I always liked the way belly rings looked, whether they were the fad or not. They sparkled and shimmered and looked cute on almost everybody. I always told my parents and friends I would get it done, but naturally my parents wouldn't let me and since I was underage, I didn't want to risk a sketchy piercer who'd do it for me without parental consent. My older sister had offered to take me but I chickened out.
At A Glance Author Christi Contact Christi@bme.anon When Three months ago Artist Joe Studio Phat Joe's Location Miami, FL Then I turned 18 and figured it was now or never. It had been on my mind since I was 14, and it was certainly legal for me to do it now!
I talked to myself the whole week before saying it was going to be this Saturday. I'd just go Saturday and get it done and I couldn't chicken out anymore. I'd asked plenty of people where'd they'd got theirs done, if it hurt, how much, etc. One of my friends had gotten hers about 2 weeks after I did, and she recommended this one place that I won't mention. They would only pierce it with a ring though so I was a little iffy. I decided I'd try there anyways.
So Saturday comes along, and I go to my bowling league. My best friend is there and I've chosen her to go with me to the piercing since she had gotten hers done a few weeks before with me by her side. Also, she was a great accomplice because I knew she wouldn't let me back out. She kept telling me "You're getting it done today! I don't care what you say!" After bowling we start driving and we find this place that my friend had told me about. They're closed for lunch, and frankly, I don't want a ring anyways. We decide there has to be more piercing parlors somewhere, so we begin driving again.
Eventually we find one on some road, they're also closed for lunch, but are scheduled to open in about 10 minutes, so we figure we'll just wait. If anything, we'll look inside, make sure everything's clean and the price is right and if it's not, we can go back to the recommended place. Well the owners pull up and open shop. We go in and I ask the price ($40) and the owner says they'll do it with whatever I want and shows me a selection. I pick a curved barbell, 14g, with clear jewels on each end and figure it's time for me to just give in. We sat on a couch because the piercer hadn't arrived yet, but she showed up about 5 minutes later. He asked what jewelery I had chosen and went to set up shop. By the way, the place was immaculate and everyone was very nice.
He had me stand up as he marked my belly button, commenting that I had a diamond shaped one (who knew?) and had me check it. By this time, I was going crazy inside thinking about what my parents would have to say. I sat back in a chair, he clamped it, loose enough so that it didn't hurt but with enough force so that it did its job. He counted to three and I held my breath and in went the needle. Thinking about it now, it hurt, only because it was a needle, but it was over so fast, it was hard to even think about. The jewelery slid in perfectly, he talked aftercare and made sure I wasn't dizzy or anything and had me look at it in the mirror. GORGEOUS. My semi-permanent "bling-bling." I thanked him (verbally and with a tip) and went out. Joe was great, he calmed me down when I told him this was my first "real" piercing (besides my cartilage which had been done with a gun at Claire's) and walked me through everything.
My parents weren't so happy but they didn't care all too much after the initial shock. My grandparents will never know because they just may stop talking to me (I'm what they consider the ideal child and apparently, body modification is just wrong). My friends (and I) love it. I think it's adorable and would do it again in a heartbeat. Healing has been going great. I use H2Ocean and antibacterial soap in the shower. There's been no big problems, just crusties and some oozy stuff, all normal. It's painless other than when I catch the top on something.
Don't worry if something's considered a fad or a trend, do it because YOU want it. And don't worry about the pain. It's virtually painless, and I'm a wimp. From now on, my piercings will be hidden (since I can't afford my grandparents finding out, and because the majority of the ones I like anyways are "hidden"). I'm thinking of a nipple piercing or surface piercing under my belly button (to add to my bling ;)). Piercings rule!