"You stretched your WHAT?!?!?!"
At A Glance Author Den-E Contact gravityisgolden@yahoo.com IAM emopunkchick When A month ago Artist Smitty Studio Big Brain Productions Location Old Market- Omaha, NE That's the typical reaction about my navel stretching. I don't see why, 10ga isn't a big deal, and it's not incredibly huge. But, in this part of the country, it seems to be a big deal, maybe?
After that simple, yet positively annoying question comes the other one, "Why?"
That question, that's the hard one to answer. Maybe it's because I think my "average" size stomach looks better with a ring that is larger. Maybe it's because the pain of the taper helps release some emotions that I have bottled up. Maybe it's like one person said it, and I'm just really a sick fuck. I don't know. Whatever the reason, I've done it, I plan on doing it again, and I like it!
So, I went in to get my vertical tragus pierced, and asked Smitty when I could stretch from 14ga to 12ga. He looked and said he could taper it up to 10ga for free if I brought in a ring. I thought the process sounded relatively painful, so I decided to buy a ring next time I had some money.
Forward to a month later. My parents and boyfriend and I took a trip to Mall of America. While we were there, I went into Spencer's, because I hadn't been in one in such a long time. While my boyfriend was looking at all the pervy delights, I was checking out the body jewelry. I found a 10ga CBR, and decided to buy it. I gave the clerk my $13, and was on my way.
The thought of the stretch was on my mind constantly. A couple weeks later, I had a job interview a few blocks from the Big Brain. So, after the interview, my dad took me down there. I went in, and Smitty took me right back.
He took the taper out of the autoclave package, and put some lubricant on it. At this point I was totally nervous, as I'd never done any stretching except a badly stretched cartilage piercing on my own, which I took out. Smitty then took out my old CBR. Then he put the taper through- and it seemed like it was done SLOWLY.
There wasn't any real pain. I could feel the metal taking up more and more space in a hole where there wasn't any extra space before. There was a lot of discomfort, and burning. The more the taper stretched the pierce, the more it burned. It was definitely not the best feeling in the world. "No pain, no gain," certainly did apply here.
After it was over, I sat in the chair for a bit because I was shaking, something I've never done before while getting a mod.
After about ten minutes, the pain was all gone. So, I thanked Smitty, grabbed some business cards for kids at school and left.
When I get home and the pierce had time to dry out, then the pain started. I looked around, and found some vitamin E gelcaps. I've been using the oil from those to keep the area moist. Other than that, the pain has gone away, and I'm just waiting for this to heal to stretch up again. My original plan was to end at an 8ga, but now that it's almost there, I'm thinking of maybe a 6 or 4ga. Who knows?
For healing, I would suggest that you keep the piercing moist, using whatever means you find best. I would also suggest salt soaks. They work great at making the freshly tapered piercing feel a lot better. Sea salt is best, but I often use table salt, and it works too, just make sure it is very diluted. And, if you go swimming make sure that you clean it well afterward- do not learn the hard way, trust me! Also, never use those antibacterial gels (like Neosporin) because those clog the hole and don't allow the piercing to "breathe". And- no matter what people say, DO NOT take the ring out if it gets infected!
The part of this all that has been the hardest to deal with is people's reactions. People are always going to be condescending, rude, and just plain arseholes. There's nothing we can do about it. I say screw them. The worst is when people say you'll regret it. I know a lot of people who want mods, but don't get them for this reason. If you're one of those people, don't worry about them. Maybe you won't want it later- chances are you will. Get something done for your own reasons- be it aesthetic, sexual, mental, or spiritual. Just remember to stay true to the one person that will always matter- yourself. And, when the people out there that don't understand try to make you feel like less of a person, remember the words of Eleanor Roosevelt- "Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent."