I was only 12!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At A Glance Author Trixie Contact trixibelle@handbag.com Artist Gerald Studio Fitzs Location England

I'm now 15, and altogether I have 8 ear piercings, 1 body piercing and a tattoo. My next move I think is to get my tongue pierced, that looks soooo cool!!!! Anyway, I`m here to tell your about my pre-teen body piercing. I had just turned 12, when the idea of a navel piercing got deeply implanted into my 'fragile little mind'. I only had 1 friend that had already had it done, so me being the attention seeker that I am, wanted it done as soon as possible, so that I would still be the minority! To me it looked so grown-up and sexy (plus, ginger spice had hers done so there was no question about it)!

When I first motioned the idea to my parents, the imediate answer was NO!! But after a lil` bit of coaxing, they gave in and my dad ended up making me an appointment 2 weeks after my 12th birthday. Strictly, I should have been 18, but the piercer didn't seem to mind as I had obvious parental consent. The place was called Fitzs, and it was situated near the town centre. I picked this place out of all the others in the Yellow pages because it had the least scary name, as apposed to Pinheads or The Hole!!!

Well, the day came, and I was s*****g myself!! We turned up right on time, but unfortunately we had a bit of a wait ahead of us, as SOMEONE was overlapping my appointment. 15 minutes later I was invited to come through to the back room. I lay back on the chair and watched as the piercer unwrapped the needle and told me of his nipple experience ( he did it himself )!!! I then watched as the assistant clamped the sides of my navel ( OWWW!!!) This was when I looked away, closed my eyes and held onto my dads hand so hard I hurt myself!!! Then before I knew it, it was over and I was looking down onto what looked like a cows nose ring sticking through my stomach!! To be honest, I was more concerned about the possibility of cracking my fingers! My ring was then fastened and I paid my £20.

I was told to wash my new piercing within the first hour, now that brought tears to my eyes, but nothing unbearable. For the next 6 weeks I bathed it in a saline solution and kept it covered with a small dressing for he first few days. The only after pain I experienced was putting on a pair of tight jeans, to find thay fastened over my navel causing the ring to catch on the zip. Apart from that I never had a problem, and after 4 months, I replaced it with a bar that looks even better. The best bit was though that I was still the second person I knew to have it done and since then nearly all my friends have had it done and they all tell the same painfree story afterwards.

Since then I've had a chinese symbol tattooed on my stomach next to it to make a feature of it. Painless again!! My next move is my tongue so any advice on it would be greatly appreciated!! My advice to anyone who is considering having their navel pierced is....DO IT!! You only live once and if you don`t do it now, you`ll regret it when your 60. Anyway, if you don't like it....just take out.....now tattoos are a different kettle of fish altogether.................

After about 6 months of having my piercing i experienced my first infection.DUN DUN DURRRRRNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In the space of about 3 days the area on the visible parts of my piercing - the top- had turned into a ball of yellow pus about the size of a bean. I was gutted!!! It became so painfull, it hurt walking downstairs cos the ring bounced. I was seriously considering taking it out, but in a moment of pure courage I stood up infront of a mirror and squeezed....In seconds a spurt of custard colour liquid oozed from my belly button!! I quickly got a tissue to wipe it with and very efficiently grabbed a sterilized dressing to cover it with. I then left it for the day before looking at it again. When I did, it immediately looked 10 times better, a few scabs, but still better. They soon cleared and I have not had a single problem since!! Cool eh!!!!!

Looking back, I think having it done at 12 was a seriously GOOD idea!! As a kid you'll do anything to impress, and thats exactly what I did. Stupid reason I know, but it worked!! I have the same motive for my tongue, but its better this time. Instead of being the second in school to have it done, I be the first!! Now thats an accomplishment!!(Especially in High School)