I got my piercing done about 4 years ago now but I thought I would write my experience seeing as all the ones I read helped me so much.
At A Glance Author killa_fairy Contact killa_fairy@hotmail.com When Five years ago Artist Some guy Studio Camden, down the high street Location Camden, London I had been thinking about tattoos and piercings, that sort of thing for a while and I had come to the conclusions that tattoos weren't really for me. I didn't have a clue as to something meaningful I could have done or where to actually have it so I thought it would be silly and decided that a piercing was just as nice and a much safer option. I then went on to decided what kind of piercing I wanted, at 13 I thought it was too early for any genital piercing, my ears I already had and I'm way too much of a wimp for nipple. Also, going to quite a posh school with a uniform facial piercings were a no-no I decided that getting a shiny little jewel in my belly was a great idea.
After having thought about it for a few months and decided that it wasn't something I would regret and that when I got older the likely hood of me wearing belly tops anyway was very slim, I got a letter with my mum's permission and trotted off to Camden Town, dragging my friend along with me. I went to a lot of different places but as I was only 13 not many would actually do it even with a note from my mum, but I finally found a studio where the man would do it. After ringing my mum and do a few security checks, I filled out a form and he talked to me for a few minutes to make sure I really knew what was happening; that it may hurt, I may feel dizzy after, that it could infect but usually only if you look after it badly and that it could leave a scar later on if I took it out for good. He also showed me pictures of what it looked like straight afterwards and a bit later. I then went to choose my jewelry and went through to the piercing studio. I lay down on the kind of dental armchair and he showed me how all the needles and ring were sealed and brand new, he then disinfected my belly button and got out the clamp. He clamped my belly button and at this point I closed my eyes really tight (because I am a total wimp, and needles really aren't my favorite things) and squeezed my friends hand so hard her knuckles went white. He marked the hole with a pen and then talked to me through it trying to distract me. The needle went through really fast and easily (a bit like what you would imagine a needle would go through play-do like). I was so surprised, for some reason I expected it to take forever but it's really just like having a blood test if you think about it, it was like a sharp prick but nothing I couldn't handle without even clenching my teeth.
After he had pierced the hole he put the ring through and I think it must have also been with disinfectant, which he then put through backwards and forwards through the hole. Now, I'm not going to lie that bloody hurt, a kind of stinging pain, like when u get your knees disinfected when you're little after you've fallen over. As I said I'm a wimp so I saw a bit of blood and felt queasy so the man made me lie down. He then went through how to look after it, the disinfectant etc and put a plaster over it.
Off I trotted all happy with my new piercing. My advice is, don't get it with a ring, it tends to get caught and that really does hurt, a lot more than the whole piercing thing in itself, I only got one because I'm a cheap arse and I didn't have enough to pay for piercing with banana bar. Also I was naughty and changed to a banana bar 5 days afterwards (because I had already bought one before I had it pierced), which I shouldn't have done because it could so easily have got infected, So don't do it!!! You may think you are smart and that it'll be fine, but don't risk it, especially as the ones the rings they pierced you with usually have to be taken off with some kind of clamp and can't actually be screwed off ( I used a nut crusher, and could easily have ripped it out, but hey I was in France and it was sunny and I wanted something pretty). I may also... embarrassingly have not washed for 2 days because I was scared it would sting. Really disgusting I know, but the good news is, it doesn't! Not even one little bit!! So really do wash, please, especially if it's in summer.
All in all, my experience was great, my parents weren't angry because they knew already, it really is better to tell them (even though they have refused my plea for a tongue piercing, but I'm working on it). Also make sure you get it done in a good certified place, there's no need to end up paralyzed or with a disease or infection just because you couldn't be bothered to go a little bit further or pay a little bit more. Not an excuse and frankly not worth it. I've had mine for four years now and it stopped hurting after a week, has never hurt again and it does really look great. If you are thinking about getting it done do think carefully but I really recommend it. If you do want anymore help or advice though then feel free to contact me.