About a year and a half ago now I had a bazaar urge to have my lip pierced, and after much consideration and many conversations with my Dad I decided to get it done. This was my first piercing in 12 years since my lobes, so I did my BME research and felt pretty confident that I wanted it done.
At A Glance Author gemmuse When A year ago Artist unknown Studio Eclipse Location Camden, London Two of my experienced flatmates also wanted to get something pierced so we made it a group body modification day. One friend wanted to get her conch pierced and another wanted his helix pierced. They both prepped me on what to expect and that piercing staff are usually very nice and friendly and will let you take your time.
So we headed to Camden to Eclipse studio. We had been recommended it after a friend had his lobes pierced there a couple of weeks prior. With no other experience of studios in London we thought we should give it a go.
I was absolutely petrified on the way there, deciding for and against it every couple of minutes. But I knew how much I wanted it done and that I should not let nerves get in the way of something I will really appreciate. I knew if I did not get it done that day I would have wasted £2 on a bus fare, and would just go back the next day anyway paying out more bus fare without someone sharing the experience with me.
We went inside the studio and the staff seemed very cold and impatient. I was quite clearly nervous and no effort was made by the staff to talk me through what to expect or to simply say there is nothing to worry about. We waited for ages for the staff to stop chatting amongst themselves and serve us. I wanted a lip ring put in but they only pierced with a bar which I was disappointed with, but they told me to come back in one month exactly with my after care sheet and they will put the ring in for me.
I went first so that I did not bottle out. I was told to come into the room and sit down. I told the woman that I was really nervous and she ignored me. She drew a dot on my lip and told me to look in the mirror. I agreed with the position and she told me to sit back down. I had no idea what was going on and she did not talk me through what she was going to do.
I had to sit up for the piercing which I did not feel entirely comfortable with. She clamped my lip without any words. I was not shown that the clamp or needle were in a sterile bag they were just brought over (even though I am sure they were sterile, from my experience since it seems to be standard to illustrate that the needle and clamp are sterile).
I was so scared by this point. She came over said breathe in and then put the needle through. It was so painful! However I believe it was that painful due to the fact I was so nervous and tense and had no idea what was going on. I have never experienced a painful piercing since and I have had a good few, but at a different studio!
She told me to stand up and opened the door for me to leave immediately. Again from experience now it is standard to be left to lie down until you are ready to stand up. My lip throbbing I was thrown the care sheet and told to read it.
Not knowing any different about whether this piercing experience was normal or not my friends thought I was shocked just because of the piercing so they went in, and both came out disgusted. My friend that had her conch done was very nervous, especially being a cartilage piercing. She cried out in the salon as she was so under-prepared and was told to be quiet by the woman.
We left the studio very much dissatisfied but we put the experience behind us as a learning curve. However I was aware that having paid for the ring in the price if the piercing I would have to go back to have it put in.
A month to the day later I went into the studio to have my ring put in. I took my after care form in as they told me to but they seemed reluctant to give me the ring, but eventually they asked me to go round to the room.
I had a trainee putting in my ring under supervision of a different piercer. Both women were lovely. They were really friendly and comforting which was a relief (if only I had them doing my original piercing). They took out my bar and put the ring in, which was extremely sore to have put through. It throbbed for a while after, but I was so pleased to finally have my ring put in.
I left the studio with a massive smile on my face. However a week later my lip had swollen a great deal and the ring was digging into my lip forming a groove. I tried to get the swelling down for a while but nothing worked. The inside of my lip was ripping and the hole turned into a bloody rip making eating very difficult- it was hard enough in the first place.
Obviously very concerned I headed back into Camden and found the next studio 'Cold Steel' with my friend who wanted his eyebrow pierced. We went in and the staff were really friendly. We sorted out Carl's eyebrow and then I asked them to take a look at my lip. They were all outraged by the state of my lip. They asked where I got it done and told me to go down there and show them what they had done.
The ring they had given me was far too small and was put in far too early when the hole had not healed at all. I needed a bar put back in, so I chose one and a really nice guy changed it for me. It was unbelievably sore, but felt so much better with the bar in as the tugging on the open rip had stopped. It was such a relief.
The staff told me to come back in a week or so to check the healing, which I did. They were so helpful and friendly. I have had all my piercings done there since and taken any friend that wanted a new piercing there. Every time I go in there for my own piercing or someone else's they remember me and ask to check it- what amazing aftercare for clearing up a mistake someone else has made!
My lip healed within a month and now feels and looks amazing! I love it so much! I know this is a bit of a horror story and I would never want to put people off of getting it done because it looks so great! It is just a warning to go by proper recommendations. Go into the studio you have chosen and if they do not have the time to answer your questions then try another place. If for a second you are unsure about the studio or dubious about the staff then go elsewhere.
Some people who are experienced with piercings may well prefer this fast approach as they know what to expect. However if you are new to the piercing world then it is best to go somewhere where you feel totally comfortable. Even after many piercings I still prefer to go to somewhere where they give you as much time as you need, and where you know you will get quality aftercare service. Please don't let this put any one off getting a piercing just feel comfortable in a studio and if at any point you feel uncomfortable then leave. This experience has certainly not put me off of piercings, I learnt from my experience and found a reliable studio!