After endlessly browsing through BME's gallery of smiley/scrumper piercing I was totally hooked, I needed it done. I think the fact that it is a hidden piercing that I could choose when to show really appealed to me alongside the fact that I don't know anyone else who has it done. I considered doing it myself after reading many of the experiences were about how easy it was to self pierce it since it was so thin, but I wasn't prepared to take the risk so I just hoped that my regular piercing shop would be able to do it for me as I had never seen any pictures of it on the walls and Mark doesn't have one (he has nearly everything else!).
At A Glance Author ash Contact ash@bme.anon IAM stainless_steel_smiley When It just happened Artist mark Studio newcastle jewelers Location Newcastle, England It just so happened that I went into Newcastle with my Gran about 2 weekends later and managed to drag her to the piercing shop where I was greeted with an apprentice (I'm not sure what her name was) who said she was unable to do my smiley as she had never done a one before and would need Mark to be there :(. She told me that I would have to wait another 2 weeks!!! Until my regular piercer Mark was back from his holidays.
2 very long weeks later....
So there I was at Northumbria University open day in Newcastle with money in my purse and an empty smile so I gathered up my friends and set off to the piercing shop. I was delighted to find that Mark was there and not busy at all so I filled in the forms (I should just have a personal file or a stamp by now!) and headed into the cubicle.
I was given the choice of a barbell or a hoop, I decided on a barbell as I work as a waitress and have to smile a lot at old people who I'm sure would not find a smiley as attractive as I do, but alas no suitable barbell could be found so a hoop it had to be and no smiles for customers!
I had been worrying about the size of my web under my lip as I could not bear the thought of it being too small after waiting so long but Mark had a look and told me it was perfect! He explained how awkward this piercing is to do and that he would have to pierce freehand without clamps. I was totally fine with that and continued to swirl Listerine around my mouth which burnt like hell! Yuk!!
Now it was time for the needle and time for me to find out if the rumours of this being the least painful piercing were true. Well 2 pops and a scream from one of my friends later and I realised it was very much true there was no pain at all! I sat with the needle through my lip for a bit while Mark changed gloves and retrieved the hoop from the plastic bag, chatting about how he had recently done this piercing on his girlfriend. Getting the tiny CBR in was the hardest part it took a few goes to get the ball in. however in no time I was standing in front of the mirror with a huge smile on my face with mobile phone cameras being stuck in my face :).
As for the aftercare I bought a big bottle of Listerine from Boots which I swirl round my mouth after I eat and when I brush my teeth, which surprisingly I found very easy I thought that the hoop would get in the way but I have found that I can just simply brush over it and under it if I need to.
It's been 4 days now and there has been no pain or swelling or any discomfort at all. The only side affects are that I can't whistle spit properly or bite into things like burgers and sandwiches and kissing my boyfriend was a little difficult until I got the hang of moving the ball out the way. I have also found that I have a new bad habit of pushing and rolling the ball over my top lip which is making my lip all dry.
I'm hoping to go back sometime next week and get a barbell put in which I bought as well as a clear retainer for when it has healed properly for things such as work and possible interviews, even thought it has been really fun seeing how long it takes people to realise that its there and where the piercing actually is. I also think that a barbell will be generally more comfortable and not ruin my teeth or gums in any way which is my main concern.
Overall I love my new smile, I think I smile a lot more now! Sadly I know it won't be around for ever so I'm making the most of it and watching it closely for migration, but for now my stainless steel smiley is here to stay!