tongue piercings - facts

[Swizz]

• how much does it cost?
• what age do you have to be?
• does it hurt?
• how long to heal?
• it is hard to talk for a while?
• do u have to wait for 6 weeks til u can kiss again?
• is it done with a gun/clamp?
• does it damage your teeth?
• IS IT WORTH IT??

i really want my done! but want to be sure of all the facts. thanks

[HAnn521]

I'm American...but I'll answer (I had a tongue piercing for a while) and perhaps it helps...

• in the US, between $30-$60
• here, at least 18, or have a legal guardian sign for you
• it did not hurt me, and it didn't even bleed
• it took mine about a week to heal enough to feel comfortable with it
• it was not hard for me to talk normally, in fact, no one noticed unless they saw it
• i was told not to kiss for at least 4-6 weeks, only because of the soreness/healing factor
• it is done differently everywhere, mine was done with a needle, which in my understanding, is the best way to get it done
• it will not damage your teeth, unless, you constantly rub it across your teeth, playing with it, or if you are careless and happen to chip a tooth (very rare)
• i had fun getting my peircings, i have a high pain tolerance and to me, it is a thrill and it's a great way to satisfy your craving for something wild, but still me temporary! (not like tattoos, it heals just fine if taken out)

Have fun... Take care of yourself, and good luck!

 

[jridgeback]

The question you forget to ask is - Why would anyone want to get it done ? It looks HORRIBLE and could also cause you pain not only short term, but when eating.

[jkkerr]

I agree, tongue piercing is totally pointless.

Also, some people have developed infections and had to have parts of their tongue removed...is the risk worth it?!

[Gilli]

I have a pierced tongue. Can't remember how much it cost, maybe �30? It didn't hurt exactly .... obviously you have to stick your tongue out and it's clamped with forceps which you are asked to hold (!), but I also had to swish an anaesthetic mouthwash around my mouth beforehand. What you feel is a tugging sensation and, what freaked me a bit was the sound as it was pierced.

Have never had any infection - and the soreness a few days after was bearable. I did find though that I lisped for a while till I got used to this strange foreign object and eating was similarly difficult for a short while as your tongue does swell.

I don't think kissing was affected for too long !

It is not done with a gun - at least mine wasn't.

My teeth haven't been damaged at all - it is far enough back that I have to purposefully stick my tongue forward to catch my teeth. Eating with it is no problem either now - the occasional toffee might get temporarily stuck on it !

So far as risk is concerned it goes without saying that you go to a reputable, long-standing and ideally recommended piercer. If the studio looks dirty, go elsewhere - and check you get a new needle opened in front of you. They should also give you care advice (like gargling with salt water) and invite you to come back if you have any concerns.

As to whether it's worth it - that's a very personal thing. I like the fact that I look reasonably conventional but have this little secret.

[rainhopper]

In the UK the average price is �30-�35 usually with a free change down bar after the initial swelling has gone. You would have to be 18 to have it done in the good piercing studios.

The piercing itself is over in seconds and you feel only a short sharp pressure which was not painful. Mine didn't  bleed, but some people have some blood which stops shortly. It takes about 4-8 weeks to heal but it is as if it is healed after about 3 weeks as the swelling goes and you can eat and talk just as before.

You have a slight lisp for about a week, but it goes once the long bar is changed over for a shorter one. The tongue is always pierced with a needle and is clamped whilst it goes through which does not hurt, just pinches.

Teeth damage only usually occurs when the tongue is pierced close to the tip, the barbell is left too long and the wearer clacks the bar against their teeth and plays with the jewellery. To minimise damage you can wear acrylic or PTFE balls.

And yes, having my Tongue pierced was one of the best experiences of my life. I would say GO FOR IT!! It's such an easy piercing. It it really does frustrate me when people quote these horror stories about infection and permenant pain/ damage. This is EXTREMELY rare and only occurs when the piercing is carried out by an inexperienced, a bad, or unhygienic piercer. And infection is always a result of putting dirty hands near the piercing, being lazy with the aftercare routine (which is easy) and not rinsing the mouth after smoking whilst healing.

These sites are a wealth of info, and will tell you everything you want to know:

www.bmezine.com

http://www.bodyjewelleryshop.co.uk/forum

Hope you decide to go for it and have loads of fun when you do!!

[estie]

Well, just to throw my 2 cents in... my sister had her tongue pierced, and I saw her 3 months later (she lived far from home) and knew immediately just from how she spoke. She had a lisp and sounded really stupid. She took it out after another few months with no lasting damage, btw.