After getting my last piercing (a belly button ring out of desperation for another piercing!)I came onto bmezine.com to have a look at what else I could do, I was on my natural high. I saw some piercings and thought about another tongue piercing, a rook or tragus, some sort of surface piercing but none stood out to me like a tongue web, the secret bit of metal that was sure to freak people out if I wanted it to, but easy enough to hide. The more I thought about it the more I decided I wanted it, badly.
At A Glance Author Rachael Contact Rachael@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Patsy Studio Tribe Studio, beneath Flip Location Glasgow I tried searching for someone who would pierce me. So many people had done it before but refused to do them anymore due to the fact they migrate. I begged but no-one would do it in my area. I searched through the yellow pages online, desperate for another piercer. Finally, after many phone calls I found someone. Now I just had to wait until I had a Saturday free and £25 that I didn't have to sacrifice food or rent for.
On the 3rd of December I strolled into Tribe, getting excited about the piercing. I waited for the piercer, Patsy, to finish doing a lower back surface piercing. This was an indication to me that she was experienced.
While I was filling out the standard form that always makes me try to work out if I'm insane or I do really want more metal in me Patsy came over and had a look at my tongue web.
"I can't do it."
"What!?!"
"It has to be really prominent. I have to be able to grab it."
Gutted, I tell her you CAN grab it, I've grabbed it loads! But really I know that she knows best and I guess I can't get it. Having a look at my sisters web I see what 'prominent' really is, and she doesn't even want hers done- so I tell her she's ungrateful for a flap of skin that could have a needle put through and start to think of what else I could get.
Patsy suggests a smiley. I'm thinking "Hell, no" but just say "Hmmmm". She tells me to have a think about what I want, she's not going anywhere.
Me and my sis wander around the studio, I'm so annoyed that after all this time I can't have it! The more I had a look at the wonderful tiny hoop that I wanted under my tongue I started to think of that popping out under my lip. All of a sudden it was so appealing.
"I'll do it, I'll get a smiley"
She has a poke about under my lip and then goes to get some freeze stuff. I've never had anything numbed before but I guess it makes it easier although I like the run up and anxiety of the pain.
"That tastes awful!" I say spitting out the chemical banana liquid.
I stay out and have a chat with my sister and the guy at the counter while Patsy gets everything ready. My lips start to feel like I've had botox and the tip of my tongue goes numb. Once I start drooling I know it's numb enough so Patsy takes me into the piercing room.
I lie down on the table like bed and pull my lip so I look like I'm in some face pulling competition. I'm used to some poking about before the actual piercing but Patsy had everything ready and the first thing I felt was the needle going through. It was a strange sensation, not painful as it was so numb but I could feel it going through. I lay there with the needle through me, glancing to the side to make sure my sister hadn't passed out.
With a little tugging the ring was in, just had to get the ball in. This proved difficult as it was so tiny but finally we got it in. Glad to have my mouth shut again I got up and had a look in the mirror. Not only did it feel good but it looked great.
I paid my money and we went off shopping. I couldn't help but smile more when I talked, or maybe I just noticed that I was smiling more!
That night while I was out I showed it to a few unsuspecting guys. I was worried it would turn guys off but all three said, on separate occasions
"That is the sexiest thing I've ever seen."
After getting it done I'd say it is the best piercing I've ever had. It's painless to get done (I imagine it's not very sore without freeze too!) it isn't painful afterwards, it doesn't catch on anything like other piercings and it's hidden (like the tongue web) but can be seen without having to actually tell someone and show them (unlike the tongue web!). All over a great piercing!