body piercings

The day finally came, I had dreamed of it for years. The Monday after my 18th birthday I was going to get pierced. I won’t go into detail about how my parents hated the idea, or the trouble I got into for doing it. Instead I want to share something more, something personal.

I got my best friend to drive me to the studio, another friend had told me they were the best in the area. They were right. Clean, friendly and just what I expected. I was nervous, I wasn’t scared of the pain but my adrenaline rushed as soon as I entered the glass doors. Andrea the piercer was busy with another client when I arrived so I waited, exploring the walls of tattoo flash to keep myself busy. A young man who apparently had come there many times before opened up the TV cabinet and began playing a game on the PS2, this lightened the mood as other customers came in. When Andrea was finished she took my information and cleaned her piercing station. When I entered I felt at home.

The station had a doctor’s table bed in the middle and a counter along the wall. The room was personalized with photos of her pets and lovely tapestry over the supply closet. I sat down awaiting my long deserved center Labret.

Andrea asked if I wanted a 16 gauge or 14. I said 14 and proceeded to ask if I could have a loop instead of a stud. She said yes and wrote down what she was using on what appeared to be an inventory sheet. She had waited to get out her supplies until I was inside her room. I really appreciated that, I got to watch her work. She poured some Crest Alcohol free into two small cups, placed some dye in a cup, then retrieved the jewelry and tools from her drawers. Everything was in a pre-sterilized package I was pleased. My friend stood by the door for support and waited patiently. She asked me to wash my mouth out for 15 seconds which I did immediately. I was ready. Pumped and running on a rush I hadn’t felt before.

I couldn’t help but notice her blue latex gloves fit her perfectly, Andrea was a tiny woman and it surprised me. I can’t even find gloves to fit me. She used alcohol swabs and washed under my lip then dried it. She scratched the toothpick inside of the cup with dye and proceeded to mark my lip. The first attempt wasn’t centered so she quickly re cleaned my lip and marked me again. Andrea let me look at the placement and explained that studs were usually marked lower and loops were worn closer to the lip. The placement was perfect and I sat back on the bed table. She moved her tool tray to the metal stand, the kind they use at doctors offices. The whole time she was polite and friendly, but not like a hairstylist or doctor who ask personal questions about school or work. She was more real, down to the point, and I liked that. She fluffed the pillow on the bed and asked me to lie down. Doing as I was told I laid down and she clamped my lip.

I’ve read many experiences on here where the clamps were the worst part, but not for me they didn’t hurt at all. Andrea got the needle and placed it to my lip. I closed my eyes and began to focus on my breathing. She asked me to take a deep breath and as I did she pushed the needle through. The pain was more of a pinch, then smooth and I could feel it bursting through the inside, tearing and pushing my flesh. I must have reacted as if I was in pain because she asked if I was alright. I was fine! Ecstatic even. The pain was there, but it wasn’t bad at all. It’s rather hard to describe. She placed a cork on the end of the needle, removed the clamps, and inserted the jewelry She used ring openers and closers to get the ball into the CBR. The whole time I was laying there I didn’t really think about anything. I noticed what she was doing and relaxed. Once the jewelry was in she told me that it would be large at first to accommodate for swelling. I asked how I would know what diameter to get later, if there was a way to measure it or if it was just a guessing game. She happily said that with the thickness of my lip I should use a 3/8s. Her experience in the field was a godsend. Andrea let me take a look at it and I loved it, it was indeed perfect. I washed my mouth out with the second cup of mouth wash and she told me I could return when the swelling subsided and she would fit me for new jewelry My mind was floating around, she explained the after care procedures but I missed some of them. I asked about brands of mouth wash, and a few pieces I had missed. She bagged my sea salt, mouth wash, and cleaning procedures sheet in a Halloween baggy. We went to the front desk, and I paid.

I feel bad now that I had been so absent minded, I had forgotten to tip her. However, when I return to get my jewelry changed I’ll tip her double. She was great. I hope that this experience will encourage others in this area of Kentucky to visit Electric Art (by the Fayette mall) and ask for Andrea. The overall price was affordable as well, $20 for the piercing and $10 for the jewelry

I had wanted my labret pierced since I was thirteen, I had always been interested in piercings but when I found BMEzine it was my savior. I studied up on what I wanted, read all the experiences I could and memorized the after care. I didn’t want it to be cool or to get noticed. This piercing was much more than all of that. All my life I have been interested in different cultures, as an aspiring anthropologist I’ve learned that every culture in the world has some sort of body modification. This piercing makes me feel connected, attached to something bigger than myself. I feel as if somehow with this ring I am a part of my ancestors. I have experienced, in a more modern way what many cultures have done for thousands of years. I don’t care what others think of it, I now feel whole. Those that don’t like it can stay away, I didn’t want to know them anyway. My piercing is now a day old and feeling fine, I don’t have any pain just a small tingling feeling. It’s swollen and healthy. For once I’m happy.

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