Since the first time I saw someone with their lower navel pierced, I knew I had to get one. I had my navel pierced February 2006, and have been waiting for a time to finally get the lower part pierced. I researched on BME for quite some time, learning about what methods and jewelry should be used in such an area, reading people's stories, and looking at pictures. I had it figured out from all my research what I was going to get done. I wanted a surface piercing, with a surface bar, and done with the punch and taper method.
At A Glance Author allie Contact allie@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Matt Southwood Studio enigma. Location San Diego, California Finally, last night when my boyfriend came down to visit me, he wanted to buy me my piercing, so we went to check out studios near me. One of the piercers from enigma. was interviewed in the new microdermal article on the homepage, so I figured if BME trusts them, I might as well go check it out! They were the first place I checked out, and knew it was the place for me.
I went in there and talked to a guy named Matt about how he does surface piercings, and he said he uses the punch and taper method. So far, so good. Also, they used surface bars, which I suspected. Matt next asked me where I wanted this piercing, and when I told him, he told me that is was a bad idea, whichever method and jewelry were used. He informed me that even with a surface bar, the amount of movement to that area would eventually force the piercing out and leave huge scars. He also said when getting a surface piercing, one does not expect it to be permanent. And I really wanted mine to stay. So he suggested an anchor piercing. The studio is works with "Industrial Strength," so they have been practicing these piercings for some time now, and Matt said he had done over 100, with amazing results. It was set. I would come in the next day.
I came in around the afternoon, not too many people were there, so the wait didn't take too long. I went into the room after Matt had cleaned it, to hear my jewelry in the autoclave in the next room, and we started marking the spot where it would go. After some adjusting and lining it up so it looked fine with my sort of crooked navel piercing, and my navel at the same time, he had my lie down, and said he would insert the needle from the bottom, then again from the top, and then insert the jewelry.
After he made the first insertion, he did another one, in the same spot. And then moved to do the piercing coming in from the other side. I do not know why he had to pierce three times, as opposed to the two he mentioned, but he did not bring it up, so I am assuming that is was no big deal, just something he had to do.
It did not hurt very much, it felt better than my first navel piercing, but then again, there were some issues with that. It felt more like a sharp pinching that lasted a second, and then was over as soon as it started. When he was done with the needles and I think this was after the anchor was in, I asked how it was going, and he only replied with "Good, but I'm trying to figure out why you aren't bleeding!" So yeah, I didn't bleed at all, until I sat up and went to the mirror, then a little bit came around the edges. After he looked at it again, he decided it wasn't completely flat against my skin, so he adjusted it. He told me to let him know if he was pushing too hard and it started hurting me, but I just go through things even if it does hurt, because that is all part of the experience to me. When he stopped I kind of let out a sigh cause I was holding it in, and Matt says, "Well, I suppose that's one way to tell me!" And that was it! I got up, looked in the mirror again, and was stoked! My boyfriend really likes it too, so that is always a plus.
I adore this piercing and am SO glad that Matt talked me into getting the anchor as opposed to the surface piercing. I love how "weird" it looks just being the single point piercing. I can't imagine any way that my experience could have been better; the people at enigma. truly know their stuff and are nice people. If you're in the area and need something, definitely check them out first. Again, I just can't describe how much I love this piercing; my favorite.