At A Glance
Author	kotic 1787
Contact	kkcookie1@optonline.net
When	Six months ago
Studio	chameleon tattoos
Location	jamaica,queens

I was seventeen when I decided to get my belly button pierced. I wouldn't say that it was an impulsive decision because I have wanted it since I first saw the jeweled perfection of Britney's abs.(that was when I was thirteen.)but I knew my parents, being of Caribbean descent, would never under any circumstance, allow me to pierce my navel at such a young age. So I kept my infatuation/obsession to myself. But then they seemed to pop up everywhere! Every summer less and less clothes were being worn, and more and more navels were seen adorned with the cutest charms, and prettiest jewels I'd ever seen.

Then I turned sixteen and like most other sixteen year olds I thought I was grown. I had to have one. The decision was made. What were my parents going to do after I got it done anyway? What's done is done was my logic. My want for my piercing was like a fever. Every time I saw it, I wanted it more. I made up my mind that even if it was the first and last piercing I ever got done in my life, it was going to be done. One of my girls had just got hers done, and in a navel based conversation, she offered to take me to the same place she got hers done at. Her belly button looked so good, I had to oblige. She assured me that the place was clean, the lady was nice, and best of all, they didn't id her! I was so amped.

A week later we were on our way to fulfill my utmost desire at the time. When we got there just as my friend had promised, the place was clean, the lady was nice, and no id. She sat me in a chair helped me pick out the bar I wanted, and cleaned and marked me. I did not fancy seeing that insanely long and sharp needle being inserted into my flesh, so I looked away as my friend held my hand. Like an ass, I thought that when the lady clamped my skin to prepare the area for the wound she had pierced me. I let out a sigh of relief that it didn't hurt. Then a serious pinching sensation surprised the hell out of me. That would be the actual needle actually piercing me. It was a blessing in disguise though, me thinking that the clamp was the needle caused me to relax and not anticipate the pain, which in turn made the procedure virtually painless. She put my navel ring in, sprayed me, and I was done. I paid her and almost skipped out of the shop. It was pretty pathetic really.

And there it was. My beautiful pink jeweled navel. I was elated. When I got home I couldn't think of any thing but my belly ring. I could not stop looking at it. Or touching it. Big mistake. I was touching it constantly from sheer disbelief that I had done it. I also could not wait to change it, and changed it after a month contrary to instruction. Another big mistake. I was always cleaning it with the same spray the lady at the shop told me to use: Bactine. Which I later found out could be no worse for my poor belly button.

Well my navel never did anything crazy like hurt or bleed any thing, but I noticed it started to darken around the top hole. There was also a peculiar little bump on the bottom hole that I could not quite explain. I asked friends that had had theirs done if they had any of these problems and they assured me that it was normal in the first couple of months, and that eventually they would go away. Never listen to friends. I was sure my piercing didn't look right. So I went back to the piercing place. The same lady that was there informed me that I was developing a keloid due from either touching or changing my belly ring when I wasn't supposed to, or from an allergic reaction. She told me that when she first had her navel pierced, she too acquired a nasty little keloid, and as soon as she changed the ring to sterling silver or gold it went away. A light bulb went off in my head. An allergic reaction! I knew I had sensitive skin and her words brought back a similar experience I had any time I wore fake earrings.

I realized that had to be the reason for my navel drama. (Although I'm sure all the extra touching and spraying and changing the ring didn't do much to help me either.) So I took it out. Had to. It had started to look like hell. I always thank god that it didn't really get infected or anything. But now I'm left with two brown scars on the top and bottom of my navel. I secretly think this all happened because I went behind my parents back and did it (who by the way were not too pleased when they found out) karma's a bitch. Anyhow I'm eighteen now and am much more informed about navels and the piercing of. I'm thinking about getting it repierced but I'm not sure. I read that they would have to pierce it behind the scarring, and I'm not sure how that would look. If anyone knows anything about piercing over, e-mail me. I need encouragement even though I'll probably do it anyway, to those girls with virgin navels, if u pierce, do not do not touch, change or use Bactine. I learned my lesson and wouldn't want any one to endure the same piercing aftermath that I did. Peace. sure to check the boxes above.