it was really painless, I didn't have a lisp and it didn't swell that much and it was just for a couple of days (the truth is that I hardly noticed any swelling). I just got it 3 weeks ago so I don't really know if I'm gonna regret it someday but right now I'm so happy i've done it! Dunno about the teeth crackingthingy but I guess it's safer not to play too much with it and to put plastic beeds so that it's not as bad, not sure though