At no point in this thread have I expressed any opinions on anyone’s appearance.
Then what were you commenting on? This is something that will inherently affect one’s apperance. It’s hard to see many other reasons for opposing it. If your opposition is based on health or safety concerns, you certainly didn’t state that in your original (or subsequent posts). All you’ve said is that in your opinion, it’s a bad idea. You haven’t stated why. A blanket statement like that is pretty rude, especially when the poster never asked for it to begin with. If you have legitimate (and founded) concerns about health or safety, then you should state them.
You’ve also said that you think for most people the best thing is not to get pierced. Why? I would say that as long as the person is an adult, and informed about the process, consequences and risks, there is nothing wrong with it. Are you saying that most people aren’t informed? If that is what you’re saying, then why would you come into a thread where someone is trying to become informed and discourage them? I’m just confused about your motives here.
When I got mine done, I was SO NERVOUS all damned day. It hurt like a mofo when I’d gotten my ears pierced, and I figured I was in for even more pain, this being my belly button and all. I went in, I laid down on the chair, he swabbed, he pierced… and it was like a brief pinch. Hardly hurt at all. I was so incredibly relieved.
Naturally, I fainted as soon as I sat up. Not from pain or anything like it, just a combo of being light-headed from nervousness and suddenly sitting upright. That was embarrassing, let me tell you.
Heh. Yeah, I have to remember to eat and drink some juice! My brother was going to come too, but duty calls and he’s supposed to be on base tonight for a meeting. he’s going to try and reschedule. I have at least one friend coming with me.
I will also be taking pictures!
Seriously, everybody- I know it’s a subject that attracts vastly different opinions and strong feelings, and I didn’t want this thread to start a brawl. Thanks to everyone who helped me with great info and experience, and I appreciate the posts of those who feel like it is not something to be done casually.
Bolding mine.
I don’t think it’s jerky to advise someone against a piercing that is, from most accounts, very problematic. I’ve seen it go wrong for people more times than I’ve seen it go right, and most of the people I know who get them wind up taking them out, unhealed, well after the fact. That is fighting ignorance, and the OP is of course totally free to ignore that advice, but I would want someone who knew something about it, who thought it was a bad idea, to say so. Stifling dissent is not fighting ignorance, sweetheart.
Other than being lax on the salt water and then getting better with the program quickly, I’ve never had any trouble with mine, and it’s now. . . 11 years.
Nose piercing, on the other hand, did not work out.
I do remember the pain being, like, tolerable but “wooof!” with a washing endorphin rush. More intense than a tatoo. More like a shoulder dislocation, but without the trauma.
That sounds encouraging, doesn’t it?
Well, I did it! It waas very easy, almost painless (yeah, the endorphin rush was… interesting. Not sore this morning, either.
My piercer was very good, she owns the place and is very mindful of keeping a good reputation. It turned out that she had done a tattoo for the gal who came with me! Small world.
I am very pleased. It’s a sparkly barbell, with a little CZ on top, and a larger one in my belly button. The first one she put in was a longer bar, and it stuck up a bit above my belly button, so she switched it with a smaller (shorter) bar. That didn’t really hurt, either. And I am usually a wimp for pain!
Anyway, great experience, great result. In six months, I will update everybody! 
Congrats!
I’m very glad it went well.
And not that you need advice anymore, I just wanted to say that I’ve had mine pierced for 12 years now, and never had a problem with it once I was intelligent enough to notice that since I needed to wear earrings designed for “sensitive skin”, I might have that issue with other body bits. I switched to a proper stainless barbell, and haven’t had a problem since.
I am pleasantly surprised- no pain, no guck, even when I clean it. I took pictures of it in the mirror today!
I am such a geek, I swear…
This barbell is stainless so I don’t expect any problems from the metal, although my ear piercings were never very sensitive.
Welcome to the club!
I got mine done on a whim 3 years ago and have never had any pain or problems.
I don’t have any advice to add to what you’ve heard already, but this thread has inspired me to go shopping for some new belly jewelry 
My friend’s Piercing aftercare guide is linked here.
My wife’s navel ring worked its way out over time. Unusual but not unheard of. There’s a kind-of spirally shaped ring available that’ll help out if the piercing goes a bit deep (not totally unusual in the piercing of slight poochy bellies).
LITHA is great advice. If you have to reposition it, it’s recommended to always do it while in the shower. It’ll wash the surrounding metal free of contaminants before the repositioning and the hot water makes your skin a little more flexible & forgiving.
The guide above has a lot of info on aftercare.
Enjoy your new piece of bling.
Thanks, that’s a good guide.