Part of the navel crowd now.
At A Glance Author DarkSideVegan Contact DarkSideVegan@bme.anon IAM DarkSideVegan When A month ago Artist Andy? Studio Dandyland Location San Antonio This story starts out with my friend Laura coming down to see me during her winter break. She had wanted her daith and anti-tragus pierced and to eventually become an orbital using a surface bar. Since she had moved north to go to college, she didn't know any reputable shops in the area so she asked me to get an appointment for her at a place nearby where we had recently bought Monroe jewelry. It's called Dandyland and was recommended by my former piercer that had retired. When we got the jewelry there they had a great selection of quality jewelry. Plus they were really friendly, the owner put the jewelry in for us and even stretched my Monroe for free.
Once Laura arrived we had a bite to eat and headed off. When we arrived at Dandyland there were a few people in the lobby so we started looking around and were soon greeted by one of the piercers (I think his name was Andy). Laura started explaining what she wanted and they used my ear to make it easier to explain. After they concluded her body could have those piercings they left to get ready.
As we were waiting in the lobby looking for jewelry, I got the urge to be pierced. There was only one problem, I'm really poor and didn't have the money. As I told Laura she decided she would buy me a piercing for my Christmas. I decided on my inverse navel because I had always wanted one and this was the perfect opportunity. Next I called my boyfriend Jason and told him what I was getting done so he wouldn't be shocked later on.
Once the piercer came back we told him that I wanted to get my inverse navel pierced and he checked out my navel to make sure it had the right shape to heal properly. After picking out the jewelry (14 g. 1/2" internally threaded curved barbell) he said he was going to pierce me first if I didn't mind because it was the quicker piercing to do. I didn't mind and we went back to the piercing room and I sat down. The room was very nice, they had a dentist chair and a big mirror.
He got all the supplies out and it was onto cleaning and marking. He cleaned the area, then asked me to stand up so he could see how my body moved to get the placement perfect. Once the marks were done he had me lay back down and checked the jewelry length to my body, here he decided to get a 3/8" curved barbell because I have a small navel.
As he attached the clamps I felt a slight pressure but it didn't hurt at all. He made sure that the clamps were positioned correctly and got the needle ready. He did the old line of asking me to breathe deeply in then out, which I was already doing without thinking, and pushed the needle through. It was a pinching then warm in the area. Not too bad at all. He then asked if I was doing okay and I was. Next he got the jewelry ready and followed the end of the needle with the jewelry. I really love how it looks. After cleaning the area I slowly got up and he explained the healing procedure.
Then he asked if he could take a picture of the piercing to put in his portfolio. I obliged and he grabbed his digital camera and took a few shots. I wondered if it was an uncommon piercing and he said yes, but also that it isn't that common for someone to have the right shaped navel to get a really well placed piercing. We went back into the lobby to let him clean up for Laura's piercings and checked out my navel and it looked great. Just a little red, but not swollen (at least noticeably).
Up next was Laura, it was a tricky procedure, but it went very well. She didn't experience too much pain and it the longest part was getting the marks right. As we were leaving I bought some jewelry for my cartilage and checked on my navel. It had bled a little, but nothing serious. The piercer gave us a bottle of Provon soap and healing instructions then we left. I had a great experience at Dandyland and would recommend them to anyone in the area.
It's been almost a month since I was pierced and I have had a very good healing process. I use the Provon soap in the shower and leave it alone otherwise. After the first night it hasn't become red again or showed signs of irritation. There have only been a few crusties and it hasn't been very sore at all.