Where to begin? I've always been a fan of body piercing and modifications, being different, well at least for the past year or so. My first piercings were done at age four; your standard lobes everybody has done with a gun. Nothing special. The at age 12 I got my second lobe done on my left ear and then at 15 I managed to persuade my mum to let me get a third hole on my left ear and a second one on my right ear. I have different number of lobes on each ear because I don't want to be symmetrical. That was it. "No more" she said. If only she knew I had been hit by the piercing bug, rather addictive and contagious I think you will agree.
At A Glance Author Rosanna Contact cheekymonkey765@aol.com When A week ago Artist Mike Saul i think Studio Xotica Location Finchley, London, UK. A few months later, 8 to be precise, I had 5 self piercing attempts of various parts of the ear and nose. Only 2 stayed however; you're standard outer conch, aka cartilage piercing, and my right tragus (which was just removed due to infection – due to be re-pierced soon!). My mum and dad nearly had heart attacks at every one. And every one I had I had some privilege taken from me for a while. Next on my list was my navel, which is where I guess this story begins.
For the past few months I've had my sights set on a cute navel banana barbell and a horizontal lower navel barbell "no way never" was the response I got from my parents each time. However this week I felt an urge to get it done, even more so then before. It felt like it was time, cheesy as it may sound. And before you say "typical teenager wanting her belly pierced to look 'cool'". Well no, I'm not. Not every teenager wants a few more piercings; nipple, industrial maybe even VCH? To mention a few.
This morning I begged and begged. I was with my mate Laura who was helping me to persuade and it wasn't working. I didn't stop and finally my mum gave in. My dad is going nuts though; he thinks all this sort of thing is "self mutilation". Oh well.
I decided to get it done at Xotica simply because all the people I know who have it done have had it done there. I was a bit nervous this morning, I had the usual butterflies in stomach thinking what the hell am I doing feeling. I went into the shop, which was 100% clean and sterile. I signed the forms and was cleaned and marked up. "Help now its going to happen whatever I do" I thought I was going to be in agony.
Anyway. Next comes the lying down. "This is it. No chickening out now WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING???"
Next came the numbing spray. I felt a chill through my stomach. Next came the clamps. From what I read on BME (which I do A HELL OF A LOT) I thought I was going to be in pain, didn't feel a thing. I was thinking about this when this sharp pressure and slight sting zooms across my navel. Then it's over. Its over IT'S OVER! I did it! I was so happy. The jewellery being inserted didn't even hurt.
Now I'm sitting here with a plaster over my belly. How I just want to look and admire. It sure feels strange, nothing I can't live with.
A final thought. If you want this piercing go right ahead. It's virtually painless and really looks cute. Go for it, I did and I'm so happy with it now! I've included an after sort of diary so you can all see what its really like after the piercing, not just the initial reactions.
Day After
I'm actually quite surprised. I slept on my stomach all night (as usual – not good idea I hear but oh well). There is no soreness, no pain or anything. I'm cleaning it vigorously 3 times a day with a special solution given to me by the piercing studio. There's no blood or anything so I'm happy.
3 Days After
Ouch it's starting to hurt. There's a bit of redness developing around the top hole, however the lower hole is completely normal. I'm going to start cleaning it more with some anti bacterial soap which worked wonders on my cartilage piercing.
Week Later
No pain, still red but it doesn't hurt at all! I'm only getting a bit crusties and flaky skin but that's all going because I'm making sure I clean it 100%! I barely notice it when I sit down, lie down or anything anymore like before. All I have left to say is there is no such thing as too much after care. It really helps!