I got my navel pierced!!!

At A Glance Author anonymous Artist Tracy Studio 3688.com Location Hong Kong

I've always wanted to get my navel pierced. It was ever since I was about 14 or so. I'm 18 now, and I've been doing my research and gotten my parent's permission during those few years. The only thing which worried me was that I have am sort of dark skinned as i'm in the sun a lot. I've read somewhere that darker skinned people have a bigger chance of getting a keloid than light skinned people. But everyone's gotta take their chances right? I mean, I could even get HIV, but I really wanted my navel pierced and so I decided to take that chance anyway. Keloids are said to be 'more common in lobe piercings' which was a boost.

Another downside of the navel is that its one of the longest healing piercings there are... but I didn't care, I already promised myself that I'd take good care of it when I got it. And at the time I made that promise, i was 15. I was basically counting down the years until I could get it done. I wanted one and I was determined to get one. It was the summer of 2000 which my dream came true.

Well, me and a two of my friends went to Hong Kong for the summer, and as I've lived there for two years, I knew the area quite well. (I'm half chinese- my dad's chinese and my mom's english) So, with my friends with me, I decided to get it done with before I went back home. I wanted to surprise everyone!

We went to the mall where I remembered a few good and clean piercing places. We walked around for a while, as the mall was small but maze-like. We came to a stop in front of a shop with loads of different pictures of people pierced. I think it was the reassurence of all the pictures which drew me even more to the piercer. Navel piercings were most popular, shown by the photos. This was an extra plus. The piercer was a funky woman, dyed pink hair, many facial piercings... she greeted us as we walked in and took a look around.

Even when i was younger, I had preferred barbells to CBRs. The thought of the ring getting caught onto anything, or someone just 'accidently' tugging on it was already a turn off. It would mean, more careful cleaning, but that would be alright, I decided.

Anyway, after making sure she was someone who knew what she was doing, I got my friends to choose a curved barbell for me. There were sooo many to choose from, it took us quite a long time.

15 mins later, we were voting between a curved barbell with a blue gem, or one with a white- diamond gem. After a fair all 4 votes to the white diamond, it was all set. I had chosen my barbell. I was really getting excited. Ummm... the procedure was normal- lie down, clamp, needle through (of course with disposable gloves the whole time) and for me, it didn't really hurt. My friends looked more scared than I was. It was really easy to relax for me. I just looked at their expressions and I would laugh. That was the great thing about having my friends with me, to give me moral support and they kept my mind off the long needle going into me! They were telling me of how they could see the needle coming out the other end... it must hurt... blahblahblah. But in fact, it only felt like getting your ears pierced. Just for a longer time.

The piercing still, only took a few seconds, and after that, i took a long long look in the mirror, so proud of myself. My friends were amazed that i actually got it done too. Wait till the people back home see this, i thought.

Best of all, it only cost me $450 HK dollars. Thats about $90 Canadian dollars and it included the barbell.

Its been a month and a half so far, since I've had it done. When i went back home, people were pretty amazed. My parents really liked the white- diamond gem as they said the colour 'really suited me'. Its really funny how people asked me where I got it done, and I say in Hong Kong. I think its pretty cool to do something 'different' or more wild when you're on holiday. Next, I'm considering getting my tongue pierced. Its the part where I cant eat properly which scares me the most. I'm the type who can't live without meat! Or, a tatoo is also crossing my mind. I want to get one of a dragonfly on my ankle or shoulder blade. But I might put the tongue piercing and tatoo off for a while and make sure all goes well for my navel piercing- its still too early to tell if anything's going to happen!

Anyway, I wanna say thanks to my piercer, Tracy, and my friends for being there with me at that time! Thanks y'all!