August 23, 2003: I went to get my navel pierced. The studio waiting room is very nice: a koi pond, carpeting, a huge aquarium with a huge catfish, and a smaller aquarium with lots of small fish. I was hoping for a normal piercing using a titanium barbel, but my piercer (see above) felt that due to the shape of my navel (not very concave) it would be less likely to migrate or reject if I were pierced using tygon (surgical flexible tubing). He said after I'm fully healed (6-12 months), I should be able to switch to a metal bar with a low risk of problems. The cost for this tygon piercing: $100. (This studio charges about $60, I believe, for a "regular" navel piercing using metal jewelry. I am placing my trust in his opinion that a "regular" piercing with metal wasn't appropriate for me; I hope I wasn't ripped off).
At A Glance Author Protect the Earth Contact Protect the Earth@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Noah Babcock Studio Evolution Body Piercing Inc. Location Albuquerque, NM I chose this studio because it feels more upscale, the autoclave process was clearly explained, the spore test results are available at the front counter, and a large variety of jewelry is available. My piercer was also able to explain why he thought a tygon piercing was more appropriate for me. I'm still not thrilled about the price, but it does include changes of the tygon after 2,4,and 6 months, a tiny bag of sea salt, and (I hope) a very sterile piercing. A bottle of the recommend soap cost $4.50 extra.
I was able to choose between garnet (dark red), rose quartz (white), onyx (black) or hematite (silver) beads; I chose the garnet. I was hoping for blue beads, but the piercer said the only stones they found hold the screws well were the ones available. (I'm not sure if metal beads are available; I wanted stone due to having metal--probably nickel--sensitivity).
My garnet beads were sterilized while I filled out my paperwork. Then my piercer took me to the back, and I lied down on the table. He took packages out of a drawer of a needle, a clamp, etc. and cleansed the navel area, and then I had to stand while he used purple ink to mark where the needle would go. Then I had to lie down again. While doing these things, he was explaining the aftercare process. I felt it was the wrong time to explain aftercare because I was slightly nervous (which I hadn't expected) and not paying the greatest attention and wanted to focus on the piercing procedure itself. Also, I didn't specifically notice the needle being opened, since he didn't say "Watch, I'm now opening a sterile needle package." I couldn't decide whether to watch while he did the piercing. I ended up not watching because it hurt more than expected (more pain than receiving a vaccine at the doctor's office), so I'm not sure exactly how the tygon tubing was inserted. Then I looked down, and there was a long piece of tygon in my navel! He trimmed it and screwed in the beads. I regret being so distracted by looking at my new piercing that I didn't notice him throwing the needle into the Sharp's container. I wish he had said something like "Here goes the needle into our Sharp's container," because after the piercing, you have to sign a form stating you saw the needle properly disposed of.
The piercing was bleeding, but only a little and for a moment. He cleansed the area again, and checked the piercing after I stood up. The tygon was a little longer than it should have been, so he asked me to come back in 2 weeks to have it trimmed (by then, all swelling should be gone). Too bad, because it doesn't look quite right, but it is only temporary, and maybe it will make the cleansing process (moving the piercing while cleansing it with soap twice a day) easier.
The piercing didn't hurt anymore after the tygon was trimmed and the beads screwed in, but after a few hours, I started to feel sore and there was slight bleeding. Now I just keep looking at the pretty beads and the tygon sticking out, and I hope all goes well, and I can wear beautiful jewelry within a year!
I would recommend getting a piercing at Evolution Inc. Body Piercing, although there are cheaper studios in Albuquerque, because I do think I got a truly safe piercing. But I'd recommend watching for the needle being specifically opened (not just taken out of the drawer) and make sure you see it being disposed of. Also, if you're not a patient person and want a beautiful piercing NOW, and tygon is recommended for you, you'll have to gain patience fast because it's more like a "piercing in progress."
Now, a week later, I haven't had any problems with the piercing, although it's dark pink at the "entrance and exit points." The soreness only lasted a few days, although I still feel the piercing "now and then."