I have always been fascinated by pierced bellybuttons, but somehow it was not logical for me to have it pierced on the upperside of the navel. And because everyone has a standard navelpiercing I never had it done (I am just like that, I don't know why). Besides, I had an outie untill I was about thirteen or fourteen, so I never expected my navel could be pierced in the first place.
At A Glance Author Lotte Contact Lotte@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Sandra Studio Bodypiercing Lifestyle Location Maastricht, Netherlands A few months ago I found a picture of someone on a forum I visit daily who had an inverse navelpiercing. I was instantly in love, and after thinking about it for a looooong time, thinking about the good stuff (have an nice piercing) and bad stuff (pain, problems, scars if I want to get rid of it one day), talking about it to my boyfriend, parents and friends, I decided to just go for it. I was too obsessed with it and it was something I just really wanted to do for such a long time.
So yesterday (September 5th, 2006) was the big day, I brought my best friend, who is pierced all over his body, so he knows the deal, and his hand is big and good to squeeze (best advice ever, bring a hand you can sqeeze when you get pierced). We went to Bodypiercing Lifestyle and Sandra, the owner of the shop, was sitting outside in the sun when we walked up there. She checked my navel right there on the sidewalk to see if it was possible to pierce, and it was. We went inside, and I got REALLY nervous. I don't have any other piercings, I once had my nose pierced for a few months or so, but it was pierced with one of those nasty piercingpistols, so I don't think that counts. So I started walking around trying to be cool, but actually sweating like a maniac. I decided I could act like this, or just act cool. I'm not the first person getting this done, and I'm not the last. And Sandra is pierced and tattooed all over her body (and even some scarification and implants!) so there was no reason to be totally scared, it could be much worse. I signed the contract, learned about the cleaning and healing process and found a pretty titanium black jewel (a barbell, I don't like rings) to put in it and was told to go to The Room Where It All Happens. I sat down while Sandra and my friend were talking, they are friends from a long time ago, and them talking and laughing helped me to stay calm and not to be scared for the pain (I have read some horrorstories about the pain here on BME when I was researching, so I was a little bit freaked out). Sandra marked me with a pen and I laid down on the bed while Sandra was preparing for everything. Then things went very very fast. I grabbed my friends hand when she started to clamp me (which didn't hurt at all). Waiting for the needle, and the horrible pain... that didn't come! It was done in a second. Ok, it is uncomfortable, but I had shots before flying to Africa that were WAY more painful! Sandra was a doll, the famous "breathe in, breathe out" is a good method to pierce it good and without too much pain. I laid down for a minute or two after that, then got up and looked at it in the mirror, totally in love. I paid for the thing, and my friend and Sandra talked some more.
Today it is a bit sore and a little bit black and blueish. I am careful, and I try not to move too fast.But I sometimes forget that and yes then it is a little bit painful. Sleeping is also a bit weird, my piercer adviced me to try and not sleep on my belly for at least a week (and believe me, you can't sleep on your belly in a comfortable way with a fresh pierced inverse navel). I always sleep on my belly, and it's almost 3AM here now, I am not awake and online because I like to be). But those are just small stuff that will be over in a short period of time, it's not a disaster.
If you have doubts about getting your inverse because of the enourmous pain, I hope my story will convince you that it is not so bad. Just go to a professional piercer that knows what he or she is doing, bring a friend for comfort and squeezing and it will be done before you know it! Believe me, you will not regret it, everytime I look in the mirror or just look down, I get a smile on my face. I should have done this earlier. It's awesome and so pretty!