Hi all!
First off, after hours of research I could not find an answer to my unique situation; but still I apologize for the new thread.
Five months ago I had 2 14G lip piercings (i.e. "snakebites.") Since I have a "professional" job, I timed it with a long vacation, had it professionally pierced (of course,) then after vacation I had the piercer switch it to Bioflex in order to hide them for work. It took a ton of advice and help from my [fantastic] piercer,a lot of work, research, practice, and money, but I can now swap out the nearly invisible BioFlex with the rings myself with little effort....normally.
Unfortunately the hard to find push-fit invisible labrets are ordered from outside the US...thus they are slightly bigger than US 14Gauge. (And my lip is pretty thick.) Last Sunday I had a problem doing the switch and I accidently pushed the retainer in the correct location but it came out in a new spot! (I.e. I accidently "half-pierced" myself!)
[Note: in accordance with the MB rules, this whole process over the past few months was done under the supervision and advice of a trained professional. Thus I do not consider messing up jewelry replacement on a healed piercing to constitute "self-piercing."]
Of course I immediately called my piercer. Unfortunately he is not in for the week. The substitute piercer said that instead of coming in immediately and having him adjust it, I should leave it as-is for a few days and let it heal in its new configuration.
I am [very] familiar with aftercare and just to be sure I am treating it like a new piercing. Thus aside from a visible [already closed] second hole on one side, I have had no swelling, infections, and VERY minimal other symptoms of a new piercing.
Still...just to be sure:
A) Did he give me the correct advice on retaining the new "path" instead of going in and having him fix the location?
B) He said I should keep it in for a few days, but that I can and even should swap them for the rings in a few days to verify position etc. (This is of course much less than the normal 4 weeks.) Thus is it okay to switch so soon? (I am dying to see if the new location still matches the other side and sits well.))
I apologize for the length of this message. I have had a ton of piercings in my life, but this is an unprecedented situation for me.
Thanks for reading...cheers!
MikeY
Joined: 31 Jan 2008
Member #: 166
Status: Offline
It seems to me that the idea
Posted on December 4, 2008, 8:26 amIt seems to me that the idea of keeping it in the new location and letting it heal that way isn't the best idea. It might not be straight and might look crooked. Also, Im sure the original piercer took care to avoid placing the piercing in a place that would not causee tooth erosion or other problems, so in this new location, it might cause some problems.
No, I would not switch them again. You are already causing a lot of trauma to the piercings. I don't fully understand what exactly happened to cause you to half repierce yourself, but is it possible to just put back the jewelery the original piercer pierced you with and leave it like that? I don't understand why your piercer would have told you that it was okay to continually switch jewelery in new piercings.
And in the master’s chambers,
They gathered for the feast
They stab it with their steely knives,
But they just can’t kill the beast
Joined: 31 Jan 2008
Member #: 166
Status: Offline
Oh were you pierced with
Posted on December 4, 2008, 8:29 amOh were you pierced with rings? I find it is a lot easier to heal with labret studs, less movement to irritate the piercing. Some people heal perfectly fine with rings, but the majority I have seen are better off with studs.
Oh and if you have to hide it for work, maybe just put in the bioflex ones and leave them in until they are completely healed. It's extremely bad for a healing piercing to be switched all the time, not to mention it must be painful.
And in the master’s chambers,
They gathered for the feast
They stab it with their steely knives,
But they just can’t kill the beast
Joined: 04 Dec 2008
Member #: 24033
Status: Offline
Hey thanks for the
Posted on December 4, 2008, 10:28 amHey thanks for the responses!
Actually I am in agreement with everything you said: I apologize, this was a long and complicated situation and I was not entirely clear on some points-
-Last July I had the original piercing done in time with a long vacation.
-Even though it was not ideal, my piercer agreed to switch them [himself] to the Bioflex 3 weeks later.
-On his orders (and my past experiences and research) I left the invisible studs in for about 6 weeks in order to allow them to fully heal. (I definitely agree that healing is easier with studs.)
So they were fully healed. At this point I learned how to swap them out (mainly on weekends.) After a few months, I became pretty good at it, however unfortunately the Bioflex is metric, this slightly thicker, making it a tight fit. (Btw I have spent hundreds of dollars ordering from multiple places searching [in vain] for a circular barbell that is the exact size. (LOL I actually carry around a tribalectic measuring card on me at all times in case I find a new shop while travelling
)
Anyway, they are now healed (remember it has been 5 months) that I was having little problem making the switch even if the Bioflex was a tight fit. However, I think because I had the slightly thinner rings in for a much longer time this time [thanksgiving weekend] that I bet the piercing shrunk more than usual making the Bioflex swap more difficult...hence in the process I applied too much pressure and it popped out in a new hole!
So you hit my conundrum on the head; I do not want to mess with it in this state; however, before the original hole closes, I also hope the location is still ok. (The new hole is very very close to the first; but snakebites should match and I have had poorly-located oral piercings in the past...let's just say my dentist did not like me
Again thanks for the response. I hope my original piercer comes back today; he has been with me through all of this...
Malevolent Pussy
Joined: 30 Jan 2008
Member #: 119
Status: Online
You can get bioplast in the
Posted on December 4, 2008, 3:40 pmYou can get bioplast in the US. Not sure what the difference is between that and bioflex though. Bioplast is also clear and can be cut to fit the piercing.
How you shoved a very dull object through the pierced hole and out through a new spot is baffling. My conclusion would be that the hole was in fact not fully healed because it it were the fistula would be tough and not allow for such a mishap. Just my $.02
Never miss someone from your past - there is a reason they did not make it to your future.
Joined: 13 Oct 2008
Member #: 17165
Status: Offline
I wouldn't let it stay in
Posted on December 4, 2008, 3:43 pmI wouldn't let it stay in the new hole. But that's just me. I would have put it back the way it was immediately and let the new hole close up.
If I cannot go silently into that good night, then let me go loudly in a blaze of glory!!!