About a year ago, I got my navel pierced. I mean, it was cute and I liked it for a while. But it got old, fast. I didn't even have it in for 4 months before I took it out and decided it wasn't for me. As I grew older and more modified, I always looked down at the little mark it left. At first I wanted to get a tattoo to cover the scar, but I never did. Procrastination is a bitch. One day over this past summer, I just got it re-pierced. I hadn't had a piercing in about 3 months and if I didn't like again, then I would just take it out. No biggie.
At A Glance Author Lyz Contact Lyz@bme.anon When A month ago Artist multiple persons Location chesapeake A piercer at the studio I work at pierced it for me. I got it done with a 14gauge-curved barbell, but the last time the hoop didn't do that well. And if the curved barbell was doing worse, then I'd changed it out. The whole piercing experience wasn't bad. I took care of my navel, I cleaned it in the shower and I even had some of the piercers to clean it for me throughout the day if I was feeling lazy. All in all it was turning out great.
It was about 2 months after I got my navel done that I decided I wanted a 12gauge in it. I don't know why, but it just seemed like something I'd get into. So I tapered my navel to a 12. It wasn't bad. The taper just slid right in there. Since my shop doesn't sell 12g curved barbells, I had to get a piercer to bend a 12gauge barbell for me. With all that work, I had it, a nice little 12gauge navel.
After a few days I noticed that I was having some difficulties with my navel. Everyone told me I should have waited until it was healed all the way. But that would mean I would have to wait 6 months or longer to gauge it. I've always been hard headed, so I didn't listen. I decided that I should put a hoop in my navel. I looked throughout my store and I could find anything that was a descent size to put in my navel. So I thought, why not. I gauged it to a 10.
I found the perfect piece of jewelry. It was 10gauge 3/8, a captive bead ring. The ball had a little star in it. I'm a sucker for stars. I went to taper it, but I couldn't find a 10gauge taper anywhere! So I resorted to an 8. That wasn't that much fun. It stung a little at first, but it was over all easy.
About a month ago, I was helping with the shipment of new jewelry and I saw this 8gauge captive bead ring that I had to have. So off I go. I purchased the piece of jewelry and away I went to taper. Only, I didn't need the taper, it just went right in. I was excited. So here I was, super cool with my 8-gauge navel.
Once again, everyone told me that I should slow this process down a great deal. I wasn't giving my navel time to heal. And to tell the truth, I they were right. Not even a week after I gauged my navel to an 8, I changed it out to a curved barbell. Since my navel wasn't sore and it really didn't look red, I thought I was going to be okay. That was my mistake.
I continued to clean my navel everyday and not touch it. And it was hard because I was so proud of it. About a few weeks ago I noticed that my navel was starting to walk out. It was either because my navel was pierced too deep or from all the tapering. Most liking it is from all the tapering. So here I am, with my 8-gauge navel and I have to take it out and start again. I was hard headed and I didn't listen to a single person around me when they told me to slow down. I'm trying to keep it as long as I can. I worked pretty darn hard on this and I am going to dread the actual day that I take it out. It's red and looks a bit like old corned beef. Not a good site. So if you gauge your navel, take it slow. Listen to the professionals. Just because you have a lot of know how on all kinds of piercings and whatnot, don't think that you are invincible. Wait at least 6 months and if you can't hold out that long, then wait 3 months. Make sure you give it time to heal in b etween tapering. Just because your ears heal quickly, doesn't mean that any other part of your body will too. That was my biggest mistake. Take it easy and talk to your piercer. He/She knows all about it, and actually do what they say.