I have been wanting to get a navel piercing for the longest time. I don't really know how long ago it was that I decided I would actually go through with it because I had so many doubts. My mom had talked to someone she knew who had one and they had told her that it can stretch out and look kind of gross, but alas, I still wanted to get it done.
At A Glance Author Mars Contact Mars@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Casey Studio New Breed Tatoos and Piercings (formerly known as Skinquake) Location Indianapolis, IN (Keystone Ave. location) I knew that I had to get my piercing during the summer because I participate in sports in the fall and spring. So, three of my other friends and I were all going to go together to get our piercings done (we each were planning on getting different types)at the same time, but a week had rolled around since out initial date, and I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to get it done over the summer.
A few days ago, I was just searching on the internet and I decided to look up some more information about navel piercings to confirm my decision. I came across BME and read many stories so that I would know what to expect. One of my friends had told me a while ago that a place named Skinquake was a good place, so I basically decided I would go there. I told my mom that I needed to get it done soon and she agreed that whenever I wanted to was fine with her. (Wanting to get my navel pierced was really never a big argument between us, she just didn't was me to dress like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera) So I thought, why not go and do it tomorrow?
The next day, I read a couple more stories and had her call Skinquake to make sure I could get a piercing that day. They told us it was "fist come first served" and so I called my three friends to see if they wanted to come with me. Only one of them could go and she was planning to get her ears double-pierced, but when we got there we realized she had to have parent permission too since we are only 16. We left to go to Skinquake in Indianapolis and I was a little nervous about how it would feel, look, how my body would feel, etc.
When we got there, it wasn't in as good of area as we had hoped, so my mom was a little apprehensive about the decision. My friend and I both told her we would be comfortable at this place and once we walked in, I was sure it would be OK because it looks very clean. I met Casey at the desk and I told him I was planning on getting a navel piercing and he told me to wait while he took care of someone else. When he was done, he came back and told me which rings/barbells I could choose from and I just chose a simple, plain curved barbell because I had read some bad things about rings. He had us wait a little more so that he could go prepare the room and get everything sterilized. When he came back again, my mom and I gave him out ID's and I filed out a quick five question paper and signed to get my piercing.
We went to the back room and it wasn't what I was expecting. I don't know, but it didn't really look as "doctorish" as what I thought, but I saw the needle, clamps, and q-tips in sterilized packages and thought I would be all right. I stood up next to the table and he cleaned my navel and marked where to piercing would go. I laid down on the table and he told me to wash my piercing with Dial Antibacterial Soap on a Q-tip. He also gave my mom an Aftercare instruction sheet. Then, I closed my eyes and he told me he was putting the clamps on. I could hardly feel them and I thought, OK this doesn't hurt at all! Then, he stuck the needle through. Ouch! It stung for about 7 seconds, but it wasn't something I couldn't bare to stand. It was just a very sharp pain throughout my stomach. Then he put the jewelry in and it took him a while to get the balls screwed back on. I was done! I couldn't believe I had actually done it!
I stood up to look at it in the mirror and I looked down at it and it was bleeding a little. I turned to Casey and asked him if I could have something to put on it so the blood didn't get on my shirt. He kept saying it was very normal that is was bleeding. But as I was waiting, everything started to get dark and I felt a little dizzy. My mom could tell I looked faint and she told me to sit down. As I sat, the room went black and she and Casey helped my lie down on the table. I laid there for a bit and he put some gauze over my piercing. Casey said that we should go out into the waiting area because the room was so bright and the lights were going to make me hotter than I already was (I was getting a little sweaty). So he took me out there and I sat on the couch for about 5 minutes. He also brought me some water to drink and told me I needed more sugar and that I needed to eat more food soon. I decided I was all right and I went into the car to leave. I felt nauseo us and still faint for a while after I ate, but after about 20 minutes, I felt a lot better. We even went shopping afterwards!
The first two times I cleaned my piercing, I almost fainted again, but now it is no biggie. Now I clean my piercing twice a day with Dial and once I can get sea salt, I will start doing those soaks. I read on a website that you should not use Dial soap, so I was wondering if anyone out there knows for sure, can you please email me?
I would suggest to anyone who really wants to get it done to go for it. After only two days it isn't that sore at all and as long as you are willing to thoroughly clean it twice a day, it is worth it! Happy piercing!