Ever since I was twelve, I have wanted to get my navel pierced. I think that it first started when I began to like the Spice Girls. And, say what you will, I don't care--I liked them then, I like them now, and if they ever did anything else, I'd continue to like them. But I digress... My favourite Spice Girl was Ginger Spice, and when I saw that she had her navel pierced, I just fell in love with it. The only thing was, with the type of jewelry that she was wearing (one of those dangling pieces), I couldn't tell if the top was pierced, or the bottom, and I didn't know anyone else who had it pierced to really clarify it for me. For years, I couldn't decide whether to get the top or the bottom done...and then, when I was 16, it hit me--why choose? I don't have to choose! I can get both!! *dances* And so, I decided that as soon as I could, I would get both my navel and my inverse navel pierced, although I didn't know at the time what the inverse was called.
At A Glance Author Piper Contact amznmmdprncss@yahoo.com When A year ago Artist Josh Studio Urban X-Change Location Newport News, VA So, the week before I began college, I went with my friend, Cherelle to Urban X-Change to get my piercings. Well, since I was a dork, I didn't have any ID other than my college ID, because, at the time I had never driven, or gotten a DMV ID, or had a job. I also didn't have my birth certificate. Long story short, they turned me down, because I couldn't prove my age. So I ordered that, it took forever to come, and life ran along its merry way. As time went on, I had to put my piercings on the back burner. At the end of the school year, though, in the middle of exams, another girl I know told me that she would take me to get my navel pierced. So we drove down to Urban X-Change, birth certificate in hand.
Once we had gotten there, unlike the time that I went with Cherelle, there were no razor-winged butterflies in my stomach. I was completely calm, because I had wanted this for so long, I just couldn't even imagine leaving. I knew that it was going to hurt, but it didn't matter. I asked would my birth certificate do, and she answered in the affirmative, which made me a happy Piper. She took my birth certificate, and my bank card to the register, and did...well...whatever it is that they do up there. The only down side was the fact that there were a couple people ahead of me. Two girls getting their tongues pierced, I think, and two girls who wanted their ears pierced who were just looking. After a while, the girl gave me some papers to fill out, and whilst I was filling them out, the piercer, Josh, came out and asked who was getting the double navel done. I raised my hand, and he grinned. He was evidently pleased, because, according to him, he was glad that he was actually getting to do something that wasn't just a plain centre tongue, or plain navel.
I finished the paperwork, went to the back room. I asked could the girl who came with me come in, and he said that she could. So, she came in and stood by my "doctor's chair". I happened to look over to the table, and saw that he had his tools already all laid out. The needles looked so huge! These were to be my first "real" piercings, and I was rather apprehensive. I laid upon the chair, and Josh told me to lift up my shirt to under my bra. He swabbed around and in my navel with betadine (sp), and then marked where the piercings with the ever-present purple ink. He then had me stand up and look in the mirror to judge whether or not the placement was how I liked it. It was perfect, and I told him so, so he told me to lay back down, and we began. I looked at the ceiling, and began to breathe. He told me to begin to breathe deeply, but I got a bit agitated, and we had to begin again. He told me that he would pierce me on the third exhale, and I just went into my "piercing zone". I felt the cold tip of the needle touch my skin, and an odd, but not painful sensation, and then Josh told me that the first one was done. I couldn't believe how little it hurt. I commented on that fact, and whilst I was talking, he pierced my inverse navel. Now...that hurt. Not much, but, about as much as stepping on a pin. As soon as I registered the pain, however, it was gone.
Josh had me jump up, and gave me a mirror to look at my lovely new piercings. Bliss. They were shiny and silvery and perfect. No blood, and minimal swelling. From thereafter I felt no pain, but the chill of the metal took a bit of getting used to. Later on that day, the piercings secreted some clear lymph, but that was all--no blood, and no scabbing. Throughout the healing process, I cleaned them with H20 solution once a day, as well as the Inverness aftercare solution twice a day. The top one healed in about three months, which didn't shock me, because I heal quickly, but he inverse navel still hasn't healed. It isn't infected, but...I don't know. It's probably because after a while I stopped being so careful with the things that bumped it. So, be careful! Bumping surface piercings really does up the chance of rejection and longer healing time. The only other thing that I could think of to say is that, be careful how deeply you're pierced--it really has to be perfect, because, too shallow and it will reject faster, and too deep, and the ball will try to imbed itself into your skin. I now have a nice little scar from that. It's very small, though, and will probably be taken care of with a bit of skin-bleaching creme.
In summation, I would just like to say that everyday, when I run my hand over my piercings, they make me smile. I don't regret them, and probably never will; they bring me such happiness. I highly recommend both Josh, and Urban X-Change. Happy piercing!