I swear this is a story about my vertical lip ring but there is a story behind me getting it which I feel the need to share so one can understand my reasonings, or lack of, behind me going through with the piercing.
At A Glance Author Tifelicia When Three months ago Artist Paul Studio Gothic Tatoo and Design Location Derry, NH So I turned 18 which meant I was off to the parlor where I'd gotten my nose, tragus, belly and industrial pierced. I was soooo amped and completely ready for the barbell through the tongue experience. I'd waited forever for it and was thrilled to know I was finally able to get the tongue piercing I'd been dreaming off for so long. Apparently however, my tongue was not ready and for that fact never will be. After getting prepared and swishing my mouth with the battery acid they provide for antiseptic and cleaning purposes (along with the piercers own sick pleasure at watching the victim squirm while they flush their mouths with it), I opened my mouth and stuck out my tongue as my piercer, Paul reached for it with the "claw" aka clamp. After one look at my tongue he puts the clamp down and frowns at me. "Can't do it," he states, pulling off his gloves."You're tongue tied". WTF?? Right, thats what I was thinking, but instead my only way of truly reacting. was.. "I'm what!?" Yes , ladies and gentlemen, I am tongue tied, meaning that the lovely little skin thing underneath your tongue that holds the tongue to the bottom of your mouth is too long to pierce through. If it was pierced I'd have a slur or what not, which Im pretty sure I wouldnt really enjoy.
Well I still had my $60 and although my dissapointment was humonguongous (I'd waited for 3 years to get the damn piercing) I figured there was no way I was leaving without some type of metal sticking out of someplace on my body where it shouldn't. SoOoOoOo... to make a long story short, Paul mentioned his latest, greatest, most unique facial piercing and I decided on the vertical lip ring since I knew of no one who had the same hole. After cleaning up my lip and sterilizing the lil barbell that would soon be resting above and below my lower lip, the clamp was attached and my piercer told me to shut up and sit still. Well, this was the first piercing I could see as it was performed...his hand..the clamp...the needle and barbell...all from a cross-eyed glare as I tried to watch as everything went through...get it, went through?...hehe no pun intended. SRY.
Anyways, that didnt end up happening since I shut my eyes as soon as the needle went through the top of my lip first. Umm. ya I wont lie, it stung a little but as soon as it was through it was a breeze from there. The needle going all the way through my plushy lower lip wasnt a wonderful feeling but it was bearable and only made meflinch a little. I rewarded myself later for not kibbying out, although my friend looked as though she'd rather have been at a Britney concert rather than there in the room after the needle went through. He pushed the straight barbell through the hollow puncture and secured the lower ball on tightly, which made it sting slightly as he slipped and bumped the freshly self inflicted wound. But things were peachy because my vertical lipring was in. I paid the man, I checked myself out multiple times, contemplated the way my parents would react and went home with a swollen lip, a bruised area in between the two silver balls and a co-razy cool feeling w hen i licked my lips and felt the top one resting there. Only about 2 weeks later and my red lipstick came out of its short term hibernation and I was back in color and thrilled. The silver stands out so much more when its against Hot Rod Red and Pucker Up Hot Pink.
Everything went great and I cant even tell that its there anymore although my parents remind me often enough by expressing their feelings of hatred towards the poor lil barbell that now has a semi-permananet home through my lower,no longer swollen or bruised lip. Its a great topic to discuss and a perfect conversation starter.."How much did that hurt!?" and the kids at my daycare are fascinated by the concept of stainless steel through my lip. The only downside that I can speak of is that mine gets tender when I participate in "rigorous" exercises involving the lip and the fact that there are NO OTHER vertical barbells made for me, pisses me off as well. Damn labret wearers get all sorts of options- hello people its time they made some new creations for the vertical wearer too! I wouldnt mind a dice chilling btween my lips, or maybe a glittery pink ball......