This was my 24th piercing. I had 10 in my ears (5X each ear), bottom holes gauged to 9/16's in one ear and 000g in the other (long story), a septum, tongue, side lip ring, nipples and navel. Retired wise, a set of holes in each ear, a center lip ring, eyebrow and a medusa piercing.
At A Glance Author Shade Contact Shade@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Tim, I think that was his name Studio Rideau St. Tattoo's Location Rideau Street, Ottawa, Ontario, CA I talked and talked about getting a smiley. They looked so pretty. The rejection rate scared me a bit, and it was about two months before I finally got it done. I woke up one morning and decided that today was going to be the day I got it pierced.
I decided that this was going to be easy to hide for work (I work at McDonald's and they're against piercings) and something my dad could live with. He doesn't care much for piercings, either.
Right before I was going to leave I asked my dad if I could get it done. He didn't really understand what I was asking to get pierced and told me to go see if it was "doable."
I went downtown with a friend, and we went into the first shop of my choice. They said they didn't do them. We left, tried another shop and another shop. No one would do them, except for one place but the piercer who did them wasn't there that day. And me being me, I needed it done right there and then.
Finally one more shop to try, and I struck gold. I had to wait about 15 minutes for the piercer to arrive, and then I was shocked when he said it was only going to be $30. A standard piercing with a CBR is $40-50 everywhere else. A "rare" piercing with a CBR is around $60. I paid the fee, and went into the back room with the piercer and my friend.
He put on gloves, opened the needle and bent it so it was curved. He got out the CBR, clamps and a cork. He changed his gloves once, and told me I was going to help him with the piercing. I was terrified. I was ready to back out. He made me hold my lip up while he clamped the area, and then ended up taking the clamps off and telling me he was going to do it freehand because there wasn't enough room. He tried again, and again, and again. Not enough room with my hands and his in the way. He ended up telling me to put my hands down, and he held my lip up with one hand and pierced with the other.
The initial poke wasn't too bad, but he struggled when he got to the piece of cartilage in the center. He was talking to my friend throughout this, I remember him saying he had only done 4-5 smiley's before, and something about him being dead sexy. He was cute and funny. He had to push insanely hard before the cartilage finally gave, and the exit wasn't too bad. The middle was the worst. It burned like a moron. He put a cork on the needle and showed me in the mirror, a giant needle sticking out of my mouth. Yum.
He put the CBR in, and gave me aftercare and told me not to worry about rejection. I found that odd, but okay. Then he sent my friend and I on our way.
My mouth hurt, it hurt to talk, it hurt to smile or laugh. It hurt to eat. The next day it didn't hurt at all, it just irritated me insanely. It felt like there was food stuck in my upper lip. The day after that, no pain. The next day. Yikes. Not a fun day.
While my decision was spontaneous, I forgot that I was getting my wisdom teeth out five days from the day I got pierced. Luckily it didn't seem to bother my piercing too much, the trauma from getting my teeth extracted, and the medicated mouthwash.
I also forgot that I wear a retainer at night, basically two slip covers that go over my top and bottom teeth. It's still weird to wear my retainer on the top, it pushes the CBR forward and keeps it on an angle for the night.
Overall, it took 20 minutes in the room with the piercer, 5 minutes for the actual piercing process. It wasn't painless like most people describe, but I don't have a great tolerance for pain. Ok, I'm a wuss. I actually cried after I got my medusa pierced.
It took about a week before my dad noticed it, he grimaced and didn't really comment.
Getting my smiley pierced was a positive experience, the piercer was funny and friendly (and cute, heh.) and I love the reactions I get from this piercing. I made a girl scream at work when I showed her.
I can't wait until it's healed and I can get a bigger CBR and a ball with a diamond indented into it. Right now when I smile you can only see the ball. Since getting this pierced, my web has looked bigger and thicker (the swelling is gone) than before so I'm not too worried about rejection.
Happy piercing.