I`ve been into piercing since I can remember, starting with navel when I was 11, and moving to more fancy places, such as finger, horizontal tongue and few more. I`ve done myself about fifty piercings, most of which I still keep in.
At A Glance Author ala Contact xxxbubblegum@yahoo.co.uk When A year ago Artist Sara Studio Eclipse Location London It wasn`t enough though. I was after something more daring and special, something not everybody else had, so when looking through a body mods website (guess which one ;o) ), as soon as I came across the uvula, I went "Fuck! I`m sooo gonna get that pierced!".
That was step one. Only million more left.
It wasn`t one of those piercings I was capable of performing on my own. I had been pierced only twice before by any person other than me, so I knew it`d be difficult to find somebody I trusted enough to let them put their hands and a needle inside my mouth. I was also aware of the fact that only few piercers did that piercing, and I hadn`t met any of them before.
I started my search right away .
There are about 15 piercing & tattoo shops in the area where I work, so I had some ideas where to go. First off I tried a studio I trusted most in Camden - Eclipse. Guy who pierced that day wouldn`t pierce me, but I was told that Sara, the other piercer, might do and I should come after a few days. So I did, and although Sara was really into the idea, she said no. I was disappointed, especially that I got really good vibes fom her.
I kept looking.
Opinions on the piercing were various. Some "professionals" told me I`d choke and die, others just wouldn`t do that, but were really into it and asked me to come and show it when I get it done. There were also some willing to pierce me right away, not seeming to know much about it. Generally, the most frequent reaction was "you`re nuts!".
Within the next few weeks I visited most of good piercing studios in London and found no one who`d pierce me. The situation seemed hopeless, but I didn`t want to give up on the idea. I was determined to have it!
So imagine how happy I was when few weeks later I met Sara and she told me she`d given it a second thought and done some research on the subject and decided to do that! I run to the shop to set an appointment. Delilah, shop`s owner, gave me a good price of £30 and told me to come on Thursday, which left few days for Sara and myself to prepare, both physically and emotionally. We were knowledgable of the risks involved in the procedure and wanted to be well prepared. She had to find the most convenient and comfortable way for us both to perform the piercing, and I had to "exercise" my uvula touching it with a cottonbud to numb a gag reflex. I was so excited, I couldn`t wait!
Finally the Thursday came. I woke up very early, too bewildered to sleep. Advised by Sara, I ate very small breakfast, enough to keep me strong so I wouldn`t faint, but not to much so if I were to throw up onto Sara`s hands, it`d be liquid.
I worked that day, so just sneaked out for an hour for my appointment at 11am, previously encouraged by my workmate at the time (my best friend btw) who was almost as excited as me, even though she didn`t share my love for body piercing at all.
Off I went, butterflies in my stomach. When I arrived at Eclipse, I was kindly welcomed by all staff. Everybody was curious how it`d go. I was a bit scared, but they were very supportive.
Sara was already all set up. She showed me a 9/1.2mm ss BCR I`d soon have in. Then she went outside for a calming fag, and after she was done, we got to the piercing room to start the procedure.
I could see she was nervous, but damn, who wouldn`t? Important thing was, she was very caring, professional and attentive to my reactions, and that made me trust her.
She checked my gag reflex, which was rather nonexistent and told me to gargle some mouth wash for about a minute. Then she had me leaning forward over the back of the chair, while she sat on lower chair in front of me. This way, if something went out of her hands or the clamps, it`d fall out of my mouth, instead of going down my throat. The risk was, if I vomitted, it`d go all over Sara. But I didn`t take that possibility into account.
She drained my uvula with a cottonbud and when she tried to grab it with clamps, it was a bit difficult, as when I kept my jaws wide open, all the muscles were tightened and my uvula would just shrink and hide somewhere under the top of my throat. It took me a while to make my uvula just hang loosely down my throat.
Sara took ahold of my uvula with a pair of clamps, which was a bit uncomfortable. Then she grabbed a slightly bent needle with the ring fixed to it, which were clamped in straight hemostats. She put those in my mouth. "Right, I`m coming in", she said. Same second the needle is through! It wasn`t painful, I just felt a little burning sensation. She removed the clamps holding my uvula from my mouth and struggled with hemos to put the ring in, remove the needle and clip the ball. It didn`t take her more than 2 mins, but was more unpleasant for me that actual piercing. It felt like my throat was on fire and because of all the movement around my uvula, I even gagged once, but Sara had it under control. As soon as she removed her tools from my mouth, I ran to mirror to see the result, which I was incredibly happy with!
I was greatly surprised by the amount of time it`d taken. Before the procedure Sara`d warned me that I might have to spend half an hour sitting still with my mouth open, whereas in fact she was done after not much longer than 5 mins. Although it was first time she`d ever pierced uvula, she was more professional than you could imagine. She did everything perfectly. There was some feeling of accomplishment and we both were proud of ourselves.
Then came time to show it off to the studio staff (none of them were in the room). I had loads of photographs taken by Delilah and before I left, I was asked to come in the ev to check how the piercing was doing and if there wasn`t any significant swelling. Sara also told me to come to the studio every single day for at least a week, so she`d check it up. So I did, and sometimes she`d even pop in my work place to see me. I was amazed how much attention she paid me. Me and my uvula :o)
It didn`t swell much, nor was it painful. It just felt as if I had sore throat, but after 2 days that feeling was gone. As advised, I started with soft food diet, but soon I figured that I could eat everything, as long as food was chewed properly and I swallowed carefully. After a week I didn`t feel any pain at all, even when I swallowed hard food.
For first few days I`d gag very often, especially when bending my head down or running to the bus. Now it`s just funny tickling sensation.
I never had any problems with this piercing, maybe except for plaque on the ring, which every month or so I clean with an electric toothbrush, helping myself with clamps. It might seem pain in the ass, but doesn`t take more that 2 mins.
It`s been almost a year now and I`m still really happy with that piercing. I just sometimes wish I could talk to somebody who also has that piercing to share experience, but haven met such a person yet. But damn, it just proves how special it is :o)