Ever since I started liking piercings, I have wanted a lip piercing. Originally, I wanted a traditional labret, but in the end, after finding out about gum recession, I went for the more unconventional (at the time), vertical lip/vertical labret piercing.
At A Glance Author Saf.Lynne Contact Saf.Lynne@bme.anon When A month ago Artist Becky Studio SheWizards Location Cold Lake Alberta Of course at the age of 12, most mothers aren't willing to sign for that kind of piercing, and my mother was hell bent against me getting any piercings. Of course, she knew that would change when I started working at a piercing shop. At the time I started working at the shop, I already had 13 piercings (most in my ears), but none visiable otherwise. To my mother, the ear piercings were enough, to my boss, I looked almost to conservative to be working there. Of course, my crazy sense of fashion and my coloured hair made up for the lack of metal decorations.
In July, about a week before my 18th birthday, there was a dissagreeance with my ability to do my job, so I was fired (lets not get into it because even though I went there to get my tattoo only a few weeks ago, I am still bitter at my ex boss! ^^). Well, I was pissed off and needed a piercing done, so I went to Becky at SheWizards. She apprenticed under my ex boss, and I often let her practice piercings on me. I knew her abilities, and also knew she would be quite enthusiastic to see me, as well as pierce me.
I called her up once SheWizards was open, told her I wanted my vertical done, and she told me to come in at 3. After finding a ride to Cold Lake, I arrived there, and spoke with her and one of the other workers there while she finished her smoke. I told her how I was fired and she just told me she already knew.
When we went inside, she had me fill out the paper work, and then informed me even though I wasn't working at SheWizards, or the other shop (SheWizards was originally owned by my old boss, so the shops were close and even had christmas parties together), I would still get the staff discount and only have to pay $25 per piercing.
Her room was already set up for the piercing, and we used the natural "split" line on my lip (I had split my lip so many times from them getting chapped that there is a line perfectly down the centre of my lip). After she marked it off, and I was happy with the placement of the top (I wanted it farther back then most people), she got to work on clamping it. The clamp was difficult for her, because my lips were larger then any she had pierced, and she couldn't see the bottom mark without moving the clamp. In the end, a comment made outside the room had me laugh and my lip moved to the perfect spot in the clamp accidentally.
"deep breathe in" place the needle on the bottom mark "And breathe out" needle goes through.
The jewelry was quick, and like with every other piercing I have gotten, as soon as the Jewelry was in, it felt like a huge pressure was taken off my piercing.
After that was done, I asked her to do an offset lip piercing, but we ended up taking it out because it was done at an angle and kept catching on my teeth. In the end, I paid her $50 so I could come in and get my offset lip done again and not have to worry about money. I also gave her a hefty tip that se refused to take all of, and said instead to take just $10.
My care was rather simple. I avoided drink beer or wine like with any oral piercing (even though a vertical lip is technically not an oral piercing, the yeast would still irritate it), and kept it clean with a q-tip and warm water. I think I did only one of 2 sea salt soaks, and I didn't clean it with anti-bacterial soap (though a good one is spectro-gel. good for tattos and piercings!). But in the end, it healed quickly. Ok, maybe not healed, I don't feel like seeing if it will close up! But it settled down quickly, and its been just over a month and I have no problems with it. Crusties are gone, no pain. Surprising because I have a habit of playing with it!
All in all, it was a great experience and after 5 years waiting, well deserved. Advice? Make sure you know the place you go is sterile, the training the piercer went through, don't expect perfection everytime, people make mistakes, but don't go to someone if they just poke and go; not care about aftercare or how the piercing even turned out. And also, make sure they are enthusiastic and enjoy their job. The more they love their job, the more they aspire to do better.
Hope this was helpful!