I have been wanting a new piercing or tattoo for a while, but since I live in the middle of nowhere I don't always get what I want when I want it. On BME I have looked at and read many many many articles. Bme is THE best spot on the net for any information related to body modification. You can find great advice about getting a piercing, taking care of it and the best ways to experience it.
At A Glance Author shel Contact shel@bme.anon When A month ago Artist Charlotte Studio Charlotte's Web Location The Pas It is so important to know what you are getting into before you get into it. Mods aren't something to do on a dare, just because you feel like it, or to piss off your parents. There are so many valid reasons to be pierced other then "cause its cool". Its about YOU and who YOU ARE inside and outside.
The vertical labret piercing is the most trouble free piercing I have encountered so far! I have had my tongue pierced as a venom, my belly button, nose, and lip done. The venom is retired with my other lip piercing.
This time my mod was researched but unplanned. I did know that there was a nurse in town that has done piercing but I didn't know how to get in contact with her. One day when I was at work two girls came in who had just gotten their tongues pierced. This is how I got Charlotte's phone number. What a stroke of luck! It turns out that she runs her shop part time out of her basement.
I called Charlotte and we chatted a little and I asked her if she had any extra time that day *a Saturday* and she eventually squeezed me into her 4:30 time slot. I was totally stoked since I thought I wouldn't be able to get in a see her for a while. She wanted to know what I would like to have done. I told her and she said she had never done a vertical labret before. I made sure that she was comfortable with the piercing and that she actually understood what I was talking about... which she did!
When I got to her house it was a little bit early so I sat down with a jewelry magazine for a few minutes and filled out the usual paperwork. Once Charlotte had all of her sterile "stuff"(clamps, bacitracin, cotton balls, needle, jewelry, gloves) on her sterile
work surface she went through cleaning and after care with me. She was very thorough in making sure that I was aware of the proper ways to care for my new pal. Most people assume they know what you are doing if you have a couple piercings, its nice to have a piercer who is willing to repeat themselves.
Charlotte explained the direction she would pierce and marked the spots with me. After some time adjusting the placement, making sure everything was right where we wanted it she put the clamps on. The clamps are always so irritating.
I began my deep breathing exercises. Breathing in through the nose filling below the diaphragm first and then the lungs, breathing out below the diaphragm first and then emptying the lungs. Breathing in this way is very calming, a good way to relax, settle your nerves and center your energy.
Charlotte sat off to my side, reached around and aimed. She said okay when she was ready and pushed the needle through. I must admit that pain was apparent, though it lasted a fraction of a second. It was a sharp pain, like metal driving through skin. Duh. And then heat. No throbbing or bleeding.
Then needle, shoved into a cork on the other side, sat inside my lip for a second while she got ready to put the jewelry into its place. This part was a little uncomfortable. The curved barbell she pushed into my lip was the perfect length and looked awesome.
She cleaned the fresh wound with bacitracin...I know I am spelling this wrong, sorry...and gave me a mirror. I loved it. It felt so good sitting there on my lip.
Cleaning it is so easy. I am having such an great time with healing. Swelling was extremely minimal and pain is non existent. The crusties are very few as well. In the morning and before bed I clean with a water/tea tree solution and put on bacitracin. This method has worked well for me. Cleaning off the crusties with tea tree soap is helpful, I find.
One problem I have had is that my lips tend to dry out faster, so I am constantly putting chapstick on or picking at my lips. The piercing is comfortable and doesn't get in the way unless I am drinking from a pop can.
I will be going back to Charlotte again soon for some more work. I have a few other piercings planned. Hopefully they will be just as easy to heal.