"split tongue" "snake tongue" "forked tongue"

These are all the same thing and are all when the tongue is simply cut down the centre of a tongue and heals that way forming a 'fork' as it were.

Basically, there are two main ways of doing this - surgery and the fishing line method. Either of these works and both have their pros and cons.

SURGERY METHOD:

This is done surgically (obviously) and an argon laser or knife is used and then the exposed tissue is sewn together forming two halves (If this is not done the tongue would most probably heal normally as one instead of two).

After this there would be some difficulty talking and eating etc for around 2 days and should be treated almost like a tongue piercing and only eating liquidy foods (e.g. milkshakes and soup) though this will differ from person to person and you may be able to eat solids though this may not be a good idea as you could accidentally bite down strangely and the healing time may increase so it's best to stick to liquid foods for the first two days at least.

After a week there should be considerably less pain and difficulty and after two weeks it should be more or less healed. If you do have a lisp it will only be very slight.

Pros:
- Very little possibility of complications
- Quick
- Relativly easy

Cons:
- More expensive than fishing line method

FISHING LINE METHOD:

First of all, your tongue must be pierced and healed.

Then using monofilament fishing line, thread the line through the piercing without removing the bar. Next, line up the fishing line with the centre of your tongue and pull as tight as possible and as much as you can bare (don't be stupid though because it doesnt work like that) and then knot the end a couple of times before cutting off the excess line.

After a couple of days the line should be looser and now you do the same again (but do not remove the first line) pulling it tighter than the last time. Only when you can cut off the previous line do you remove it.

Repeat this process until almost all of your tongue is split (4-8 weeks aprox.). Then using a razor or scalpel cut the last part.

Voila.

Pros:
- Easy to do
- Cheap as chips

Cons:
- More likely of complications
- Takes longer and would most likely hurt for longer

AFTER (BOTH):
After the tongue is healed you'll (with practise) be able to use each half separatly and can improves kissing and other similar activites... but this will only come with practise.

CONCLUSION:

If your up for the challenge and like to do it your own way then i suggest the fishing line method, maybe ask your piercer for some tips? If done right this method can really work though knowledge is essential as you don't want to be doing it wrong. If you're thinking of splitting your tongue this way, research some more! Do NOT just go out and find your Dad's old fishing rod. Because for starters hygiene and also im not an expert, someone else may be able to give you more information than I can. So PLEASE.. go research your ass off.

For you more serious tongue splitters, then surgical is the way to go as it's techinically safer and your more likely to not have any complications though the result will probably not differ to that of someones who has used the fishing line method.

Both work well. It's up to you.

REMEMBER: Once a tongue is split it CAN sometimes start to heal back together again by its self even after the healing period, it has been known to happen. And also if you do want to return to a normal 'one tongue' it has to be done surgically. There is no fishing line method equivalent. So make sure you're serious about it before starting.

Good luck?

The biggest and most important secret to lobe stretching or stretching in general is PATIENCE! Patience is a virtue in stretching the more time you take the better off you will be.

You need to wait a month AT LEAST before going up a size or even thinking about going up a size, this isn't a race to see who can have the bigger stretched ears, you don't get scene points it doesn't make you cool, if you are doing it for that please impale yourself on gardening equipment and save us all the headache!

Personally i think 2 months is best!

As far as sizes are concerned, the smaller the jump the better, never EVER EVER skip sizes, I don't care if you friend did it and was ok, you aren't your friend, your friends is stupid anyway, you don't want to be that person!

DONT SKIP SIZES! I can't stress that any further, thats why your ears get thin is from rushing!

The idea is when you stretch you are pulling the collagen molecules apart, it takes about a month for the body to add more molecules between those, if you stretch to soon you are causing weak stops in the ear.

NEVER EVER use weight or silicone plugs to stretch, they are not made to stretch at all doing so puts you at great risk of thinning and snapping and using silicone puts you are great risks of swelling ripping and necrosis!

A very easy and good way to stretch your ears is buy slowly wrapping tape around the jewellery you already wear slowly making the diameter of the jewelry bigger. Bondage tape is the best tape hands down, link at the bottom of the page and you can use PTFE tape if you have to but seriously invest in bondage, you can reuse it over and over.

Only add a layer or 2 of tape every couple days, dont add 4 or 5 every day and dont add tape more then once a day, the point is to go little by little not go really fast.

NEVER EVER use electrical tape, medical tape, duct tape or any other tape that is rough or has an adhesive, the adhesive can run and irritate your ear, and some are sharp and can cut your ear. I don't care if your friend or you have done it before and it worked fine, you are playing the odds when you do it and the odds are only in your favor for so long so don't go crying to anyone when you fuck your ears when it does run out!

Tips!

1. If you are atleast 1/2, sleep with your jewellery out at night, it gives the ear time to relax and increases the circulation and make it just all warm and happy. In the morning if your ears are a bit tight just put in some smaller plugs for like 20 mins to loosen them up and the other jewellery will slide in easier.

2. Do daily oil massages with jojoba oil, vitamin e oil or if you really have to olive oil 2 or 3 times a day is the best. I would say once in the morning when you go to put your plugs back in and once at night when you take them out.

3. Down size, yes I said down size, the best thing I have found to get peoples ears thick is to constantly down size and re stretch over and over. The idea is when you stretch you make more collagen so if you shrink and stretch again properly you are building up even more collagen which bulks up the tissue.

IMPORTANT! If you get a blow out, tear, have pain or bleeding take your jewelry out immediately don't wait it out, put in different jewellery!

This is not a race! This is your body, your ears and you are with them for life so treat them right! If they are fucked you need to take care of them immediately!

If you are stretching and its hurts a lot then YOU DID SOMETHING WRONG! If you are stretching and it bleeds then YOU DID SOMETHING WRONG! Never force a stretch if your ear isn't ready, give it another week and try again!

Don't be cheap with your ears! Don't just ram bullshit stuff in your ear that's lying around the house! If you don't have the money to buy real jewellery then wait, save and get the good stuff! You get what you put into something, if you get good jewellery then your ears will benefit from it and so will yo

In this era of bloodborne diseases you MUST be very careful who you have perform your piercing! This guide is brought to you by the The Association of Professional Piercers to assist you in making a better-informed decision regarding your piercing because
IT'S YOUR CHOICE!

Piercing Set-up

Ask if you can watch them set-up for a piercing and be in the room when they set up for yours. The piercer should first wash and glove their hands. The equipment should be sealed in individual sterilized packages and placed on a tray. The piercer should change gloves if they touch anything in the room other than you and the sterile equipment. All needles should be in individual sterile packages and should be opened while you are present. NEVER let a piercer use a needle on you that was soaked in a liquid. All needles should be disposed of in a sharps container (usually a small red box marked "biohazard") after they have been used on a single client.

Do they provide aftercare guidelines?

The aftercare for your piercing should be explained to you and provided in writing. Read this sheet BEFORE you have the piercing done! If it tells you to treat your piercing with harsh soap, ointment, alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide, the studio is not keeping up with industry standards.

Piercers

Don't be misled into believing piercing is easy. It takes time and dedication to acquire the ability to correctly place and skillfully perform piercings. Piercers either serve an apprenticeship or are self-taught. Apprenticeships will generally last from 6 months to two years. Those who are self-taught will ideally have sought guidance from others in the field. Continued education is the hallmark of any conscientious piercer. It is perfectly acceptable and advisable to inquire about how long your piercer has been piercing, how they learned to pierce, and what they have done to keep their knowledge base current, i.e., courses on Anatomy, Aftercare, Aseptic Technique, etc.

Is the studio well-kept and clean?

Are the walls washed and the carpet vacuumed? Is the staff bathed and neat? Is the restroom kept clean and tidy? Ideally, studios should have 5 separate areas: the counter, waiting room, piercing room(s), bathroom, and a separate sterilization room.

Does the studio have a license to operate?

In most cases a license to operate means that the studio meets minimum requirements and has passed some sort of inspection. To find out if your area has established standards and inspections, call your local Health Department. If a studio is operating unlicensed in an area where licenses are required, report them to your local health department or city business license division. (note, not all countries have laws regarding piercing/tattoo parlours, for example Ireland doesn't)

Portfolios

Look at their piercing photo portfolio. Are piercings placed to accent the anatomy or do they look awkward and poorly matched to the individual? If the portfolio features unusual looking placements, are there pictures of healed piercings, showing the actual viability of the placement? (Most piercers should have a portfolio, they wold be proud to show off their work!!!)

Age Requirements

Regardless of any local legislation being more lenient, the following is an appropriate minimum standards policy on piercing minors: For any piercing of a minor, a parent or legal guardian must be present to sign a consent form. Proof positive, state issued photo identification is required from the legal guardian, and a bona fide form of identification from the minor. In the event the parent has a different last name and/or address from the child, court documentation is needed to prove the relationship, i.e., divorce papers, or a remarriage certificate. Under no circumstances is it acceptable or appropriate for a piercer to perform piercing on the nipples or genitals of an individual under 18 years of age.

Use your