About three or so months ago now I once again I felt the need to have a needle pushed through my skin to achieve that ever wonderful rush, especially since I finally got a job that would allow visible piercings. That was exciting. I had been wanting so many piercings but had to hold off because the jobs I was landing did not allow visible modifications of any kind (except a maximum of say 3 earrings in each ear), which was beginning to really get to me. I had a septum that I kept flipped up at work and I had to hide my ears under my hair. But now I could finally pursue the list of piercing I had been wanting! First one my list was a vertical labret. I had been wanting a vertical labret for years and with the new job I decided it was a perfect time to get one done. I always thought they were really cute and not too common yet.
At A Glance Author Ami H Contact Ami H@bme.anon IAM fauxxrobot When Three months ago Artist Jon Studio Robot Piercing Location Portland, OR I kept hearing things about this shop called Robot Piercing. I liked the name a lot too. So Michael and I went up into NW Portland to check out the Robot Piercing shop I had heard a lot of good things about, but hadn't actually been to before. I wasn't sure about going there at first at first because it is in NW Portland on 23rd which is a very trendy yuppie area of the city. But I had been getting frustrated with my previous piercing shop called Black Hole because I felt I wasn't taken seriously enough and always felt rushed when i went there. But when I entered Robot Piercing (which shares a space with a clothing shop), I was actually greeted and smiled at by three or four people working behind the counter immediately upon walking in the door! That in itself was awesome to me, and I felt so comfortable. Being comfortable and feeling welcomed is really important to me because I am an anxious person, especially around new people, so that made me very optimistic. They have a ton of jewelry and I really liked that it was also a clothing shop! A nice atmosphere.
A guy was the first to come up to me from behind the counter and as what I wanted. I told him that I wanted a vertical labret piercing and he said awesome and found the jewelry to get it done. He let me choose some balls for the end of the curved barbell. He introduced himself before we went into the back to pierce me as Jon. Jon was the one that was going to pierce me. He was extremely friendly, talkative, and knowledgeable. He had me lay down and asked if I was ready. "Oh yeah" And he said how it was a simple fairly painless piercing and it would be easy.
Breathe in, breathe out--
The needle went through and kind of "popped" a little out the other side! It amused me a lot! I admit laying there with the needle through my lip was a bit uncomfortable. It stung a little when the needle went through the other side of my lip, but definitely not anything near painful. I'd say getting a bee sting is worse. Then unfortunately somehow something moved when he was trying to insert the jewelry and he had to move the jewelry around until it found the other hole and basically repierce the damn thing which was really uncomfortable. But once it was in I didn't feel a thing.
My lip did bleed a lot and Jon had to wipe off all the blood.
Sat up and Jon went over all the aftercare and downsizing information for me and commented that it was cute. I saw my new adornment in the mirror he passed me and was ecstatic!
So far so good on healing. It's taking a bit longer because I am not as good with my soakings as I should be, though I do saline swabs at least twice a day. but it's looking great and I have had no problems with it.
For at work the first two months I kept a bottle of saline and some cotton swabs in my work locker so throughout the day when crusties formed I could wipe them away without following the impulse to just pick at it.
I've already downsized once and I will downsize once more when it's fully healed.
I love this piercing and get a lot of compliments on it :)
I also wanted to note that Jon at Robot Piercing in Portland Oregon is awesome and I would recommend anyone go to him! Seriously, he is friendly and knowledgeable and confident. I will not let anyone else pierce me again after my wonderful experiences with him and will continue to send business his way.