Like everything I've had pierced, my vertical labret was one that I had put a lot of thought into for many years. I think the first time I saw one I was thirteen or fourteen. I loved how it went through the actual lip instead of under it. I also loved the idea of not having something rub against my teeth and gums. Because I was so young I just kind of put the idea in the back of my head because my mom wouldn't allow me to pierce anything else until I was 18. I even told her what I was going to do as soon as I turned 18. It didn't happen on my birthday; I waited a few months to do anything.
At A Glance Author Ann Contact Ann@bme.anon IAM bluebananaeater When A year ago Artist Joel Burgess Studio Planet 3 Location Savannah, GA In January of 2005 I started to attend college in Savannah, GA. I thought it was a good time to do what I had wanted to do for so long. I waited a few weeks and found a shop worth going to in the area, Planet Three. The first thing I got pierced was an industrial. A few weeks later I decided to go back and get a vertical labret. There were a few people in front of me so I just waited around until it was my turn. I looked at the jewelry selection, stickers, and miscellaneous other items.
Finally it was my turn. I talked to Joel, the piercer, and we decided on a 16 gauge curved barbell. I paid and then we walked into the piercing room while everything that would be used on me was in the autoclave. We talked about the procedure, healing time, after care and everything; he even wanted to make sure my industrial was healing well. Then he scrubbed my lip and marked it with gentian violet. We both looked over the markings to make sure it was centered and straight. He changed his gloves a few times just during this part.
He was finally able to set up everything. He pulled out all the sterile tools for the piercing, opened them and set them up on the tray, telling what he was going to do with each thing. Washed my lip again. He then clamped it, telling me that was usually the worst part of the procedure. He then had me breathe in and out about three times, and then he pushed the needle through. That was worse than the clamps, but it just kind of stung, nothing too bad. He then had to put the jewelry in. He had a bit of trouble with this. The needle popped out before the jewelry was completely through. But he was able to push it through, with a small "POP" as it was coming out the other side. That was the worst part of the entire thing. Then he had to screw the top ball on my already swelling lip, causing him to pinch me a few times.
It was over and I was ready to look at what I had just paid for and sat through. I was so happy with it. It was exactly what I had wanted. My lip did start to swell pretty fast though. The next day the swelling was so bad it was able to push the top ball off. This kind of shocked me because the jewelry was internally threaded and everything. But I was able to just walk back to my dorm and screw it back on. This happened a few times over the first week. I didn't really have any problems eating or drinking, I just needed to use straws for a while so I wouldn't drip whatever I was drinking on myself.
In March, I moved back up to the Atlanta area because my school opened a new campus in Atlanta. I had not really informed my parents of my new hole. I wore a retainer in it so my dad wouldn't notice it, he's pretty old fashioned but slowly coming around, and my mom waited until we were home and he was in bed to say anything. She of course was not happy that I had done that, but she's over it now and asks the usual "Did that hurt?" kind of questions.
Now seven months later I still love my vertical labret. I think I look kind of weird without it. It also compliments my lips very well, and it looks great with my septum. All in all I love this piercing, and I would do it over if I had to. I also love the variety of jewelry for it. I usually wear something with acrylic balls because I tend to chew on it, and I love being able to change the balls with my mood. I would recommend it to anyone who wants one. I would also recommend Joel and Planet Three to anyone who wants to be pierced in Savannah; it's a great shop with great customer service.