I was 13 when I caught the piercing bug. I'd previously had my ear lobes pierced when I was 11 (with a gun, eek!), but this time I was looking for something different.
At A Glance Author Lindsay B Contact Lindsay B@bme.anon When Two years ago Studio Adorn Location Southampton, UK To my surprise, when I asked my mum if I could have my navel pierced, she said yes immediately. Some of her friends had had it done, and because it was hidden from sight most of the time, she thought it was a perfectly acceptable first piercing. My dad took a bit more convincing, though!
One of my dad's work colleagues had recently had her navel pierced at Adorn in Southampton, and she recommended it to me because everyone was really friendly and they were really professional. She also said she would come in with me to have it done, as although my mum had said she would accompany me to the studio and sign the papers, she would not come into the piercing room with me as she was too squeamish.
My mum booked the appointment for 12.00 on a day in May 2002. I was really nervous on the way there, but all I was thinking about was how good the piercing would look when it was done. When we got to the studio, we were given the consent form to fill in, and a sheet that explained all the aftercare and healing time for the piercing. We then waited about 5 minutes for someone to finish up having their nose pierced, then I could go into the piercing room.
When I got into the piercing room, the piercer told me to lift up my shirt. She then marked two dots in marker on me, one on top of my navel and one inside it. These would be the entry and exit holes. She checked with me and my dad's friend if they were straight, and once everyone was satisfied she told me to lay on the piercing bed. When I laid down she explained to me that the jewellery she would use would be a BCR, I could then come back a week later to have it changed to a barbell. This was because apparently a BCR is easier to clean.
She wiped down my navel, then sprayed some freezing spray on it. Then she clamped it. This was the most painful part as the cold temperature combined with the squeezing hurt loads-like really hard pinching of a small area of skin. She then counted to three and on 3 pushed the needle through. The actual needle going through did not hurt at all-but it was a little uncomfortable (I could feel the needle going through, but there was no pain). She then went to get the BCR; at this point I looked at my navel and saw the needle through it. This made me feel a little queasy, so I laid back down. She pushed the jewellery through (again, painless), and cleaned it as I was bleeding a bit (I have a tendency to bleed when I have injections and piercings). A dressing was put over my new piercing, folded slightly so that the piercing could not press against my skin, and I was allowed to go. She told me to get some Savlon Wound Wash to clean my piercing, as it is antiseptic and is good for piercings. I would highly recommend it, I've never had any problems whilst using it.
I went back a week later and had my BCR changed to a barbell with two multicoloured crystals in. All in all, the piercing cost me £35, and I've never had any problems with it, except from a small blister which developed on the skin in between the two ends of the barbell about 1 1/2 years after I had it done, but cleared up within two days. I've had it 3 years this month.
I was the first person I knew to get this piercing, and since then my mum and my sister have both had it done, and my best friend will be having it done in a few weeks. However, I am not sure if I was to have a navel piercing again, I would have it done with a BCR, as I've heard they have a tendency to migrate. It seems better to get it done immediately with a barbell.
Since my navel I have not had any more piercings, however I am planning to have an industrial (helix-helix) done in the next few weeks at Asgard in Southampton. I would like to get my tragus done at some point. I also currently have one 14ga stretched lobe, which I am planning to stretch to 6ga.
I know everyone says navel piercings are common and tacky, but I love my navel. It was my first piercing and I wouldn't give it up for the world.