What does it feel like? ( I know this isn't about a tattoo but this is done in a tattoo shop)?

Question

I want to get my tongue pieced tomorrow and I am terrified. I know it swells and that is pretty much what I am very scared about. What does it feel like? Does it hurt? Does it swell really bad? ( To the point it will swell so bad it will cut off my air way or I will have to go to the ER?) Are infections easily gotten with a tongue piercing? Someone please help me. Help me through this. (I already have my nose done) If that matters. I also have had my belly button done witch did hurt like hell. I had to take that out. Because of the swelling, what are some great ways to keep the swelling down....?

Answer 1

I was also very nervous b4 I got mine done too but it's normal to feel that way. It doesn't really hurt that bad and its definately not gonna swell until it cuts off your air supply but it does swell up some and will stay that way for a few days.I also have my nose pierced and I think it hurt worse then my tongue. But I suggest you get some ice or popsicles it will help w/ the swelling. And rinse it out with some alcohol-free mouth rinse( I suggest Crest Pro-health rinse) after each time you eat or smoke and you really should be fine. I've had mine done now for 6 months and I just love it. Hope this helps!! Good Luck!

Answer 2

Tongue piercing initially doesn't hurt(at least mine didn't the two times I got it done. The first time, I got bored with it and took it out and I got it redone a few months ago in the same spot). Make sure that when the piercer tells you to stick out your tongue that you stick that baby out as far as it will go and that the piercer marks it towards the middle and not the tip. The farther in the middle it is, the less likely you are to have problems speaking. I spoke normally even when the swelling set in. The swelling afterwards does hurt a bit, but taking tylenol helps immensly, making any pain hardly noticeable. Drinking anything icey cold really helps with keep the swelling at bay-especially water. For calories, the Icees from Burger King or 7/11 are really good. Just be sure to keep a small bottle of (I recommend wintergreen flavor) Listerine on ya. Also, get some Glyoxide to apply in the morning and then again before you go to bed, because it really does speed up the healing process.
Don't be scared. There is really nothing to it. You will feel GREAT after you get through it.

Answer 3

Ok, I'll tell you this. My tongue is currently pierced and this is the second time I've had it done. I had a job that didn't allow me to have one so I took it out and the hole closed. Yes, your tongue will swell but it doesn't get so bad as to close off your airway. What I found worked for me was to try to drink cold drinks as often as possible or if you can stand it, let some ice melt in your mouth. It should keep the swelling down to a manageable level.

Here's what I experienced when I got mine done: The piercer told me to stick my tongue out as far as I possibly could and he clamped onto it with his tongue clamp( sorry I don't know the technical term for it) and told me to brace myself because here it came. 1-2-3 and the piercing was through the bottom of my tongue. It didn't really hurt that bad because it happens so quickly. Then I had to keep my tongue stuck out while he grabbed the top ball end and screwed it on. And I was done. All in all, it doesn't hurt that much, it's over before you have a chance to experience any unbearable pain.

I don't get any more infections with my tongue pierced than without. My piercer told me to get some original Listerine and dilute it with water and wash my mouth out with that every time I ate. Personally, I can't stand the taste of the original Listerine even diluted so I bought the blue Listerine and I can tolerate it undiluted. It will help prevent any local infection of your piercing site. My swelling only lasted for a day and a half. Have any more questions, feel free to email me.

Answer 4

I got my tongue pierced on a whim when I was 18 (I'm 26 now). First off, ice water will be your best friend for about 3 days. After that, you may be able to eat some normal food. Listen to what the piercer says about aftercare. Go out and buy a few travel sized bottles of mouthwash and keep at least one in your purse. Keep fingers, pens and other people's parts out of your mouth for at least 2 weeks. That's the primary source of infection right there. The swelling differs from person to person. My friend got hers done the same day I did and she was eating a Big Mac that very night, while I was pretty much on a liquid diet for 3 days. It's going to ache for a few hours; I didn't get much sleep my first night afterward. Good luck and remember, it's not permanent. If you end up hating it, all you wasted was money. :)

Answer 5

i had mine done a little over a month ago now. it was healed in two weeks and i have changed the bar a million times since. the first couple days are a bit intense... you need to relearn how to eat, and yes, it swells. but no it wont cut off your airway. think of how many people get this piercing a day. they wouldnt all be getting it if they couldnt breathe after! the piercing hurts just like any other. a pinch and its over; but it does hurt more than a navel piercing. the swelling will last a few days, but thats why they put a long bar in for the initial piercing. i highly suggest going to your local drugstore and getting gly-oxide, and using it as mouthwash 3 times a day. only use listerine springly, after you eat... it'll turn your mouth white! as for swelling, aspirin and ice. and no, infections are pretty rare... i got so frustrated the first couple days though, between the swelling, biting the bar, and learning how to eat, that i almost took it out. but its worth it to stick it out for a week. good luck and i hope you love it!

Answer 6

I personally do not have my tongue pierced but I do have other piercings; eyebrow, lip, monroe. Being that two of those are oral piercings I'll hand over some advice. I also took my best friend to get her tongue pierced and since she lived with me, I saw her aftercare habits aswell.
When they say mouthwash, they mean it!
Immediately after you leave the tattoo shop you shop go invest in mouthwash. They should explain the kind you should use, but generally make sure its an antiseptic mouthwash. You'll have to water it down a little cause it can be a bit harmful to your piercing.
Rinse your mouth after you eat, everytime. Don't skip just once, just because you only drank something.
Anything with yeast is bad. [If you're female, think yeast infection but in your mouth!] That includes breads, beer, and so on, so make sure you read labels!
Gargling with salt water I would assume helps a lot since with all my piercings that is the general aftercare product, sea salt. They make this stuff called h2ocean, which I used. I'm not sure it helped with any of my piercings but its the sea salt base. Your tattoo shop may or may not carry it. If they do, I would suggest getting some, and yes it is orally safe.
My friend says that chewing on ice really did help the swelling.
If your tongue becomes infected you could come into very serious problems, so remember to follow all instructions they give you, the Do's and don'ts!
Good luck with your new piercing :)

Answer 7

I wasn't as scared as you seem to be when I got mine done.. There's really no reason to be. :P

If you have your nose pierced, this should be a cake walk. The clamp is honestly most painful. You drool a bit right after the piercing, lmao, so be warned. And you do swell. But it's nothing badbadbad like you're imagining. You won't have to go to the ER. Lol. Eat ice and take Advil and your swelling won't be that bad.

Swish your mouth with a mouth wash that doesn't have any alcohol in it twice a day and also everytime after you eat. Brush your teeth.. And basically, two weeks after your piercing you'll be looking back thinking that you were crazy for being as scared as you are. :P

Answer 8

Well, first off I have to say that my piercer screwed up mine. He used a 'normal' length bar as opposed to a long one to allow the tongue to swell. The piercing was, I guess what I expected, painful, forced, quick, and blunt. But once the swelling began, oh my god. It was awful... I could hardly eat, and spoke with a lisp until it went down after a few weeks. I didn't know that he screwed up until I started looking for different barbels to put into my tongue. I read up on the normal size for piercing and the normal size for everyday use after the hole has healed....he used the same. Bleh. Wish I had been more informed before I went in. Ice cream and cold foods always helped to ease and numb the pain.
But anyway, I've had my piercing for 3 years and love it now.

Answer 9

My suggestion, as I've had my tongue pierced for almost 8 yrs is to invest in Motrin and ice. Take 800mg of motrin, this is prescription strength, before you get it done and every 8 hours after for several day it is a pain reliever and anti inflamatory so it helps on two fronts. When using ice be careful not to suck the ice crush and hold it in your mouth otherwise you could damage the piercing. As for mouthwash, my suggestion is Biotene which Wal-greens carrys as it is anti-bacterial but does not contain alcohol which can inhibit healing. As i recall the pain was hardly a problem it tends to be a very quick piercing more uncomfortable than anything with your tongue stuck out drooling everywhere lol. All in all you should be totally healed in about 30 days. Just remember if you have any questions dont hesitate to call your piercer.

Answer 10

I was very nevouse to get my tounge pierced...i talked to a bunch of people who had it done, they told me it wasnt bad and just decided to do it...
once, the needle went through, all my nerves settled be cause it really didnt hurt, it was just a pinch...
my naval hurt worse then my tounge...
To help with the swelling, go to sonic(or somwhere that has crushed ice) and just get the biggest cup you can, carry it around with you for a few days, constantly putting the ice in your mouth, it works wonders...

do not let anyone tell you not to do...also do not do it for anyone other than yourself...if you want it done...DO IT!!!
After it heals for a while, you can put a retainer in it so on one can tell it's there if your worried about work or school or what ever...I hope this helps....Good Luck!!!