Last October I got my bottom lip pierced on both sides. It was pierced at a 12 gauge and it'll probably just stay at that. I don't see myself stretching lip piercings anytime in the near future.
At A Glance Author Thrashweasel Contact Thrashweasel@bme.anon When A year ago Studio True Blue Location Austin, Texas I got it pierced at True Blue in Austin, Texas from an awesome piercer but, sadly, I don't remember her name. She used to pierce in England at Cold Steel (pretty sure thats what she said). I came in on a Tuesday afternoon to ensure that they wouldn't be horribly busy so they could have plenty of time to line up the piercings and make sure they are as close to perfectly even as possible. She was quite adamant about this too which made me feel a lot better. After playing with it for a little while she was finally ready to pierce.
I don't have much to compare the pain too seeing as the only other piercings I have are my lobes (pierced at a 10, stretched to a 6). But the first side was almost completely painless. I could not believe it. I figured it was gonna hurt like a son of a bitch and there was almost nothing. The second side she had to do twice because the jewelry slipped as she was chasing the needle and even that didn't hurt! I was in awe.
She complemented my "big, healthy lips" and they didn't bleed at all. She avoided all the veins flawlessly.
The healing process really only hurt if I tried to bite into something (like a sandwich or burger). I generally heal really fast and well and this was no exception. I didn't have any issues with the healing process at all either.
Since I have been stripped of the left side piercing, but that story goes something like this:
Shortly after both piercings had healed I went over to my older sister's house for dinner. After we ate I was playing with my nephew and their miniature dachshund and their brand new puppy. The puppy was a rescue from the animal shelter, a mutt in every sense. She was so playful and loving and just wanted attention all the time from everyone. I'm used to this because I too have a stray that we rescued who's personality is very similar to this dog. Well, my sister's puppy has a bad habit of jumping (which she can do very well) and nipping at you when shes at her highest point. Again, this I'm also used to do my stray so I wasn't afraid. That turned out to be my downfall.
I was sitting on the floor rough-housing a bit with the puppy when she leaped over my lap having her bottom right canine hooking my left lip ring. Everything went surreal. I sat there for a second asking myself if that just happened. Then I looked down and saw her licking something. It was my jewelry. I don't know if it was just an accident or she was attracted to the shiny-ness of it or what, but she ripped the piercing out.
I lucked out in the fact that the captive ring I had in it stretched open before tearing through my lip so only the outside of was ripped. I figured that my lip was torn clean in half right there as soon as my hands caught the first drop of blood. For some odd reason, probably something having to do with being a guy, I debated going to get stitches even though it clearly needed them. My sister insisted and took me to the ER, also insisting on paying for everything even though I have health insurance.
We got to the ER at like 10:30pm and there was like 4 pregnant chicks there, it was insane. Everyone felt like having their babies that night I guess. I kind of chuckled about it but it sucked that much more for me because I kept getting bumped because they organize the patients in order of severity. They cleaned out the waiting room twice before it was my turn. The guy who was taking all my info asked what happened and I pointed to my lip and said "it got ripped out." He hadn't even noticed my lip was gaping of that side. I thought, "Wow, he's pretty jaded, heh."
Once I got to see a doctor he pretty much just threw me on the table, gave me a tetanus shot (it had also been a while since I last had one) since it was metal that got ripped out, and laid me down putting a cloth over my whole upper body that had just a tiny square cut out that he positioned over my lip. Once the numbness started taking effect from the other shot he gave me he went to town. He redid a couple of the stitches to try to make the scar as un-obvious as possible.
All and all it took 4 stitches total and healed pretty well. The scar is not very noticeable but there is a really small dimple where the piercing was at the base of my lip. Now that it has been about 6 months I will probably be getting that side re-pierced. Circular barbells are sounding kind of like a good idea too.