Well for about 3 years I'd wanted my belly button pierced. At first it was because all my mates were getting it done, but then I just wanted it more when my mom kept refusing.
At A Glance Author anonymous When Three months ago Artist graham Studio northgate Location england
Finally when I turned 16, my mom realised she couldn't tell me I wasn't allowed it done anymore. However there was one condition to me getting it done, that she would have to go with me to see whether the piercer was a reputable one. She also decided that she was going to phone to make an appointment.
So a couple of days after my birthday, me, my mom and my very experienced mate, Stacey, met up outside the studio and entered. Graham walked in to the main room and began general conversation before asking me which belly bar I wanted. He also made me sit down to fill in a form. He then invited me into the back room and my mom and friend followed (oddly, it was comforting that they'd be there watching me).
Graham then organised all the equipment he'd need for the procedure, and cleaned absolutely everything. I was worried at first but then he continued chatting away like he was just making something to eat!
When everything had been sterilised, he told me to lie down on the bed in the corner and to just relax. That was when it hit me that I was really doing this. I lay there and lifted my shirt up so he could access my stomach with ease. He put another pair of gloves on and wiped my stomach with a disinfectant wipe. He then squirted something around the area (I was told it would numb the pain, but I was still anxious) and I lay there, tense. My mind was focusing on the needle and the pain, but I could still hear my mom and Stacey chatting away to Graham. I then decided to question him on the pain, and he said I would only feel a pinch. I wasn't convinced, but before I could say anything, he put the clamp on. After this my mind went a bit blurry and I can just remember lying on the bed trying to think about something else. I felt a pinch and I stared saying stuff like, "I thought you said I wouldn't feel it, well I can feel something". Right now I realise I was just a bit paranoid, but I really felt like I wanted to back out at the time. I remember asking Graham if it was to late to change my mind, and he replied by saying well not really, unless you want me to take it out. I looked down at my stomach and saw a piece of metal through my freshly pierced hole. I was amazed, and my mom said she'd never heard me moan so much! Graham then finished off by telling me the aftercare details, before taking my £30.
I went home and began to gradually feel the pain building up around the area. I decided to clean my piercing and took the bandaging off. I was a bit surprised to see blood but it was only a tiny amount and I left my piercing open to the air for the rest of the day.
For the next week I felt the pain easing off and I was still performing the cleaning twice a day. However, after about 3 weeks, I became a bit lazy and forgot to clean it, but it seemed ok.
After the 6-week period, I went shopping for a new belly bar and was eager to change it. I was so proud of my new piercing and showed it to anyone who would look!
However, about a fortnight later, the piercing was a little bit sore and red but it seemed to calm after regular cleaning.
I then thought that the piercing was fine, but I noticed a red lump sticking out underneath the bottom hole. There was no pain, but I noticed that it kept getting crusty and smelt a little bit yucky! I told my mom and she told me that she'd take me to the doctor but he'd just tell me to take it out. However I remembered Stacey telling me that it could trap the infection inside if I did so. I decided to wait about a week longer and then I noticed that the amount of gunge that was coming out was only a small amount and within a few more days, the lump had shrunk and was a pale pinky colour.
Eventually the lump completely disappeared, and I don't regret the piercing at all. My experience might have been a bit unpleasant at the time, but I love it now!
My advice would be to get the piercing done professionally, and to always follow the aftercare instructions carefully. I didn't look after my piercing as well as I should, but now I am really proud of it!
Good luck!