It all started about four years ago when I turned 18. I was an "adult," and I wanted to do everything that came with being 18...buy cigarettes, vote, go to a porn shop...you get the idea. What better way to explore that elusive realm that I now had access to than by getting tattooed? However, I decided that was going a little too far...lifetime commitment? Ewww, scary! I then began considering a piercing, that way I could take it out if I ever decided I was bored with it. I thought navel piercings were beautiful, but it seemed like everyone had one, and I didn't want to get pierced because of some trend. I started out with a nipple, and then proceeded to a hood. Hmmm.... what's next?
At A Glance Author Raeann Contact lucretia0077@cs.com When A month ago Artist Jimmy Studio 252 Tattoo Location Olmsted falls, Ohio Feeling the need to be stabbed again, I started considering new places to get pierced. I still admired navels but thought that, because of the physical nature of my job, such a piercing would be a nuisance. Alas, I simply couldn't get rid of the overwhelming urge to have my very own bejeweled belly. After reading nearly every navel piercing experience featured on BME, I realized that I just couldn't live without a hole in my stomach!
So, one evening while at the mall, I decided that tonight's the night. I'm just gonna go for it! I took my little sister with me because she thought it would be cool to watch, and I needed some company. I was very calm during the drive to the piercing studio, but that's only because I figured that if I could handle getting my nipple pierced, I could stand a navel piercing. I had been to this particular studio before, and I was pleased with the work they had done. When we walked in, the place was empty, but during the five minutes it took to fill out the form, half of Cleveland showed up! The phone was ringing off the hook, and the piercers were obviously getting frazzled. I had a feeling that I should just leave, but I just couldn't bring myself to walk out the door (no matter how badly you want to be pierced, don't do it at a place where you do not feel 100% comfortable!).
I went into a room with one of the piercers, and described to her the navel project I had in mind, which consisted of three barbells fanned over the top of my bellybutton. She agreed that it sounded like a cool design, and recommended doing them separately. I told her that I wanted a standard navel piercing to begin with. Mark, breathe, and pierce! Boom! Done! I didn't feel a thing. I was shocked. I examined my jewelry and bounced out of the studio, enjoying my adrenaline rush. After my happy juice ran out, I realized that the piercing was crooked, and because of the placement, I wouldn't be able to continue my navel project as planned! Argh!!
OK, quick goat-thinking, let's just go with it and get two on top and one on the bottom! Great idea! I was obviously not going back to THAT place, so about a week later I went to 252 Tattoo (where I was going to go from the beginning...sigh...stupid, stupid me!). Jimmy, the piercer, was extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and hot! I explained to him what I had wanted, what went wrong, etc. Thankfully, he was very understanding about the whole situation. I had him pierce my lower navel, since I had so recently gotten the top done. This one wasn't so nice. Not that it was really painful, but I definitely drew a hard breath after feeling the needle go through. I got up and it was perfectly, beautifully straight!
Fast-forward two weeks, back to Jimmy to finish my project. All went well, although once again a little more painful than the first piercing. Perfect placement...ah...Jimmy's my hero! I now have an absolutely gorgeous navel.
Now it's time to discuss healing. My bellybutton is on a Provon and sea salt diet, and it seems to like it. My first piercing was doing surprisingly well, no redness, swelling or pain. That is, until four days later when I was at the bar and this bonehead decided to bite it! For some reason guys seem to have this uncontrollable urge to play with fresh piercings. Dirty hands and saliva are very bad!! It became really red and painful for about a week. Dumb, icky boy! My lower navel was a little tender, and it seemed like everyone who came within three feet of me somehow bumped it. Be on guard for these clumsy gorillas! My third piercing bled a bit, nothing Stephen King or anything, just enough to get nice and crusty. And while we're on the subject of crusty, I recommend buying a bulk box of q-tips. They work wonders for getting that nasty stuff off piercings.
I'm glad to say that I went out to the bar after each piercing, and had no pain or problems, except for the aforementioned dumbasses that just had to come in contact with them. I've had a few "accidents" at work where they've gotten bumped, but I'm still very pleased with their relative unobtrusiveness. I'm thoroughly infatuated with my completed project, and am now contemplating my next piercing. I recommend to anyone feeling the urge to go for it, just prepare to be addicted!
P.S. Anyone in the Cleveland area considering a piercing...GO SEE JIMMY! He absolutely rocks!!