I turned eighteen on October 8th, 2004. Having already started college, becoming legal was a very big deal considering that I had felt left behind for (what seemed like) forever. It's not that getting my monroe pierced would be my first piercing experience (I had both sides of my lip, my wrist, and my belly button done before hand), but this was the first time that I could go and get it done without my mom being there! So I had always pretty much known that monroe was what I was going to get pierced, but lately I had been considering getting a tattoo as well. I was looking online at some various tattoo shops, gathering as much visual information via the internet on artists as possible. I decided to look up Outer Limits online (a local tattoo/piercing shop that is a small chain in the Orange County area) and I was browsing the Costa Mesa division. As I am scrolling through the pictures, I notice that the resident piercer is my neighbor who lives in the apartment above mine! I got really excited and wanted to talk to him immediately, but then felt sort of weird, like a stalker. I told my mom, and she apparently didn't feel awkward about it at all because the next day when she saw him she asked him all about it! She told me that their conversation was really friendly, and gave her a card with all of the shop info on it and told me to come in anytime. A week or two later, which was yesterday, I saw him as I came home from class and told him I was interested in getting my monroe pierced tomorrow (which is now today) and he told me to just come on in. And that brings us to today...
At A Glance Author Courtney Contact modestsatire@socal.rr.com When It just happened Artist Kent Studio Outer Limits Location Costa Mesa
I woke up this morning with an overall feeling of excitement knowing that I was going to get my monroe pierced today. I picked up my boyfriend around two and we headed over to the shop. I thought on the way there my stomach would turn due to nervousness, but it didn't at all. I was quite relaxed, actually. My boyfriend and I walked into the shop and filled out the paper work, showed ID, and then just sat and waited. The wait wasn't that long because about ten minutes after we got there Kent (my neighbor, the piercer) came out and we discussed what side I wanted it on, and what jewelry I wanted. I picked a 16 gauge clear gem ball and we headed on into the back room. Once there, he asked if my boyfriend wanted to watch, and he let him stand in the room with us. Kent was really nice and talkative the whole time, constantly explaining to me what he was doing and why. After going through the basic after care procedures, I sat in the chair and he asked me to make some facial gestures. He marked the spot he thought would be both aesthetically pleasing as well as easy to heal, and then asked me what I thought. After much consideration and talk, we decided that would be the best place for it. He continued to explain to me what he was doing, and had me do some great breathing exercises to relax my body and minimize the pain. Suddenly it was all over. The needle went through, and though it was a slight pinch, it really didn't hurt. Originally Kent had picked out a length of 3/8, but once the needle was through he told me he was sure he could go smaller, despite the inevitable swelling. The needle sat in my lip for a few seconds, but that wasn't a big deal. I just closed my eyes and waited for the jewelry to pass. He warned that the passing might pinch a little, and when he was screwing on the ball told me to whine if he was pinching, but it was perfectly fine. Kent was very gentle, and very aware of my feelings and pain. Then it was all over. I had a beautiful monroe piercing, in a location that couldn't have been better. "\Ãw"ë The experience was wonderful, and I would recommend Kent at Outer Limits in Costa Mesa to anyone. It also helps that he's my neighbor, so if I have any concerns, I can just knock on his door.
The piercing was about ten hours ago, and it is a little swollen, which he warned me was to be expected. I soaked it in non iodized sea salt and warm water, and it feels great. The minor rubbing on my gums is nothing for me to be concerned about, because I had the same initial experience with my lower lip piercings and now they are hardly noticeable. I am so thrilled with this piercing, and my amazing piercer just made it that much more enjoyable.