Hi, I assume if you are reading this you are interested in getting your navel pierced or just want to read other people's experience. First, My name is Rosa, I am 43 years old and a mother of 2 children, one girl and one boy!
At A Glance Author Rosa Contact Rosa@bme.anon Artist Ryan Studio I don't remember! Location British Columbia I got my navel pierced 4 months ago and wanted everyone to know that no matter what your age, this is a great piercing! I first thought of it a few weeks before I got it, I felt it would be a way to give me confidence and make me feel good about myself. It definitely has!
I did research on navel piercings-that's how I found BME-and found you don't need to have a perfect body and have to be 16 to get this piercing! I looked in the phonebook for a good piercing studio-unfortunately, the name of it escapes me. I called a few that sounded horrible or were rude until I found the one that was for me. They were informative and made me feel completely comfortable. I wasn't treated as if, because this my first piercing other than my ears, I was stupid (like I was at a few other places!) I went in and had a look at it, found it immaculately clean and made an appointment right there and then! I was actually going to get my navel pierced! I went in the next day with my daughter, Rachel, who is fifteen, for support. I talked to the piercer for at least 10-15 minutes, wondering if my age would affect me or that I do-unlike most people who get this piercing-have a belly! I am not skinny! My piercer, Ryan, reassured me that it would be fine. It was then time to head to the piercing room!
It was immaculate and all the tools had been autoclaved or, were new. Ryan cleaned my navel with iodine, then marked where my piercing was going to go. I lay down and he put the clamps on, which do not hurt at all. He then slid the needle through, almost no pain-just a quick pinch and it was over-no muss, no fuss! I got a surgical stainless steel 14 gauge barbell with a blue-green stone. I would say if you are afraid of the pain, don't be, by the time the minimal pain registers, you already have a beautiful piercing.
Ryan gave me an aftercare sheet and explained the aftercare to me as I left and I paid him, and, gave me him a tip. He told me to clean it with sea salt and baxedin once a day each and, if I wanted to wash it with antibacterial soap in the shower. That was it-I was pierced!
Though a lot of people think that a piercing that thousands of people have could not affect your confidence or your outlook of yourself, I have to disagree. I feel much better about myself than I did before this piercing. I had always thought I was fat and now, I feel like my stomach is beautiful and I don't always need to hide my figure.
I wanted to include some of the questions I had before the piercing:
Q. Am I too old for this piercing?
A. No, I think you will be fine!
Q. Does it hurt a lot? (I might be older than most who get their navel pierced-but, I am still a wuss!)
A. Depends on the person, most people say it does not hurt very much- It's over very quickly, before you register the pain!
Q. Will my clothing bother it?
A. Probably not, as long as you don't wear pants or anything right on it, under your piercing is ok though, as long as it doesn't press on it.
Q. Are there any specific precautions I should take whiles it's healing?
A. Not really, you can go swimming, run and sit, basically everything usual-just take care of yourself!! Also, try not to bump it at first-its not dangerous-it might sting a little bit though if you do!
Q. Does it matter if I get pierced with a ring or a barbell?
A. Not really, rings are more likely to get bumped if they are too big but can be slightly easier to clean. Barbells hardly get bumped and are a little more difficult because they can't rotate. I pierce with both.
Q. I am still scared!!!!!!
A. Don't be, I guarantee you will be fine!!
One final piece of advice, don't get pierced to be cool-get pierced for yourself and for yourself ONLY!!
Thank you to all the people at BME who contributed!!
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me!
Have fun, choose a good piercer and happy piercing to everyone!