So my story starts off sometime earlier this year [2006]. I was only 14 at the time, and my mom was the one person that knew of my little desire [to be pierced]. I asked her several times about what she thought of me getting my navel done - but all she ever said was "I don't know"..in a stretched, and somewhat worried voice. In my family, my dad is the parent that makes most of the final parenting decisions. I knew that if I wanted any piercing - I'd have to go to my dad first. Seemingly knowing my dad...and what his reaction would be (something along the lines of..."No. Only sluts/whores/hoes/etc get piercings like that. Are you one of them?")...I decided not to ask, and just forget about my little desire.
At A Glance Author Amy Contact Amy@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Unsure...some latino dude Studio Absolute Tattoo Location San Antonio, TX Over the summer, piercings were brought up once or twice - while I was talking to my best friend, Michelle. Michelle already has her bellybutton pierced - so we couldn't really do that as a sort of "bonding" thing. Eventually we decided that - one day (the main thing stopping us right now, is our parents) we will each get our nose/nostril pierced together. Well...she was satisfied with her extra (extra being something other than her 2 ear lobes) piercing - but I still had a unfulfilled craving to have another piercing. I really wanted my nose more than anything..but I knew Michelle's dad wouldn't let her get it..and I wasn't about to go and get it done without her.
With all of the hopes and wishes of getting something pierced - I finally decided to approach my dad on what my limits were when it came to piercings [and tattoos..which I'll be holding off for a while]. This is what it came down to, after about 20 minutes of slight debating. Facial piercings were a no..for now [I'm sure I'll be able to convince him sometime in the future...next year hopefully) - mainly because he thinks that it'll make me look like a "freak" (which I'd have 0% of a problem with), and that in fights...some people tend to grab for visible piercings..to pull out the jewelry. Also..for the nose piercing..he thinks that when I go swimming..and I try to plug my nose...I might not cover the piercing - and if I try to inhale with my nose plugged, water will enter my nose through the piercing (dumb - I know). Now for the bellybutton...my last piercing I was to ask about. To my complete and utter shock - he said that he approved of them. At the end of our discussion, I asked him when he would let me get it done. His answer? "Right now". So my quest to find the right piercing shop began (Monday, October 9).
My dad had an appointment in town on the following Thursday - so I decided that I would get it done then. Of course - my dad thought I should take a little more time to think about it (since it had only been 3 days since he gave me his approval)...but I then informed him that I had been thinking about it since early this year, and he said "okay". I narrowed down my choices to 3 different shops..then let my dad choose from there. His decision was based on location..but I was happy with it because it was the 2nd highest rated piercing/tattoo shop in town.
Thursday (October 12, 2006) came around - and I was only slightly nervous..to my surprise. After calling the shop (Absolute Tattoo) - I found out that I would need to bring a photo ID of myself, as well as my dad. After running tons of errands (from 10AM to 3PM), my dad's appointment was finally taking place. By then - my stomach had started doing flips. I was really hungry - but I didn't eat anything..because I really didn't think I would be able to keep it down. The thought of food made me queasy...but I really don't know why. I wasn't really that nervous - because honestly..I had previously placed a pair of surgical-like clamps on my bellybutton, and clothes pins...and I had spent time pinching my navel to see if it hurt...which it didn't. I wasn't really worried about the pain - so I didn't have any reason to be nervous. But anyways - at around 4PM, my dad's appointment was over, and we headed over to Absolute Tattoo.
When we arrived - there were only 2 girls there, waiting to be tattooed. The guy behind the counter was apparently the guy that ran the whole place (aka - the manager). We (my dad, brother, and I) walked up to the counter - and waited for the guy to finish what he was doing. After he finished his business - he asked us what we were looking to have done. I told him I wanted my bellybutton pierced. He said "okay" - then went and got some forms. He filled out some of the info (I'm guessing the stuff having to do with him or his business) on his own, then asked for our ID's - and told us to fill out specific parts of the form (one for myself, and one for my dad). After the forms were filled, and our ID's were copied onto the back of the forms - he lead me into one of the back rooms. After he repositioned this dentist like chair - he told me to "take a seat". He then left the room - and my brother and dad walked into the door way of the room. I knew I would be nervous if they watched - so I asked/told them to leave (nicely..of course)...and they obliged.
After about, 5 minutes - the guy came back into the room, with a table (the kind they use at the dentist, to hold their little dental "instruments") covered with blue paper towels. The table contained about 8-10 cotton balls covered with that orange-ish brown antiseptic stuff, a Dixie cup, 2 cups (with lids) that contained sea salt [in one] and dial anti-bacterial soap [in the other], 2 sealed packages, one containing the needle, and the other containing the plain sterile 14 gauge surgical steel barbell [that would be my "starter" jewelry]. He realized he forgot his clamps - so he left the room, and returned with a sealed package - containing the clamp he would use on my navel. I was then asked to stand up next to the chair/bed, as he wiped my bellybutton [and the surrounding area] with the orange-ish brown stuff. After he was done cleaning the area - he placed two dots on my navel, where the needle would insert, and come out through. He didn't ask me if I liked the placement..but I didn't really mind, because I figured that since he's a professional, he knows what he's doing. The clamp was then applied...and since I was expecting this to hurt more than the actual piercing...I didn't really mind [or find it uncomfortable] the slight pinching feeling, and pressure. I found it kind of weird that he still hadn't asked me to lay back down yet, so I asked him if I was going to be standing through the whole process. He said "It doesn't hurt that much mija, don't worry"...meaning that, yes, I would be standing. The guy then tried to make some conversation with me, by asking if I was a Freshman this year. I told him "No" and that I was a Sophomore. Immediately after I answered his question, he pushed the needle through my skin, and pierced my bellybutton. I can honestly say that I didn't really feel any pain...just pressure. After the needle went completely through, he didn't remove the needle. First he grabbed the package with the barbell, opened it, unscrewed one ball, then placed one end at the end of the needle. As he pulled out the needle, he pushed in the jewelry...which honestly, hurt more than the actual piercing - but it was still nothing big. It was only a slight sting, and tugging feeling. What hurt most [but once again..nothing big..just a stinging feeling...like you'd usually feel when you clean a open wound] was when he used the last few antiseptic covered cotton balls to clean my fresh new piercing.
After he was done cleaning up my navel, he told me to take a look at it in the mirror covered wall. I can now say I believe in love at first sight =) ! (Not seriously though...=P ) . After I was done admiring my new piercing (which wasn't for long...probably no more than 30 seconds...because I didn't want to freak the guy out, heh), the piercer explained all of the after-care instructions, and gave me a little instruction sheet in case I forgot any of the information he had just given me. I thanked the guy, and hoped to be on my way...but my dad, being the big chit-chatter that he is, just had to start a 20 minute conversation with my piercer. I guess it helped, because I got to ask a few questions that I had (about after care) while I was waiting. The soreness afterwards wasn't too bad, so I didn't mind standing around until my dad was done (yes - there were chairs to sit...but I found it a bit uncomfortable to sit down right after it was pierced) .
Fast forward to today. My piercing is doing fine, and healing nicely. I had started to worry after my piercing formed a small red ring around the top ball, and I noticed that some white-ish gooey fluid was surfacing around that same area too...but I later found out that it was all part of the normal healing process. The white "goo" was just lymph. And although some small crusties do form every now and then, the sea salt soaks get rid of them rather easily. To keep my piercing clean (which no one can stress enough, that it is very important to keep your piercing clean) I use sea salt soaks, and clean it with Dial Antibacterial Soap in the shower.
If you have any questions about my experience, feel free to email me. I would be glad to help anyone that is looking to get this beautiful piercing done =) !