It started in England, where some of my friends on a school trip Pierce left. 3 of them in the mouth. I found it was already schцn absolutely correct and was envious:) My parents were anything but thrilled and so was the first thematic done.

After seeing all the years since years have wanted to tongue piercing, I decided finally in 2005 to let deeds speak. Had it long enough gewartet.Ich had me on the Internet in some forums and also informed unzдhlige images viewed and then finally got an appointment with Andrea Venhaus of Deep Metal piercing studio in Dortmund made an appointment. Already 2 days after the phone call I could come scrumper piercing. The appointment was afternoon and I have to Unterstьtzung there with my mother made.

Once there, I was pretty nervцs. We put ourselves in the waiting area and Andrea Informationsblдtter still gave me the care instructions and the piercing login. I wrote the first Einverstдndniserklдrung and read the info Blдtter and then but still had to wait because a client before me was off. The whole lasted but not so long and Mдdchen came with her parents and get a new piercing. She said it quite wehtat. That made me at the moment still nervцser but they had one place to another and Andrea Pierce said the agency wдre generally somewhat painful.

Shortly afterwards, said Andrea, now that I come into the treatment room kцnne. I sat on the couch first and Andrea replied to me a few questions and erklдrte how the whole thing expire wьrde. Everything there was very sauebr and sterile. They withdrew gloves and put the things ready. Then my tongue was still reviewed and they said that a 19 mm rod wьrde at me as initial deployment entirely reichen.Dazu then 6 mm bullets login the beginning so that they are not in the tongue "slip" can rate if these swells. Then angezeichnet the point where the piercing is out. It had quite easily be schrдg razor, because my Zungenbдndchen, but I've already read a lot that this is normal and that many will be made. Above it is still very centered and it wьrde never noticed. I could then look in the mirror yet whether I liked the location. Everything was great and I am satisfied with the agency.

Since I was so excited and still am somewhat sensitive to what pain is concerned, I got the normal Mundspьlung still a Betдubung order to be relaxed. A spray with banana flavor. Quick has my tongue very numb angefьhlt and Andrea sat at the terminal. Although it was better now, I was still somewhat nervцs. (Had also read that some betдunbung despite the pains and had made me nervцs) There was still some minor regulated, so the location was really perfect. Andrea said it is happening and I should inhale deeply. I made the eyes and she pricked from bottom to top ide needle through and I really noticed them almost garnicht. So the needle is already one remembers how it goes by the tongue but it was absolutely not painful. Just a strange Gefьhl. I was very relieved that it garnicht wehtat! The needle was rausgezogen, and only the Kanьle blib still in the tongue. Andrea kьrzte they and the crew fдdelte On.

After a few seconds, everything was already finished and it had only the upper ball aufgeschraubt be.

By Betдubung I got my little tongue in the mouth and she had to downright the purely push with your fingers:) add the Gefьhl I had my tongue wдre now twice as thick.

I was so proud of me, to have done it and it has always been wьrde make. Dafьr hдtte I really do not need to be nervцs, it was harmless honest!

I did the same in the mirror Factory and the result was also fully satisfied. It has also barely bled just a tiny little hole on top.

Then, I needed only once the mouth with Listerine ausspьlen and already I could with my new Schmuckstьck go home.

I could hardly speak first because it was so unusual and I had the first hour because of something drooling Betдubung still worked. But even after the left did not hurt me first 4 plugs body.

Drink was also a little difficult but you gewцhnte quite fast turn.

The worst was actually the first night and the morning after. The tongue was very swollen and I had a kind Muskelkatergefьhl, which was somewhat uncomfortable. Food was not there, but after 2 days, then went slowly with soup and soft food.

3 days spдter I already have a kьrzeren rod, although only 1 mm but the fьhlte in the same mouthful very differently.

5 days to gabs already 16 mm and yet one week spдter 13 mm with 5 mm bullets. This is a very good GrцЯe and I'm still very happy with my piercing!

I live in Tyrol and everyone who ever was here weiЯ what's login eggs country live here. A Labret wдre login so many here quite a Sьnde. I've done it anyway, I was always very fashion conscious but have always maintained my own style. It is now about three months ago since I got here is solid. Last year, a friend of mine their Labret also make and I have thought back then that it looks easy class.

How ьblich I was broke again, I am impatient so I decided to send me the self-piercing bite. I therefore went into the bathroom and had geguckt in the mirror. I've got a good position after the piercing login anschlieЯend searched and a pen with a small dot in the right place marked. Then I went into the Kьche and got a few Eiswьrfel worried. As jewelry, I used an old earring that I had when Pierce my ears plugged into fresh Ohrloch was. In preparation I have also been on the eve sterilized a few times, but I wanted to go safe and have him in front of stinging again boiled in water.

When I had all utensils together Back I went into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. Then I've Eiswьrfel made against him and pressed my lips. After about 10 minutes then the body was numb, so I took a safety needle, picked deep breath and ... Go! I have gespьrt as the skin is eingerissen but it did not hurt. Then I took the earring and worked with me through my top lip. When I finally did it (the Eisnarkose lieЯ after) I have screwed the Abschlussstьck to Rьckseite it went so well, because my lip began anzuschwellen and looked in the mirror. I had a Labret! I could still do not understand that I really had done and was erschцpft but glьcklich.

A few days spдter my lip was still swollen. I used mouthwash and disinfecting tinctures and cleaned the whole approximately two to three times daily scrumper. My girlfriend wanted to persuade me that the piercing infect wьrde sure, but it has not done glьcklicherweise. At the beginning I was really careful and if I've had the opportunity cleaned every half hour.

Two weeks spдter my parents celebrated their wedding day and I went to visit them. They were a little shocked and especially my father went crazy, but hey, I'm 20 years old and no longer child, it was my own (wohlьberlegte) decision. If someone darьber me today asks, I say still that it is probably better if the money is invested and run by a professional make lдsst. My piercing looks but in any event class.

With my job, everything ran smoothly. Glьck had. I was on nдchsten day bombarded with questions, but especially my boss has it cope. He is a smile not resist can rate, but I suppose that my lip 8 plugs body was swollen. When the swelling zurьckging I ьbrigens the Endstьck nachgeschraubt, that was the first day still fairly loose.

In the meantime, I've me a silver ring hineingetan, looks better. If I nдchste time in Innsbruck am, I must give me a nice jewelry login this very special place as well. Maybe a spike or a ring, see the best from. Do I still ьberlegen.

My Labret auЯer my ears was my first piercing. But I have been more Plдne login. Maybe even a tattoo, which depends on how much money I have to Verfьgung. Maybe so, I am a Christmas gift. In any case, but I plan schцne many new piercings. My nose, maybe even my tongue. Perhaps my cheeks, but since I mцchte but first speak with my boss.

Hmm, maybe a few tips and tricks all the login is also a safety pin to try. My first tip: ask you again whether you really can not go into a studio want. For me everything is running smoothly but somehow I weiЯ that I probably had quite a lot Glьck. If you add the piercing regelmдЯig clean, especially if the wound is still fresh! That should you but your brain healthy house said. As a general rule wьrde I say, depending цfter the better. When hygiene is probably not ьbertreiben.

Especially important in winter, this is just a tip of persцnlicher me, I've never read it yet. As long as the piercing is fresh, no scarves made of wool or any other material which cause kцnnte Fussel. If this comes into the wound is not so advantageous.

Oh, and last but not least, make sure you with the piercing not too much around as long as it is still fresh. Natьrlich, it is tempting, but it irritates the wound only unnцtig.

One anticipates to say: I am not the typical boy and I like piercings are not extreme, but they mьssen дsthetisch and schmьcken me. Zwцlften since my birthday, when my mother finally Drдngen my earrings relented after I had a total of 4 Ohrlцcher into the right and 2 into the left ear and make "correct" gepierct are my belly, my tongue (two Stьck) and my nose (Nostril right).

What else affects facial piercings in somehow, I found that a Labret somehow not fit to me and others like eyebrow or septum ('m no beef) can not come into question. Moreover, I am a shit what needles are concerned.

4 weeks ago I met a long time after my best friend Denise again, the intervening after Dьsseldorf was withdrawn. Shortly dumbbells barbells before I left there I still had my langersehnten Rastazцpfe make and it was vцllig ьberwдltigt from my look, they still did not know.

When we evening in the town were underway came to us a charming Mдdchen opposite. When she came nдher we saw in your face on the left upper lip piercing with a rhinestones sparkle. When we spдter with a glass of champagne darьber maintained I knew that I have had absolutely piercing and Denise felt that I have this super wьrde. Especially the feminine look, it was that I simply no longer let go.

Three days spдter - glьcklicherweise had it before my Rьckreise gklappt - then we went to the studio, where we first have been asked to wait. I was terribly excited because I am still a piercing "really in the face" I had to bite. After a while, I was then finally by Pierce in the piercing room asked, including a perfectly sterile impression was: So weiЯe tiles, a couch, clean shelves, etc. The Pierce saw himself somewhat from wild, but did einensehr vertrauenserweckenden impression - very quiet , Left, and very friendly.

He then gave me everything zunдchst exactly erklдrt - preparing what he will do that he first anzeichnet with me the position of voting, as it then maintains, as long as it heals, etc. Then he asked me whether I have any Wьnsche the jewelry concerning hдtte - GrцЯe and nature of the ball also. He told me that he always Madonna with a stud pierct. So I told him that I login a 4mm ball with clear rhinestones decided hдtte.

Well, then I am so on this couch and tried to relax. The Pierce then - I had my login the left side decided - my lip and disinfected me with any Mundspьlung gargle leave from inside and outside the body and marked where he thought that it was correct and schцn. After him, I had my approval - nodding, because somehow I got no sound out - then came the really unpleasant part. With a piercing pliers, he then locked my lip and raised.

Then he has the needle, which he unwrapped and intervening on a tray next to him and has taken eingeredet reassuring to me that I have no need to fear. I should concentrate deeply and exhale wдhrend he talked. The trick was actually the easiest Ьbung because it came so unexpectedly that I could not even react. In Nullkommanix was the needle through it and put only the Plastikrцhrchen in my lip, which he then also kьrzte.

Well, he took the plug out of the box, pushed him inside the Rцhrchen and this with the plug out to the outside. After he finds the ball on the plug lip labret aufgeschraubt said he had now I can rate rise and the result in a mirror.

I did and at the same evening - we were once again drove into the town - surely a few hundred times. Everything what I had to login could reflect a brief glance saddled and I think I've never been so long on Stьck gegrinst.

The care was simple and the course of healing yet completely smoothly. Contrary to my expectation is hardly swollen lip and the connector is now, because he is an Stьckchen lдnger was selected, is now a bit too long, so I have a dead other times almost to have herumgekaut.

Nдchste week I kьrzeren me a plug and buy him go - probably even ne ball with a light blue stone.

I know a sure - this piercing was the best decision. Fьhle I am just completely and still can not leave me to look in the mirror. Unfortunately, we have wдhrend we had to wait in the Tattobьchern herumgeblдttert ... I know where yet, but the motive - a butterfly with a small right-Tribal us left - is already established. I tend to vielgeschmдhten ass antlers ...

Hello,
I hereby mцchte briefly describe how I came to my Medusa am. Since a few weeks I had increased desire to myself to Pierce. Since my lower lip would not bite again and I wanted to have piercing, here in the Pot trдgt not every guy I have a login Medusa Piercing decided and a good friend asked if she wanted to bite me. So she worried the needle, the jewelry I had already sterilize leave.

Day 1 - Effective date:

Yesterday afternoon, then she came to me, did the rest with things and I was plцtzlich very nervцs because premiums first "not professional" was piercing. So we just talked forever, whether, what, when, why, why not, etc. .. After some time I then with a felt-tip a point on the upper lip done at exactly the point at which I wanted to put the piercing.

Kaddy now turned against me, took the needle on hand and I can Rьckzieher made! Ome nights back and forth then I'm with the needle went into the bathroom and had the needle very slowly in front of mirror to my lip and applied just gedrьckt. I was amazed how my skin but widerstandsfдhig is, and how much pressure because it was working dumbells barbells. The needle penetrates but finally my skin and I could slow to move inside of the lip, but there arrived my fingers began to tremble too, and I got the needle is not weitergeschoben.

In the place I called Kaddy me into the bathroom and asked them, the needle durchzuschieben - they did so and was finished the hole - and my eyes full Trдnen ...

Nдchstes as she moved the needle out, so that only the Kanьle stuck in the lip, it was then with a scissors gekьrzt so that only about 4 cm hose stuck in my lip ...

The nдchste problem, it was then that plug into the lip to get. After some Friemelei was also except those Hьrde taken the piercing and thus nearly finished - yet the ball well and unscrew wars :-)

Immediately afterwards, I have the whole natьrlich also photographed - who wants to can see it my gallery ...

The selberpiercen was wohlьberlegte me a login and relatively sorgfдlig planned action. I had all the materials in ordnungsgemдssen condition exists! So starts now, not to you as Lцcher in Kцrper to amchen if it has not been absolutely sure of what you as how and where to make mьsst!

What's login bite me on myself was very interesting, it was the experience to make myself to ьberwinden, the needle further into the lip to bite, although the pain was always stдrker.

Day 2:

This morning was the piercing absolutely in order, after I have before going to bed again with Octenisept had cleaned. Even the Frьhstьcken etc was unproblematic.

At lunch, however, the ball gelцst and I fell into the noodles. I immediately with another connector from the outside into the lip around the hole eingefьhrt not to lose - this alone was already more painful than the actual Pierce! Shortly afterwards, then the upper face is swollen and the crew was questionable closely, so I am spдten afternoon on eienn still lдngeren PTFE - Labret - Male had changed. Now the ball back on the outer side of the upper lip and is located just inside the small Plдttchen, so that now no stцrendes Gefьhl occurs on the gums. Beimpfeiffen Lutes and stop there at the moment because of the swelling ncoh a couple of problems, but I think that it is set as soon as the swelling zurьckgeht.

Now, about 26 hours after the upper pricking ncoh although a little swollen, but by far not as strong as today afternoon shortly after the incident while eating. Let's see how it is on the third day anfьhlt.

TAG3:

Today, I had no more problems, which is swelling from the previous day zurьckgegangen and the plug has a lot of game again. Unfortunately now he is scratching at the easy laughter at the gums, so I nдchsten him in the days kьrzen, so that this problem is resolved. Pipes goes again (with slight Einschrдnkungen). Kьssen When it's currently very ncoh hindrance, ebendso it wдhrend of eating the цfteren before that when I bite off from bread still slight coordination problems with the upper lip and did recover from the Spaghettis is also the moment yet not simple - but since I already know from my Labret is, I have great hope that this problem in the nдchsten days will determine ...

So, now what about general Pierce home:

Everyone should be clear that we at home are not the same as simple hygienic Zustдnde can produce nipple shield, which are in a ordentlcih gefьhrten piercing studio can attest.
In addition, that Pierce has more experience is like a piercing razor must be so that no complications coming! Who but to decide themselves to Pierce should at least Mьhe make the right equipment to perform UDT by Gesprдche with other Gepiercten, by reading reviews and other information about the gewьnschte piercing prepare. Nor should you go through something never alone, so that in the event that something goes wrong, there is someone who is the Gepiercten kьmmern can.

piercing fetish Piercers generally advise using a sea salt rinse (1/4 teaspoon per 8 oz./250 ml of distilled or boiled water) (proportionate mixes are marketed and sold by some companies) or a medical saline rinse, which could be placed in a small glass and held on the piercing for about 10 minutes, not more than twice a day. The solution could also be soaked into a cotton ball and used to gently cleanse the piercing twice a day. Regular table salt can be substituted for sea salt which in it's most expensive forms contains many impurities. Overcleaning and use of inappropriate cleansing agents are common causes of irritation and redness in a piercing. Cleaning the piercing 2-3 times a day should be sufficient. Epsom salt diluted in water is also very effective in the healing process or when swelling and pus, or other signs of a possible infection develop. Another technique is sometimes practiced in which a new piercing is left to heal completely on its own without any cleansing, under the philosophy that the body will treat it as any other minor wound. This is commonly called the LITHA method, which stands for "Leave It The Hell Alone." Piercers who use this method compare the healing process to getting stitches to heal up surgical wounds. Since one wants the body to accept the jewelry and create a clean, firm fistula, piercers who use this method advise that any solution or chemical could irritate the piercing, cause rejection, and promote scarring and keloids. Other cleansing solutions piercers sometimes recommend are: Bactine®, Betadine (discolors gold), Hibiclens (May cause eye damage, may irritate the skin), Dettol and Tea Tree Oil. For the most part, piercers agree that hydrogen peroxide and isopropyl alcohol are effective in sanitation but are too strong for fresh piercings and often result in irritated piercings or excess scar tissue. The debate over what constitutes proper aftercare is belied by the simple fact that a healthy clean piercing that isn’t made to become irritated through harsh treatment (of any kind) will almost always heal perfectly; but personal preferences will vary.
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Well, I woke up Friday morning, I was still recovering from the flu but because my friends who I haven't seen in ages was going to visit me a school I decided to go to school. As the day rolled on I decided to skip last period and go to the piercing shop and get a piercing, and being 16 I didn't need parental permission to get a piercing, I wanted to get an uvula piercing, so I looked through my bag to see if I had my wallet, knowing me and how disorganized I am I didn't have it. I was so pissed off because I really wanted to get a new piercing. So while I was in visual art I hid under the desk and rang my mum and ask her if that on her way to work she can drop off my wallet, mum was shitty but said she would.
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At lunch I was waiting around my area for my mum to arrive and for my friends. As I was looking around I saw them walking up the hill in the distance, I ran down the hill and jumped on them, then walked back up to my area. A little while after my mum arrived and I got my wallet, so I put on my black jumper to hide my school shirt and I was off into town to get a piercing.

It was about a 20min walk which felt longer, but so worth it. We started walking to the ATM when I saw my boyfriend, Warren, and Jesus, because I was sick Jesus walked of because he didn't want to get sick. So it was Jessie, Vanessa and Warren and I walking to the ATM for me to get some money out, went to the ATM got out $50 didn't think I would need any more than that, then walked to the arcade where Cooloola Tattoo and Piercing was.

We walked in and Amon was in there and I asked him if he was able to do an uvula piercing, and he said that he wouldn't trust himself to do it and he didn't have the equipment to do it but said I should go to one in the City if I wanted it done. I was a little bit disappointed but I understood strange body piercing.

Because I was in there and I didn't want to leave without getting a piercing I was asking my friends what they think I should get, cause uvula was the only one I really thought about getting, my friends didn't know what I should get so I asked Amon, and he said that he hasn't done Industrial for a while, and so I said ok lets do that. I asked how much it would be and he said $60 so I had to get Warren to got to the ATM and get some money out for me. Amon started measuring up my ear for the bar, when he found the right bar he put it in the autoclave to be cleaned. It took about half an hour. I was a little restless because I either had to catch the bus to school and be in time for my bus or walk to school and might miss my bus, but warren said that if I did miss my bus that his mum could take me home, I was happy about that. So still sitting there Jessie and Vanessa had to go an catch there bus so they couldn't watch me get my ear pierced, but I told them that we were going to film it so they can watch that.
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Everything was set and ready to be done, I was sitting in the chair, my Boyfriend was standing there with my camera ready to film and Amon was there ready to jab things in my ear. Amon cleaned my ear then started placing the in and out holes for this piercing, Warren had no idea when to start filming and looked like he was in shock, Amon started placing the clamps, he put the first one on and while he was putting the second one in I had to hold the first cause he didn't have enough hands, after that was done he got the needle and started pushing it through, I heard the first pop then he lined it up and pushed it through the second side, after he did that I new it was time to put the bar in, I was kind of dreading this part because when I got my nipple done it hurt putting the bar in more than the piercing its self, but I didn't even feel it at all I was amazed. I turned around to look at the mirror and I was so happy. It looked awesome. As soon as I left which was 3, I had already missed the bus to school so I had to walk, luckily I made it just in the nick of time to catch the bus, and I freaked out my little brother by showing him the video, but now he wants one. Well that's my story of a totally unplanned piercing, I am so glad I got it, every time I got to work I have a new piercing to show them. They love it I swear.

more: tattoos and piercings belly button piercing tattoos online strange body piercing Q: I had my nipple pierced three weeks ago. It was healing really well. I was using TCP to keep it clean...however now it is not going to well.

I woke up one morning and it had obviously discharged loads! So much so that my nipple had stuck to my bra. Its wasn't a gross discharge, but very crusty every day and there is almost a scab like on one side of the hole.

Now when I spoke to a friend who also had their nipple pierced they were shocked that the piercer told me to use TCP - they said that it is too strong for such a deep piercing. That's when I moved to salt water. It stings loads when I use the salt water and it does for a little while after.I really really don't want to take it out because I love it!!! Do you think in time (because I know the healing time is 6 - 8 weeks) that I will be okay?

A: First of all, any antiseptic like TCP is not good for a piercing. Definitely stop using that. Your piercer never should have recommended it.

Second, if you were wearing a bra and suddenly overnight your piercing started having problems, it's not like you could have accidentally snagged it, so unless you did something to snag it just before going to bed, my suspicion would be that maybe you are having a problem with the jewelry, but let's try just treating it for a few days first.

Just use a MILD antibacterial or better, antimicrobial liquid soap to clean it. Provon and Satin are the best, but I don't know if they are available in your area. Do that twice a day and then follow with a sea salt soak. (If your sea salt soaks burn/sting, you're using too much salt. It should be a very weak/diluted concentration of sea salt and water. Sea salt soaks should feel soothing and provide relief. If you don't want to mix your own sea salt water, you can also use sterile saline solution. Then rinse it thoroughly after the sea salt treatment.)

Do this for 4 days and see how it goes. Unless of course it get worse and you think it could be infected - in which case, don't waste time - see a doctor. But if it doesn't get nasty or hot or extremely painful, you should be OK. After 4 days, you should notice a significant improvement. If not, then it's time to blame the jewelry.

I'm not sure I would recommend you go back to whoever pierced you, seeing as they recommended the TCP in the first place. So, try to find another professional piercing shop and tell them you are having a reaction to your jewelry and you need to try something else. You may have inferior steel and just need a higher grade, or you may need to upgrade to niobium or titanium. The piercer should be able to help you with that decision.

I was really looking forward to getting my nose professionally pierced for a very long time. The day I go into the shop, I find out that you have to be sixteen to get a piercing. So I went out and bought three nose studs. I said to myself "I am going to do it myself. It cant be that bad, since I kind of like pain." I tried once, but chickened out...I had had alot of caffine, too. So I was shaky.


The second try was of course a success. I was mad because my first try (about two weeks before) was a flop. So it was about 3AM and I decided that I was gonna do it, no if's and's or but's. I grabbed my chosen needle (A needle with a pearl end, so if I dropped it i would find it, and so i could pull it out.) and put everything in rubbing alcohol.


After about a half hour I just decided it was now or never! I grabbed the needle and angled it right where I wanted it and pushed as hard and fast as i could without being reckless, because i was being careful. I made it through everything with a little pain...enough only to make my eyes water. The only problem was that last layer of skin before I was through. I couldn't get through it! I finally pinched it and SHOVED as hard as I could! It popped and came right through!


So i sat around for a half hour rubbing alcohol on it with the needle still in. It was kind of nasty to pull out because of the skin being pulled, but I pulled it out fast and quickly put the nose stud in. I had a little trouble getting it through that last layer of skin (haha, go figure) but it went okay. I was so proud because the angle was perfect and I had actually done it!!


Now it has healed and it's still hangin in there! I have a 16 gauge horseshoe ring with spikes in it now (blue and silver) and everything is perfect!
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I lie, it's not my first piercing. I had my ears pierced with a gun in the middle of the mall 10 years ago. Not a great experience. Those are long gone. So, I haven't had a needle poked through my skin in quite a while.

It was late 2005 when I decided I wanted a facial piercing of some sort. At first it was the lip, then nostril, then tongue when my office banned visible facial piercings. I kept putting off the tongue piercing because I didn't have the money or I wasn't 100% sure. Eventually I decided that it wasn't visible enough and therefore it wasn't worth it.

The septum piercing, of course, can be quite visible or hidden away. Also, it's adorable. But I'm not sure when I decided "Septum? That's the piercing for me!" It was roughly a week before I got it done. Should I have given it more thought? Perhaps. Do I regret it? No. Not yet, at least.

Tuesday. I called the most reputable tattoo/piercing shop in the area (Hot Rod) and asked about flipping it up/hiding it and how negatively that would affect healing. As I'm far from experienced in piercings, I was (and am) quite concerned about the healing process. The receptionist was very sweet and put me on the phone with the piercer who said that it wouldn't heal all wonky-like but it would slow the healing process if I kept messing with it. I was okay with that.

Wednesday. I finally worked up the courage to make an appointment. Not necessary, but I figured I'd chicken out if I didn't have it in writing that I'd be there. Again, the receptionist was very nice and reminded me to bring my ID. Easy enough. I wrote myself a note: "Saturday - Hot Rod - bring ID!" My roommate later added, "And courage!" That was the difficult part.

Thursday. I looked at lots of pictures. Some of them made me squeal with delight. Some disgusted me. I started to fear that it wouldn't look right on me. Nausea.

Friday. I read some personal accounts. More nausea.

Saturday. At this point, I had spent so much time thinking about it, talking about it, worrying about it, and picturing it on my own face, I think I would have had it done just to have it done.

My roommate drove (thank God) and I took the time to calm my ass down. The closer it got to 3:00 the more relaxed I was. There was a fleeting panic when we reached our destination and for the first time I thought, "Maybe I'll cancel my appointment," but I got over it.

Inside, it wasn't exactly what I'd pictured. There were a lot of people standing around staring at the artwork on the walls. I froze near the door and my roommate had to push me through the crowd and to the desk. I told the guy at the desk that I had an appointment and he first said, "You don't sound too excited about it." I said something about feeling like a douchebag and he said something nice and handed me the forms.

There was a short wait-- probably 10 minutes-- during which one of the artists tried to find a nice way to say I looked like his brother and another one giggled about my name (which is made famous by a movie.)

My roommate and I checked out the used CDs and despite the death metal playing in the background, I found myself calming down even more. Finally, a man came out and pointed at me and motioned for me to follow him. I made sure my roommate could come along and we walked down the hallway and into the piercing area.

There was a doctors office type bed in the middle of the room that he had me sit on. He asked what kind of jewelry I wanted and I said I needed a bit of guidance. The nerves kicked back in at that point and I looked at my roommate and whispered, "Why am I doing this?" But in under a minute we had decided on the horseshoe piercing and he showed me a nice little 14g. I was pleased. Then he told me to lay down as he'd be working from over top of me. I was not pleased.

Talk about feeling out of control. I was very, very tense. I kept saying stupid things and I applaud the piercer for not punching me in the face. I was terribly annoying, I'm sure. But he tried to keep the mood light and I appreciated that.

He swabbed at my nose for what he called the "booger check" and apologized for the smell of the stuff on the q-tip. He felt around my nose with gloved fingers. I admit, I wasn't paying too much attention to the glove/cleaning process, but I've never heard ANYTHING bad about this place so I wasn't worried. I was more concerned with the fact that I was letting this guy POKE A HOLE IN MY FACE.

I asked him if he was going to warn me before he did it. He said he didn't usually but he could give me a 3, 2, 1... if I wanted. I wasn't sure what I wanted at that point. I wasn't even sure I wanted it done. So I told him to do whatever he wanted to do. "I want to go outside and sit down," he said. I thought that sounded grand but he proceeded with the belly piercing.

He got out the dreaded clamps. I had read a lot about these- and nothing good- so I was scared. He told me it was going to be uncomfortable. He clamped down on my septum and I kept waiting for more pressure. It never came. It didn't hurt at ALL. I wouldn't even say it was uncomfortable. I barely felt it. So that was nice. I started to get excited. I couldn't wait.

Until he got out the needle and my roommate gasped and said, "Jesus, I don't think I can even watch this." She had just gotten her second tattoo the day before, so this concerned me. I told her not to make a sound. Later, she told me that she had to stuff her fist in her mouth to keep from making any noise.

So, he didn't give me any warning and I think I liked it that way. I kept my eyes tightly closed and I felt a little poke. Some accounts I had read said it slipped right through, quick and easy. Others said you could feel it poke through every layer. Rather unfortunately, my experience was the latter. I wouldn't say it was painful, but it was certainly moderately uncomfortable. I just wanted it to be over with. It was annoying. I'd say that having the jewelry inserted was most uncomfortable. At that point, I really wanted his fingers out of my nose. I wanted to sit up and be done.

"Okay, sit up slowly," he said.

Yay! I did. To my left, there was a mirror. I was shocked to see how pale I was. My makeup looked SO harsh. My eyes were all red and there were still tears streaming down my face. I was a mess. But most importantly, I had a beautiful shiny piece of metal hanging out of my nose. My first thought: "AAHHHHH!"

My second thought: "Shit, I'm dizzy."

Considering there was very little pain involved and I hadn't been nearly as nervous as I was the days leading up to the piercing, I was surprised at how drained I was. I was very shaky and a little wary about the walk out to the desk to pay. But I made it just fine. We talked about aftercare but my head was still spinning so I watched my roommate to make sure she was taking it all in. I told her how shaky I felt and she told me that she couldn't even sign her name after she got her first tattoo. I initialed just fine, so I figured I'd make it.

I paid and tipped, and we headed for the door. On the way out, I saw a friend of a friend and I think she said, "Hey! What did you get? Oh, we're twins!" All I could say was, ":D"

We picked up some distilled water on the way home and I enjoyed getting strange looks from people in the grocery store.

There was some soreness for a couple of hours afterwards. Enough to finally make me say, "Damn, this hurts." But there was no swelling or bleeding or anything too horrible. And after a couple of hours, it felt just fine. The first time I soaked it was a bit painful and left me feeling a little shaky again, but 24 hours later I'm already forgetting that it's there.

Overall: amazing experience. The pain was so minimal I still can't believe it. And most importantly, it looks amazing. I'm already trying to decide what I want done next.