I'm a big sucker for memories. I love finding things that remind you of events in the past. I keep all my birthday cards just so I can look back and remember what it was like to be that age. So when I finished year 10 (at school) I needed a memory of it. I know finishing year 10 isn't that amazing but I have this tradition of doing something memorable at the end of a school year. I'd always wanted my belly pierced since I was like 8 and saw it on Britney Spears (hate to admit)!! And there you have the perfect combination... I needed a memorable event and I wanted my belly pierced.
At A Glance Author anonymous When A year ago Artist Juke Studio Jukz Location Salisbury, Wiltshire, England I had to think about it long and hard though. I'd only had my lobes pierced (which practically everyone has now a days) and the idea of a huge needle going through my stomach was quite scary. I researched it on BME and spoke to others I knew who had got it. Every time I found out more I just knew it had to be done.
Quite surprisingly my Mum was right behind me (My Dad couldn't care less so he wasn't a problem either), she admitted that she did think it would look nice and even offered to pay for it... bless her!
It was all decided... I was getting it done.
Salisbury has two piercing shops, Sharp Practice and Jukz. I'd always found Sharp Practice quite a dark place and I'd heard some bad reviews so I opted for Jukz instead. So after the last day of year ten I met my mum in town and we pootled on down to Jukz. What I love about Jukz is that you don't have to book and they just fit you in whenever which is great if you have the sudden urge to get a spur of the moment piercing! It's sooo clean there too and the people behind the counter are incredibly friendly and helpful. My Mum had to fill in a health and safety form and so I ate a chocolate bar whilst all that was being sorted out (had read that you have to eat before a piercing to avoid fainting etc). I was quite nervous at this point. Someone told me that when you get your belly pierced you either faint or cry hysterically (not true). So I was expecting a huge amount of pain.
Then I was told to go through to a room at the back. My Mum came with me to hold my hand. It was very clean and white. I saw all the stuff laid out all pre packaged etc and that made me calmer for some reason. Then I had to lay down on a sort of medical bed thing. There was even an elephant mobile on the ceiling which made me laugh a bit!
The actual procedure is a kind of blur now. I can remember being sprayed with some cooling stuff (which I was told was numbing spray but later found out it wasn't) and then Juke said he was going to pinch me to see whether I could feel it. That's when he put the needle through, so yes he did lie... but I couldn't be more grateful. It really didn't hurt. I was like a pinch a quick, sharp burst of pain that quickly faded. Then the bananabell was put in and I could hardly feel anything. I got a plaster stuck over it, brought some saline solution and was on my way. It started throbbing once I got home but nothing unbearable.
For the next few weeks after it was quite sore especially when I wore tight jeans or skirts etc. or when I knocked it. It was sometimes quite itchy as well but cleaning it 2-3 times a day with cotton buds and the saline solution helped soothe it.
It did take a while to heal fully. Around 9 months I think. That's when it stopped secreting fluid and stopped hurting completely. I didn't change it till last month (11 months after getting it done) just to be on the safe side. I still clean it every week or so just to keep it in check. Now I love it and all the hassle of cleaning it (that's what I would call it) was completely worth it. I know that belly piercings are quite popular but I have mine as a memory of the end of year 10... not just because everyone else has it.
It has spurred my love of being 'needled' I'm just trying to decide what my next hole will be... I absolutely loved the adrenaline rush and the feeling you get from having something foreign in your body. It's a feeling I can't put into words.
My belly piercing was a great start to my needle piercing experience and I would recommend it to anyone who was seriously considering getting it done.