🌴Microbiology of Piercings🌴

🌴🌴Current piercings: Left helix, First and second lobes (L & R), Standard navel, Septum, standard tongue.🌴🌴

[ailovepiercings]

One week already?!

Yup! Its been one week since i got my tongue piercing. Hehe. I dont think too many people have noticed, some people have noticed and also not said anything hehe.

Im not entirely sure if swelling is completely gone or not yet so im going to wait a few more days/ another week to change out the bar. (*piercer said i can change the bar in about a week, either by myself or come back to the shop) I was just going to do it myself eventually.

But the bar isnt that super long, as it was before. It only sticks out about 1 or 2 cms when i flatten my tongue, otherwise if i make my tongue thicker (?) It hits both balls. But i think i just have a chubby/thick tongue. Hehe

Kinda as a side note, more microbiology side of this experience. I kinda brush my teeth and mouth wash after Every meal, or at least rinse my mouth out with water. I try to not over clean my mouth either, (*that's when the top of the tongue turns white or yellowish.) Personally my tongue had always been a bit white so its not something abnormal in my case. And i normally dilute my mouthwash. (*i use biotiene too).

Overall my mouth has been pretty healthy, although i smoke, and a few times ive ended up sharing a drink briefly this past week. I try to rinse my mouth out or mouth wash after wards. And i havent gotten any infection and my tounge is healing fairly nicely. Can't wait till it's healed, keeping my bf away from my drinks and food it so hard. Its like a puppy begging for food at the dinner table haha. We normally share everything ;×;

[ailovepiercings]

Day 2! Goofy faces, getting things done today! Waitimg to pick up my friemd to do an oil change for my car. Kinda getting crispy waiting in the sun haha. Anyway, still pretty swollen, but I can still talk alright. Little hard on some words, but im making it through the day. Its way easier than the first time. THANK GOODNESS!

[ailovepiercings]

So take 2 on my tongue piercing hehe. And I must say its waaaaaaay more comfy this time. First of all, I am over the flu so no more coughing. Second, I talked with my piercer and she angled the top ball forward this time, so its not perfectly vertical. Which is great because the bottom ball rest back towards my throat, not up front on my gums. YAY!!! And the top ball is also in a more comfortable position this time too. Im super happy. I can talk more easily than last time too!!! 😍😍😍 Which makes work easier! And I dont feel as…inhibited as last time. I dunno the bar just felt soooo long last time it was hard for me to maneuver, because the bar was longer than my mouth, and i couldnt close my jaws fully because of the bar. This time its angled more forward i dont have the same problem, its pretty much non-existent.

Idk how long I will keep this maybe a few years, i just wanted to try something different.

Also last tidy bit, I accidentally missed the day my bff pulled her last wisdom tooth, because I was staffing a convention (sat 03/03/18), so I did it as soon as I could after, which is today! (03/05/18). We’re still in a pretty close week of pain together. Hehe

[ailovepiercings]

New piercing coming soon!

So i finally got back in touch with a couple of my friends who also wanted piercings and we're planning to go really soon within a few weeks. And for this trip ill be doing my first nostril piercing. Hopefully this friday, so tomorrow? Or next week, not too sure yet.

Then sometime in perhaps May ill be piercing my second nostril (maybe, depends how the first one has healed), and ive decided to just redo my tounge piercing ill look into picking up dental insurance again. It's something i needed anyway.

*so funny story my best friend had to get her wisdom teeth pulled AFTER she wore braces, and she's so miserable because it's in sessions. And we have never been able to get piercings together, so i decided to pierce my tounge the day she is sched to pull out her last wisdom teeth. Kinda in solidarity because we can be miserable together for a week hehe.

[ailovepiercings]

Such a heavy heart

Sad to say I had to take out my tongue piercing. I ended up catching a super nasty cold and every time I would cough, it would hurt my piercing so badly, and I was coughing every 10 minuets. It was complete hell for me, and I lasted about 2 days. Which made me really sad, but grateful I wasn't in pain everytime I coughed. I am still getting over the same cold, and still occasionally coughing. I can't imagine having just toughed it out till the end.

But here's a couple pics below, from right after I took it out. I'm also a bit appreciative I took it out, because I realised it was a little off. The top ball would really dig into the left roof of my mouth, and the bottom part of the ball went straight through the webbing under my tongue, and ended up severing it, (but I can move my tongue fine, taste fine, no issues). Which I heard was a big no, and I'm not sure if that's why it was so painful when I would rest the ball or rest my tongue. One last thing, I'm pretty sure I would have worn down my gum line behind my bottom teeth, since I have a slight overbite, and a small mouth. So maybe catching a cold was for the better?

Well maybe if I still want to in the future I may attempt to retry and get it pierced, but for now I'll stick to something else. *still eventually getting a double nostril piercing next month, but at separate times.

Here's some pics from when I took out my tongue ring, really blurry, but the green circle is where the holes were.

[ailovepiercings]

Today was the day

I ended up piercing my tongue. It was something that I kind of always secretly wanted but was always too afraid to get.

Now, after getting it I'm hoping I can manage the week or two until the swelling goes down. It's very difficult to swallow anything, eating is hard but I'm a trooper haha. And once the swelling goes down, I'll hopefully be able to talk better, I can't really enunciate with a swollen tongue. I'm drinking quite a bit of ice water and letting small ice cubes melt on my tongue. Which feels so refreshing right now, especially with the pain and swelling.

The extra long barbell is kinda killing me though, but my tongue is swollen to both balls, and I was advised to wait 2 weeks to either go back to the shop to change or do it myself at home. I would rather go back to the shop, I'm always so scared the first time I change jewelry.

Anyway I'll try to post some pics and updates

Here's day 0 sore, swollen, and goodnight haha

[ailovepiercings]

Resolutions?

Not too sure if they count but, for the new year I really want to keep the idea of being and staying true to myself. And over the past couple of years I've kinda been "breaking out of my shell", so this year I want to do things that I've held off on, for one reason or another.

Resolutions

☆Drop 50lbs. (This is the year, I'm going to do it.)

☆Double nostril piercing (if the first goes well then I'll do the second. I've always wanted a double piercing, aside from lobes. In high school I wanted spider bite lip rings, but I had braces so I never got them haha.)

☆Tongue piercing (I've decided to just do it, if I don't like it I'll just take it out. Better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all. If I just do it, at least I've done it, and it's just a piercing so I can always just remove it one day if and when I decide to.)

I cant take any videos of my piercings but i will definitely share how the healing stages go, and some helpful tips and tricks to maintaining healthy piercings♡

Might go as soon as Wednesday for my tongue, but going in February with the girls for my nostril!

☆☆☆Happy new year everyone☆☆☆

♡♡♡And much love for the new year♡♡♡

View from a rooftop in kakaako. Best seats in the house last night♡

[ailovepiercings]

Tis the Season

Merry Christmas, happy holidays, been away for a while, but I threw a pretty fun Christmas party with a bunch of friends some I haven't seen in years. It was pretty good, went to my first event at HB where friends were djs. Pretty cool to see them and everyone else there too.

But anyways, updates! I got to talking with a few people and I'm thinking of getting a nostril piercing, the girl I was talking to has one, but wants a septum so we were going to get opposite of what we have haha. Idk when we're going but I am so game. I still have some reservations on a nostril piercing (oily skin, keloids, hypertrophic scars, etc), but I'll either work through it or let the piercing drain and I'll remove it and let it close.

Kinda also wanted to pierce my tongue but I feel like I'd get too much judgment from work at my age..... so I just don't think I will pierce it. I think if I do pierce my nostril though, it may be the last one I get. Not entirely sure, but at the moment I don't really have anything else I want. Haha.

[ailovepiercings]

Navel piercing update: First successful change!

So it's been almost 4 months since I've had my navel piercing done. (Done July 22, 2017). And I've somewhat been trying to change it to a shorter bar, because my swelling has gone way down, and the curved barbell I was pierced with has a lot of room. So I tried to change it out to a 10 10mm, but it was just a smidge too short! And i thought that most, if not all were about the same size. Thought it was a bummer and couldn't be able to use most of them, and I would habe to order new ones. However, I found out I did order some that were 11mm. That 1 extra mm made the difference, and I was able to change it to this lovely one. But since it does dangle quite long, I still can't wear it to bed, and I'll have to switch back to the bar I was pierced with, (unless I remove the danglely bits, however I'm pretty lazy.)

Anyway happy Thanksgiving, and watch out and be careful if you go shopping this weekend!

[ailovepiercings]

Lies!!!

Kay so I bought a bunch of horseshoe/ curved barbell in various sizes, (10mm, 8mm, and 6mm). For my septum and helix percings.

The 10 and 8 mm ones are too long and I can't flip them up for my septum. The 6mm is too narrow and I'm trying to buy some ring opening pliers to make it wider, so that I can flip it past my septum, (the skin between the two balls).

I'm still a bit pissed that I can't flip up any of my horseshoes, even though I have about 30+. The only piece I can flip up is the retainer that I was pierced with.

Blah whatever I can work around this

**the 8mm can flip up but it's really hard to get it to flip up. Then when I have to flip it down it's hard to reach and hard to get past my septum. It's easier when my nails are linger, or I have to use a qtip or tweezer.

*last note: I tried to change my belly ring today, found out the one I order (standard length) was too short!!! I had it in but it was not long enough to screw the ball in, so I had to take it out and put back in the one I was pierced with. Woe is me lol, back to square one I guess. I really wanted to upload new pics too. o3o

[ailovepiercings]

Happy Aloha Friday♡ I kind of "fixed" it, it was really uneven earlier, still kind of is, but it doesn't bother me as much. I really want to buy some cute dainty jewelry for it because one ring I order I accidentally dropped down a sink, and I lost my black segmented ring. I have torn up my room looking for it and i can't find it anywhere. ;A; I want to change my navel bar too, but I think it's still too early. (*however my piercer said I could change it after the first month, I don't think my body is ready for that switch yet, its still pretty "sensitive". Doesn't hurt but I notice it's still had signs it's healing.)

[ailovepiercings]

Trying on more of the septum rings I bought. This one I though I would love it, but it looks slightly crooked, and I think it's because of the way the gems are set. I would have still worn it for a while but, the clicker is really weak. It ended up falling out while I was reading. Definitely cannot wear this at night. So I switched back to my circular/spiral opal one I had on before. It's comfy, not too big, doesn't irritate my nose, so I'll stick with it for a little while.

[ailovepiercings]

I'm in LOVE with this combo, moonshine earrings with an opal septum ring😍😍😍 A few nights ago my bf's mom gave me some old jewelry, this was one of the earrings. I'm in love!!!

[ailovepiercings]

Okay I did it!!! I changed it out to a nice black segmented ring when I got home. I'm probably going to change it out to an 8mm, (it's a 10mm right now). Just because I like the look of barely visible septum jewelry. But I'll keep this cutie in for a while. That is until I can order the smaller rings.

[ailovepiercings]

Still sitting in the shop but I just got my retainer changed out!!!

[ailovepiercings]

I should probably stop hehe

So since life has calmed down a bit, I've been I guess I've actually had time to take care of myself and invest in new clothes and also piercings... I got my belly pierced after waiting 5+ years, and also my septum. Though my septum was a couple months of hard thinking and debating if it was worth it, and a spur of the moment I'll go visit my shop and get it kind of thing. But non the less I did my research about the piercing healing time, placement, and aftercare.

That being said, I really wanted another I guess "facial" piercing to compliment my new septum piercing. ... in high school I wanted a brow piercing, but I don't want a visible scar from it so I never got it, also I'm not sure how long I could wear it since I work customer service, etc. BUT... I also thought about a tongue piercing, though I'm at the point where I probably won't cave in and get it, just because I would probably play with it, and I also care deeply about my oral health. I hear a lot of stories of ppl chipping teeth or erroding the gums. (I already chipped a tooth and I don't currently have dental coverage, so I really shouldn't get one in my opinion, in the worst case scenario I chip a tooth and can't get it fixed.) But I love tongue piercings, ever since I was young (like 4th grade). Because my cousin (who is about 5 or 7 years older than me), had one, and I thought it looked so cool and beautiful. Just a small piece barely visible when she would talk. I just loved it, but I'm not sure how I would be if I ever got one, like licking ice cream or if the bar would get in the way if I ate or something. It always scared me I guess. So I never really entertain the idea that long, but it's always in the back of my head. :/

I still really want a complimentary piercing for my septum, but I can't really think of anything that I can do at the moment. Perhaps after I get established in my career and pick up dental again, I may revisit the idea of a tongue piercing. But as for the current moment, I think its in my best interest to hold off on the idea.

If anyone can suggest other piercing you thing might look good as a discrete complimentary piercing for my septum, I would love to hear them out.

I have thought about a nostril piercing and I guess that is still on the table, but probably a no, just because I have a really oily nose and I think I would develop keloids. (*if you have a nostril piercing and oily completion I'm interested in hearing how your healing time/experience was!!!)

On the same note of "I should stop...", I'm thinking of just biting the bullet and getting a tattoo. But I am really scared. The best way I can describe my fear of getting a tattoo is that first time going to a game of tag...using paintball guns. How there is that fear of getting hit, that first ever hit from the paintball. Unsure how much it will hurt, scared from seeing others with welts and bruises. Then it happens, and you get that first hit, and you realise it's not as bad as you thought, and the fear begins to dissipate. THAT is how I feel in regards to a tattoo, I'm too scared of that first initial pain I'd feel with the needle. And I'm a huge baby when it comes to needles, I faint when doctor draw blood, I'm okayish with IV needles. But I'm totally fine with piercing needles because I've done it before and it's familiar to me. Just a quick pinch and it's done, unlike a tattoo, which is one to several needles depending on the tip being used and size they are filling in, REPEATEDLY injecting ink under the skin. I can't handle the thought of repeatedly puncturing the skin. It scares me, even though it's not as deep as a piercing, there are nerves there. I heard from friends it's kind of like a meditating numbness after a while, though. And I know I would probably be okay after the fist couple of minutes, but I'm still scared.

Maybe I'll get a tattoo at some point when i build up the courage to get in the chair. Because don't get me wrong I really want one, for about 10+ years I thought out my placement and design, that it's everything meaningful to me and more. I'm going to sleep on it. And see about when I can build up the courage to get one.

Thanks for listening to my rambling about piercings and tattoos, lmk about things you're considering on getting or always wanted.

-Ai

[ailovepiercings]

Septum Jewelry Haul

I splurged and bought some jewelry for my septum.

Descriptions below

Top left to Right and down. Black segmented seamless hoop (Titanium G23)  First two pics are of it open and closed.  I actually bought this on wish for a few buck, so idk if its okay quality or not, so I was going to test it first on my ear to see if I have any negative reaction to the metal they used or if there is a coating on it. 14G White faux opal captive ring (316L surgical steel) Super cute, however its a bit big, since my septum is a 16G, but I just swap out the lotus to another BCR and it works just fine (See the middle row) I’m still waiting on my black titanium 10 mm 16G BCR set to come in. 16G Black anodized Titanium 8mm BCR I’m a bit confused on bodycandy’s description “16 Gauge (1.2mm) 5/16" (8mm), Anodized Titanium, 316L Surgical Grade Stainless Steel, 4mm ball” I think the bar is titanium, and the ball is surgical steel but I’m not entirely sure on that. But this is a bit too small for my septum so ill just use it for my helix later on.  but this picture just shows what i mean about switching out the Ball on BCR’s. They can be pretty interchangeable.  16G Gothic Lace Opal Septum Clicker (Titanium shaft) It is really cute, reviews seem okay, so I bought it.  Again i will be testing these on probably my ears before I use it for my septum.  I have a pretty quick reaction to junk metals. So I know how to judge jewelry that is okay for specifically my body.  

YES, I buy cheaper jewelry.  I don’t buy anything too expensive.  I pay close attention to new jewelry purchases and how the metal affects my body, if I do have an allergic reaction, I just won’t wear that piece anymore or I will throw it away.