For me, getting my navel pierced was a life changing experience. At the time, it was a spontaneous idea a couple of my friends and I had one day. But after I did it, I became incredibly curious about all kinds of body modification. I am getting ahead of myself. I should start from the beginning:
At A Glance Author Plastic Flower Contact Plastcflower@hotmail.com When Two years ago Artist Greg (?) Studio Rising Phoenix Location Addison, IL We chose Rising Phoenix in Addison, IL to get our piercings because I knew some guys who had gotten tattoos there, and that was a good enough recommendation for me, at the time. When it came down to actually getting the piercing, I was the only one of us who had both the proper ID, and enough money. I remember that the piercer carded me, and asked for my $50, but never made me fill out any paperwork. (Looking back, this was not a good thing).
After I paid, the piercer showed me the "standard" jewelry (a 14g CBR) and a needle, both in the same sterile package. I said that was ok, so he proceeded to mark me. I remember he made a comment about my navel being "crooked." (I'm not really sure what that means). Then he had me lay down on the bench and he clamped my navel. He counted to 3, I felt a slight prick, and then the jewelry was in. It was that quick! Once I had examined my new addition, he told me to wash it with dial while in the shower and not to touch it otherwise. Then he sent me on my way.
The piercing didn't hurt, except when I cleaned it in the shower like the piercer told me. The smell of dial still makes my stomach turn. I had no problems with the piercing for the first few months. However, it began to form this little pocket of fluid next to the top hole, and no matter how much I cleaned it, it wouldn't go away.
It wasn't until I was at a different studio to get my next piercing (a story to tell another time), that I got some advice on how to clear up to problem. I was told to do sea salt soaks and change the jewelry to a curved barbell as soon as the "bubble," went away. Sure enough, after a month of salt soaks, and the use of a milder soap, my navel cleared up and I put in a curved barbell.
Lucky for me, everything turned out fine. I didn't do research on piercing until AFTER I did it. And when I did find BME and read about other peoples' experiences, I found many things that should have been done different. As a rule, you should look at a piercer's (or tattooist's) portfolio before getting worked on by them. Second, the piercing should be done in separate room. My navel was done practically right next to some dude getting a tattoo. Additionally, you should be given some paperwork to fill out, and the piercer should ask some general health questions (like, have you consumed alcohol or eaten recently?). Written aftercare is always a plus. The aftercare instructions I got were not the best out there, either. In general, Dial is too harsh (although I'm sure some people out there use it with no problems). I recommend 'Satin Soap,' which I have used on every piercing I've gotten since. And sea salt works wonders, I swear by it.
I should also mention that I got this piercing without my parents' knowledge. Both are extremely conservative church-going Christians. There is no way they would go for something like this. (I was not allowed to get my ears pierced until I was 14). My mom thinks changing your body is sacrilegious, which is funny, because body modification has since become something of a religion to me. Anyway, I successfully kept the piercing from view for about 5 months, but while shopping with my mom, she caught a glimpse of it – But, to my surprise, she wasn't very upset about it. Now, if you are considering getting this piercing and attempting to hide it from your parents, I will tell you that it IS possible, but sometimes annoying. Think bathing suits.
I mentioned earlier that this piercing was life changing. Before getting my navel pierced, the only piercings I had were 6 lobes, and one cartilage, done by a piercing gun at the mall. Just stepping foot in the tattoo parlor immediately intrigued me. So after I got my navel done, I began my quest for knowledge on all forms of body art and found BME. That was two years ago and I have since made my list of mods a little longer, including: 14g inner conch, 12g nipples, 16g tongue web, 12g vertical hood, and two tattoos. I plan to add many more too!!! They weren't kidding when they said body art is addicting!!!
I will say that I recommend getting this piercing – I love mine. However, be advised that it takes patience and responsibility to heal (as with any piercing). It took mine about a year to totally heal. Feel free to contact me with any questions, and happy piercing!!!