First, let's start with some background info on me. Hi. I'm Denise. I'm 17, and have somewhat of an obsession with body modification. I currently have a helix and tragus piercing. I want a tongue web so bad that I have considered piercing myself, but Roubyn would totally kill me. So, I'll wait a while I guess.
At A Glance Author Denise Contact EmoPunkChick@aol.com When A month ago Artist Colin Studio Big Brain Productions Location Old Market, Omaha, NE, USA I'm a Christian, but totally non-conservative. I guess I dress kind of preppy, but I try to stay away from most preps. The stereotypical ones at least. Too close-minded. But, my best friend is a blonde cheerleader. I guess I haven't been that successful, lol. I like to write poetry, and am an admitted emo kid. My parents really aren't that supportive of some of my ideas, like stretching. But, they're ok for MOST piercings. Nothing facial or oral, oh well. I'm going to be 18 soon.
My desire for a navel piercing started when I was 10 years old. My best friend's dance teacher had her navel pierced. I had already fallen in love with nose piercings, though I thought(and still do) that one would definitely not fit in with my skin colouring. So, after 6 years of badgering and nagging, I convinced my mother to let me get my navel pierced in March of 2001 when I was 16. While I hated that the piercing had become so trendy, I still loved the look, the sensual innocence that it portrayed. To me, piercing was a kind of poetry of the flesh, and a navel piercing was the equivalent of a Shakespearean sonnet.
So, one night after my boyfriend(K) and I had finished closing up the burger shop we worked at, we headed to Big Brain in the Old Market of Omaha, NE. Smitty, who is the best, pierced me, we talked for a bit, and went on our way. In May, I went back to Smitty for my helix piercing(which healed perfectly). Then, in July, I was at work, and an ice bucket I was carrying slipped and caught on my barbell. It wasn't ripped as far as I could tell, but it would NOT stop aching. It hurt to move, so I took the barbell out and cleaned the area up with peroxide and put a bandage on it.
I had been planning on getting my navel re-done a million times over, but something always came up. My mom was always busy with her business or something like that. And, I was afraid of my dad taking me because of some of the student art work that they have there. I was afraid he would disapprove and perhaps even ban me from going back.
But, on November 9, we finally headed back to Big Brain at about 9 P.M. Smitty was gone, but Colin(one of the other piercers was there) was. So was a girl(E) that used to go to the daycare my mom had worked at. We talked a bit about her tattoo, her little brother who I used to be good friends with, and her in general. Then, Colin said he would do the re-pierce for $5 like Smitty would. I felt kind of weird being pierced by someone else, but agreed to it.
While my dad stayed out front to talk to E, my friend Kazzi and I went in the piercing area with Colin. He cleaned up the ring I had brought with me from the first piercing. Once he finished, he checked the area to mark it. The hole was still clearly there, but it was not possible to put a ring in. So, he marked it, and then I chose a purple bead. I laid back in the piercing chair, and let him clamp it. The clamps were a bit tight, but that was fine with me, it wasn't painful at all. Then he put the needle through. It hurt a bit more than the first time, probably because of scar tissue. While he was getting the ring, I was able to look down and see the needle in my navel. That was probably the coolest thing in the world. I had never seen one of the piercings I've had before it was completed, so this was definitely a great experience.
After the ring was put in, I paid Colin, looked at the flash in the front area for a bit, and left. It's been almost three weeks and the piercing is doing so great. No pain, minimal lymphing, and tiny bit of redness. In March, after four months has passed, I plan on stretching to a 12ga. Then, three months after that a 10ga, and then waiting four again and stretching to a 8ga, which is where I want to stop.
My aftercare method has been salt soaks when the piercing gets cranky, and just keeping it in generally good hygiene. I think that this method is one of the best, because it lets the body heal itself, and is so easy to remember and follow up with. But of course, if there are any problems, go see your piercer or doctor.