too long. But I am also very happy Eric allotted for swelling, as a month of looking slightly worse is far better than an unhealthy piercing.
Reactions to my piercing have been resoundingly positive aside from my mothers, grandmothers, and manager at work's. However my family is getting used to it, and my manager was quickly silenced by my suggestion that he was being discriminatory, and that my body was my choice. My friends have given me overwhelmingly good feedback, repeatedly commenting on how great it looks, or suggesting that it looks so natural on me they were sure I had it done beforehand and just put the jewellery back in. The most common question of course was "did it hurt" to which I reply "not nearly as much as I thought it would".
I think the best comment I could leave would be a smile, but unfortunately my webcam isn't working. Otherwise I would have a photo up already (rest assured I will soon). I suppose the best comment I can leave without one is saying that I am extremely happy with my lip, and I would recommend this piercing to anyone who has desired one. The placement is perfect, you can see a ball between the lips when they are closed and I love that. Almost like the pearl in the clam. I would definitely recommend Soul Survivors as well. Hands down the best place in Winnipeg. I am so happy I chose this piercing and chose them to do it.
`Kevin