| At A Glance |
| Author | Jo |
| Contact | Jo@bme.anon |
| When | Three months ago |
| Artist | Mike Manning |
| Studio | Choice Tattoos |
| Location | Wauzeka, WI |
This experience is about my very first body piercing, my navel. Yes, there are many experiences here that have young people wanting this piercing because it is cool and everyone has one. I didn't want it for those reasons, I wanted it because I actually wanted it, and also it was in a way, a present to myself for finally losing and keeping of some weight. I also wanted this piercing for the experience; I'm very fascinated with tattooing and piercing and would like to take on an apprenticeship someday. There is one reason why I did not want to get this piercing, the fact that everyone seems to have it, but I decided I didn't care, I wanted it and that was that.
I had gotten my tattoo done just a little bit ago and now it was time to get my navel pierced. I was very nervous, this would be my very first body piercing, but figured after handling the tattoo so well; I could most defiantly take on getting a needle shoved into my navel. Mike went and set things up while I ate some Skittles, determined to keep my blood sugar up as much as possible, I wasn't prone to passing out, but wanted to make sure I wouldn't because I really didn't want to.
Soon Mike was ready, he showed me the needle, the plain barbell he would be using, explaining how it was going to be extra long so I could clean it easier, then showed me the clamps, and said that they would probably be the most annoying part of the piercing itself. Now, how Mike pierced me startled me a little, but he's been in business for years, and is a very respected piercer/tattooist, and he defiantly knew what to do. Instead of lying in the 'dentist chair' he had me stand in front of him while he was sitting, had me hold my shirt up, put the clamps on, they did feel uncomfortable, but they didn't really hurt like I have read of people saying, and said that on the count of three he'd pierce me. He when did, and I saw my very candid facial expression in the mirrored wall...a look of total open-jawed shock.
There was, to me, pain...but not a lot at all, a very tolerable amount, but to me it was of course, shocking. I don't go about my days poking myself to see how much it hurts, etc. for me I'll always feel some sort of pain when there's a needle being shoved into my skin...I'm pretty sensitive, not everyone is the same, but I think most people will feel something.
Mike threaded the barbell in, tightened the ball, and then announced I was done. I did feel a little light-headed so I sat down and he went over the aftercare. He said I did very well, and I was most proud. I was finally molding myself into who I really was, filling my blank canvas with what 'art' I wanted to show. This was a very positive experience for me, and I really enjoyed it.
If you really want to get your navel done, and are afraid that you don't have the body for one, don't be shy and go get it if you really want to. Also if you really want to get this piercing, but don't want to simply because everyone under the sun has it, still go out and get it, because you are getting it for yourself, not for someone else.
After you get it, make sure to be careful when sitting, also try and make sure that you have nice and low pants. Sitting was awful for me, getting in and out of my mum's jeep was certainly something difficult, and during P.E. the few days after I got it done wasn't very great either, I did what I could for stretching and sit-ups, but I didn't accomplish much. Also stick with your aftercare, don't play with the piercing, and if you touch it, make sure it's only with clean hands. For me this was sometimes hard to do, especially since I have what you could call a short navel and I need a short barbell or else the top will stick up quite far and irritate the heck out of me. There were times I was very close to just shoving it back down, but it had crusties on it, so I didn't, and waited until I was home to clean it properly and then push it down.
My navel is doing great for the most part, it's healing well, but will act up a little now and then, but most of my piercings do that time and again so I'm used to it. I really like my navel piercing a lot, it's simple, yet subtly sexy, and it wasn't something anyone thought I would get either, and that was half the fun.
