How painful is a tongue piercing?

Answer 1

The initial piercing is not painful.

The only thing felt is the pressure of needle. The clamp on the tongue hurts more than the actual piercing.

The healing after is the painful part. The tongue will swell, and the muscle will be sore. As the tongue adjust to the metal and heals itself from the initial tear and swelling, the pain will subside, generally over a few days following the piercing.

By experience, a piercing in the upper cartilage hurts more than a piercing in the tongue.