Express Your IndividualityVisits: onceSo when I turned 40 years old, I decided to get my belly button pierced. Yea, you know one of those mid-life epiphanies...I'm not getting any younger so it's now ... Read More
Express Your IndividualityVisits: onceSo when I turned 40 years old, I decided to get my belly button pierced. Yea, you know one of those mid-life epiphanies...I'm not getting any younger so it's now or never. Well, it's 2 months before my 41st birthday and still no piercing. Yikes! I need to keep my promise to myself (aka "stop being a scaredy cat"). So on the way home from dinner one night, I walked into the nearest tattoo and piercing parlor before I lost my nerve as my husband's asking me "are you sure?". As sure as I'll ever be. I'm all happy, nervous smiles as I proudly announce that I wanted to get my belly button pierced. I think the tattoo/piercing artist was a little surprised or skeptical at first but he was game after seeing how determined I was. After picking out my ring which was in a sterilized packet, we went into the back room for 'the procedure'. The ring was made from titanium, which is a light material that resists infection and minimizes allergic reaction. I sat in a chair similar to a dentist's chair and was deeply reclined so that I really couldn't see my stomach without wrenching my neck. Well, I was not in the mood to wrench my neck...I didn't really want to watch. Nope! After donning sterile latex gloves, the piercing artist laid out all his "tools" on a sterile tray. There was a jar of petroleum jelly on the tray. I thought that was peculiar. I think I saw a very long needle but I quickly looked away. So I don't know what else was on the tray. He thoroughly cleaned the area around my belly button. I didn't realize my belly was so dirty but now it was spotless clean. All the while, he is giving me instructions on how to disinfect the piercing and stressing how important it is to keep it clean and not to go swimming especially in a lake or stream for about 4-6 weeks. He used forceps to clamp the skin directly above my navel and wanted to make sure that it was in the position I wanted for my ring. Yep, perfect location. He asked if I was ready. Yep, let's go (now! before I run out the door). Then I heard my husband, who's in the room with us, gasp and when I looked at him his eyes were big as saucers. Uh oh! The piercer started the count down...3, 2, and done! What happened to one??? I was so surprised that it was over and it didn't hurt....just a teeny tiny pinch. What a very, very pleasant surprise. The piercer removed his gloves to put on a new sterile set of gloves to clean up. There wasn't any blood but there was a bunch of petroleum jelly. Hmm? He said the jelly was used as lubrication. Aaah, mystery solved. So I wonder if that was the reason it didn't hurt? I received more instructions on taking care of my piercing and the signs of infection and what to do about it and sent me home with my new body adornment. On the way home, I asked my husband why he gasped for breath right before the piercing. He said the needle was HUGE! Yep, I'm glad I didn't see that.I was very impressed with the care and sterile conditions and the skill of the piercer. I recommend Tattoo Supreme for body piercing. Read Less