Ever since I was younger, I'd always loved belly piercings. I loved the way they sparkled and brightened up a boring tummy. So I think I got the idea into my head at about age 12, when looking through one of my 'little girl' magazines I saw a model with hers done, and saw just how cool it really looked. I've never been one for face piercing, like lip, eyebrow, or that; I'd only ever wanted a belly bar. (Now I'm actually looking into getting a tiny nose stud!). So a week before my 16th birthday, after relentless nagging, I went into Inverness to get mine done.
At A Glance Author Carly When A year ago Artist Don't know her name- sorry! Studio Highland tattoo Location Inverness Centre. My friend had wanted her eyebrow done, and had gone to Alternative beauty, but I wasn't impressed at how they had handled it, and dealt with my friend. I knew that the tattoo parlour also did piercings, so that was where I was going. I won't go into the process leading up to getting pierced in too much detail (My mum had to sign forms- and she'd turned her mobile off. I couldn't find her and had about 3 hours until the parlour closed for the day, and would have to get the 80 miles train journey home again piercing-less. However I found her with 20 min to spare, and we had to heave ourselves up about 200 steps.)
So after I found her, it was a matter of following the strong smell of Antiseptic (only a good sign) to Highland tattoo studios. The woman had met me already (She informed me that I had to have my mum- even though I had ID) and she looked pleased that I'd found my mum in time, but angry that she had to do another piercing. After the forms were signed, I was let into the little room at the back, past a guy getting a massive sleeve done on his arm. The lady opened a drawer, and let me choose what jewellery I wanted. There was one that stood out at me straight away- an emerald green barbell, which would go with my pale colouring (blue eyes, blonde hair, milk bottle skin!) perfectly. I was getting kind of nervous at this point, because this was it!
One thing I must urge you to do- eat something before you get done. I didn't- and almost fainted. But anyway. I stood up and she marked me up with purple marker, and then made me sit on the chair so I was semi- lying down. I noticed people talk about the clamp, but I never got a clamp- my piercer did it freehand. She was very good by asking me if I wanted to watch, and when I said no (Didn't want to pass out or anything) she made an effort to hide the needle and everything that was going on.
Unfortunately curiosity got the better of me, and I had a good look at the needle- and almost ran. I was HUGE! She told me to sit back, and then just pushed the needle through. Well- ouch. 2 of my friends have their bellies done, and they said it didn't hurt them much at all. However they got clamps (witch due to the tightness slightly numbs the area), and they said that they got 'cream' rubbed over it beforehand. I did not. Luckily I have a very high pain threshold, and managed to look calm and composed. It wasn't like being pinched at all. It's just how you think getting a needle stabbed through your stomach would feel. The pain was not unbearable, but quite sore. Getting the jewellery put through felt weird- nothing like painful though. I looked in the mirror and loved it, and handed over £30 for it. Although it never got infected, I did get a strange lump at the bottom hole. It beld sometimes and smelt a little funky, but after changing my salt soaks to dettol soaks, it dried up and went away. It was kind of annoying waiting for this piercing to heal, but the cool bars you can get for it are totally woth it!
The only things I would watch out for wouold be
1. Bending over shortly after getting done= ouch.
2. Clothing- esp. bra staps- ive had a few teeth grittingly painful experiences.
3. Overly chloronated swimming pools- made mine itch and generally aggravated.
4. thats about it really!
I was so impressed with my piercing and would reccomend highland tattoo- it was probably one of the best piercings out of my mates. I'm not kidding, the woman couldn't have got it straighter if she had tried. It bled a lot after I got it done, and was sore for about 3 days after- but it was worth it for my beautiful belly- one year on and it's still perfect!