First off, Naval Piercings Kick sooo much ass! I got mine pierced at the age of 14. I've always wanted one done... but it took me awhile to start talking my mom into it.
At A Glance Author Kissten Contact evil_and_psycho_666@hotmail.com Artist I can't remember her name :( Studio Belly Up Body Piercing Location Washington My Mom at first, she was a bit skeptical, not thinking I'd really go through with it.. but after awhile, she started wanting one done too! Since I can't get my belly pierced in Kansas until I'm 16, I had to wait until we went on Vacation, to Oregon, to get it done there.
I wanted to go to a professional, sterile place. I wanted to make sure the place was a very reputable studio, with honest, good working people. We called around, but a lot of people wouldn't pierce people under 16, even WITH a parent. Finally, we found a place called Belly Up Body Piercing. We decided to try that. About half way into the vacation, we called the piercing studio. We found the place, and we were informed that with a parent's signature, I could get it pierced! *yay*! It was really neat, because they pierce from ages 12 and up, from the belly up. When we go there, the lady asked to see my belly (Commenting on how small mine was *smile* ), and helped me find a piece of jewelry that she thinks would go good with my belly. I'd wanted a barbell for the LONGest time, so after lots of deciding, I picked out a UV-Reactive, Green, 14 gauge barbell. My Mom chose a gold hoop.
Mom went first, I didn't want to... I wanted to be the observer :). Alright, they started out by washing their hands with Dial Soap, and cleaned the outer skin stuff with some sort of nummer I think. It didn't completely numb her, just kind of calm the skin or something. I didn't get to watch all of it, all I saw was the pliers squeezing the hoop together and pushing the ball into place. NOW FOR MY TURN!
They did the same to me... only they used a barbell instead. They told me not to tense my stomach up, but to breathe calmly, for it won't hurt as much. I tryed not to tense up :) All I can remember seeing was a metal looking rod thing in my belly.. than I looked up at the ceiling for awhile, looked back down a few minutes later, only to see a Shiny, sexxxxy, barbell! No longer do I have a virgin belly!
I've had this piercing for 5 months now, just recently changed it to a cute silver barbell, with a red jewel in the bottom bead, and a hoop hanging off it, with a cute dangling heart hanging off that. After about 1 day my piercing really didn't hurt at all.. I mean, it was a little tender, but that's about it. Well, if I had on higher wasted pants or I rubbed up against something hard (Like a seat belt for instance) I felt a little bit of pain, but it was only an annoyance, not real pain. I moved it every day, and cleaned it with Ear-Care Solution and Dial Soap, and the occasional Betadyne. In the end, the healing went perfectly as planned. No infections what-so-ever, it didn't bleed at all. It didn't scab or get all red and puffy. It was beautiful! My mom's healing was the same, although after awhile, she stopped moving her hoop as much, so when she started moving it again, it was a bit sore. I can't even feel the piercing, it goes unnoticed until I Look at it :). I Love my belly sooo much... I recommend you get one! Also - I suggest you get it done professionally.. it always turns out better that way :)
Questions:
1.) What kind of cleaning stuff is good to use to clean your piercing?
I use Dial Soap in the shower, and also this stuff called "Ear Care Magic", it can be found at common jewelry accessorie stores (Like Claires, Afterthoughts, etc.) Betadyne also works really well.
2.) How long should you wait until you can change it?
Well, they say to wait 6-9 months, well, I know someone who waited 3 weeks, someone who waited 3 months, and me, who waited 5 months. It all depends on how it feels. Does it hurt when you move it around? Is it infected? Does it hurt in general? Those are some factors to consider. Mine didn't hurt, wasn't scabby, wasn't infected, nothing, so I got a pretty new piece and pierced it:).
3.) Did it hurt when you got it pierced?
It did in a sense, but it was definitly something I'd do again, because it looks so good now, it's awesome. The pain was bearable. Don't worry.
4.) Did it bleed?
No, it didn't. Not at all. It was a very fun experience ^-^