My 3 Navel Piercings

At A Glance Author Natalie Contact anymlkrakr@hotmail.com Artist Crystal(at Evolution) and Kimberly (Mystic Visions) Studio Evolution and Mystic Visions Location Albuquerque, New Mexico

I never really wanted my navel pierced. I always kind of thought that they were gross. I have 12 piercings in my ears including 2 tragus, 1 cartlidge, lobes streched(2 at 14 gauge, one at 10) and the remaining gauges are 16. I've had my septum pierced, however my mother didn't know about this so I removed it (felt guitly).

Anyway, My mom finally said enough of my piercings, but since she had already promised to let me get my navel pierced, she said that that would be the last one. I talked her into letting me pierce it 4 times, and she thought it looked cute so she agreed. My first navel piercing was done at Mystic Visions (Which I believe is now closed). I went into the shop very nervous, like I am with all my piercings and she took about 10 minutes marking my navel to make sure that they were even. She marked one on the left side, and one on the right side, and finally she had me sit down in a titled chair. She then cleaned my navel with iodine, and opened the 1st needle. She had me breathe, and then pushed the neeedle through. It hurt so bad! Blood started filling in my navel and collecting. She inserted the silver surgical steel ring, (which I personally think was the wrong type of jewerly) and held a tissue to my navel. The tissue filled quickly, but soon stopped bleeding. She then asked if I wanted to proceed with the second one, and since the 1st had been so painful, I turned the second one down. She laughed and I payed and we went home.

It continued to bleed on the way home, and when I got home, I soaked it in sea salt. It oozed alittle more, but then was fine. I cleaned it with antibactiral soap twice a day, and after cleaning squirted alittle saline solution and worked it into my piercing. Immediatly the piercing began to get red rings around the entrance and exit holes, I also had lines going from the inside hole to the center of my navel (I think this was caused by the clamp, and was bruising). The second or third day, my naval was pussing. I just kept cleaning it, and I noticed the pussing wasn't getting any less. So I cleaned it once a day, and noticed that the puss stopped. Although, there was a bubble like blob on the outer hole, which I know believe to be a keloid. It wasn't going well. I had had it for about 3 months total, and it didnt look good. Also, it looked like it was regecting, and had pushed some out. I decided to have someone else evaulate my piercing, and had considered removing it. A co-worker told me about a place called Evolution. I went there the next day.

When I arrived at Evolution, the Owner was there and she looked at my piercing, and said it really looked bad, but if i liked the placement, she could change the jewerly, which would propably stop rejection. I decided that the placement had moved so far, that it wasnt worth keeping. So, they copied my birth certificate, ID, and my mom's ID, and then took me into the back room. I must say, they were VERY professional, and showed me the whole autoclave process. Anyway, Crystal came in, put on gloves and marked me with a toothpick and clean dye, because pens come in contact with other people as well. It took her about 10 minutes to mark the top of my navel, and the bottom. SHe then had me lay down, and she removed my previous piercing, which left a huge red scar. Then she cleaned me with iodine. She explained all the steps as she went. She first took a plastic barbell, and cut it down to my size, with alittle slack, so that it would move easily when i cleaned it. The plastic barbell was really flexable, so it would move with my body, instead of being stiff and causing more stress to the piercing. Then she clamped the top, and had me breath, and on the 3rd deep breath she pushed the needle through. Yes it did hurt, but there wasn't as much blood as the 1st piercing from the previous shop. She then slid the surgical steel barbell. Then she had me breathe, asked if i was okay, and then clamped the bottom of my navel. The needle penetrated my skin, and I felt an extreme amount of pain. She then threaded the plastic barbell through into my wound. They didn't bleed. She then had me watch her dispose of the needle into a chemcial substance, and allowed me to slowly get up. We payed for it, and tipped her about 10 extra dollars. She gave me some sea-salt and a booklet of questions.

These piercings are by far doing alot better. I clean them twice a day with antibactiral soap. I have stopped using Saline, because it has alot of other ingredicants which can irritate the piercing.I soaked it every day for 10 mins. These piercings are alittle red, and have pussed alittle, but are nothing compared to my 1st problem piercing. They look really well. The only thing is that every 2 months I have to get the bottom barbell changed because it is plastic, and plastic harvests bacteria. But I have really enjoyed the plastic barbell, it moves with my body and doesnt pull against my movements. It looks great. The puss has stopped and it looks really nice. I love my new piercings. I have, since 2 years ago wanted to become a body piercer, and I still do. This expierence has been very well. Have any questions? Email me. Thanks.