Identity Body Piercing — Local services in Lake View Township

Full Disclosure: This review is six months post piercing-

I came here for my VCH piercing. It was a very pleasant experience…

A beautiful salon styled show room, with touches of gold, making it clean, modern and sleek.

Itzl was my piecer and she was freaking dope! She had chill vibe that perfectly offset my slight anxiousness. She definitely took her time to explain the process to me and answered ALL of my questions before starting. She had to approve my jewelry before she pierced me and honestly, I’m glad she did.

I waited a day or two before working out and I just did low intensity stuff. Nothing too strenuous like running or the elliptical. A few weights and an ab workout is perfectly sufficient. I’d waited about two weeks or so before I took on the stair climber, treadmill and elliptical.

Pain Experience 4/10: On a scale of 1 to 10, the pain experience was about a solid 4. It was painful, but the intensity of it was over within seconds. It felt a bit odd and a sharp pinch is how I can best describe it. Once the needle was in, the pain was essentially over. Even her putting in the jewelry didn’t hurt.

Jewelry Options/Prices 5 stars: They’ve got a selection for nearly every budget. Ranging from the simple silver, gold and rose gold barbells to luxury style gemstone jewelry. The shop’s body jewelry was beautiful but lacked the “luxury style” jewelry options for first timers. They had gorgeous gem-stoned barbells, but their design wasn’t best suited for an initial VCH piercing. Your piercer MUST approve your jewelry before piercing, just FYI.

Price: $65 for the piercing, plus the cost of the jewelry. Not bad…

Healing Time: Plan about 1 - 2 weeks for surface healing and about 4 - 6 weeks for complete healing time. It’s “technically healed” in about a week but you’ll want to give it some more time to fully heal. Though it is a bit odd having a piercing right above your clitoris, it doesn’t really affect your day as much was you think it would. As long as you keep the area clean, it shouldn't be too much of a strain. Swelling and bleeding was minimal for the first couple of days, so be sure to keep a pantyliner handy to keep from staining your undergarments for the first week. Working out is doable within a few days of being pierced. You’ll need to find the best combination of “underwear to exercise bottom” ratio that works for you. You want something snug so the piercing is held in place during any movement but not too tight that the friction of movement is tugging at it.

Helpful Tips: Best undergarment types: Definitely go for cotton underwear for the first few days.

OPTIONAL: If you’ve got the extra cash, I highly recommend investing in a bidet for your home toilet. It really helps to prevent any bacteria from your back area infecting your piercing, especially if pierced on the labia in addition to the VCH. This keeps your piercing consistently clean without being irritated with tissue or wipes; and it's more environmentally friendly.

-Spray your piercing as often as you go to the bathroom, if possible. This will help to ensure your piercing remains clean. I couldn’t imagine what an infected piercing would be like down in this area, so be prepared to give it the care and attention it deserves. You nether region will humbly thank you…

-Expect your vaginal discharge to increase a bit within the first few weeks. I’m not sure if that’s the body’s way of addressing foreign objects or what, but it wasn't problematic.

-For toy and vibrators, definitely use on the LOWEST setting first. Especially the ones that suck. You’ll get the surprise of a lifetime, both good and bad, if you apply it directly to the piercing on a medium to high setting when starting out, haha. You can enjoy the use of your toys on day 3 or 4 post piercing.

All in all, it’s my favorite piercing and will soon be yours. If you’ve been thinking about, I highly recommend getting...

If you’re belly button piercing is nearly 6 months old and has a bubble in it, save yourself an hour and take this advice: Dove sensitive soap; Don’t movie it around; More movement is more irritation; Consider getting smaller post

On to my review: Identity has: Beautiful jewelry; an Excellent piercing experience; Kind, compassionate, heartfelt staff; Professional piercers

So why the three stars, you ask?? Unbelievably, ridiculously long wait times.

I called to see if the piercer could check out my inflamed belly button ring, they said I can come in for a quick, free consultation.

I finally had a moment to enter this establishment and they signed me in, had me sign the waiver! Woohoo! It seemed I was good to go and since the three people behind the desk gave me no indication I would be waiting, I assumed I’d be seen shortly.

One moment I was staring into display cases at gooey replicas of severed ears, and mouths, and noses, the next I look to my phone—20 minutes had passed.. did the thought of dismemberment send me into hypnosis? Did I miss my name being called?

I asked the staff and they said there’s still one person ahead of me.

Odd, thought I. Why had I not been warned of such a lengthy wait? Surely it could not be much longer.

The Free jolly ranchers drool down the sides of my checks. My thumbs begin to ache as I write this review in their faux leather chairs that stick to my exposed thighs…… beads of sweat squeeze their way to freedom. 30 more minutes have passed.

Others begin to inquire about the wait.

Two people opposite me have contorted legs and arms, becoming indecipherable from these pleather chairs. they have been here longer than I.

A wayward gentleman arrives, he tells the front desk that he called to see if he could be seen just 30 minutes ago, but now that he made his way here they have turned him away— no time. Time slips, time falls out of tune- No more time. Oh gentleman, no time for you! No plan! Chaos! chaos in a stagnant seat! Beep beep. I hear his heavy steps fade toward the exit.

I can hardly keep bending these thumb knuckles when….

Chris calls my name!! My time had come! My belly button irritation would soon be at ease! Chris was AWESOME. Said they were backed up. Gave me solid advice for my belly button that took less than 3 minutes 👀. If it weren’t for his electric and quirky personality I would not have left there...

This review is long overdue. I’ve been going to Identity for years — 12 of my 14 piercings were done here — and I’ve probably spent thousands of dollars supporting this business. The shop itself is beautiful, the jewelry selection is great, and I used to recommend it to everyone. But at this point, I’m honestly just disappointed.

After years of inconsistency, it’s time to move on. Every visit feels completely different depending on who’s working. I’ve tried to brush it off over the years, but it’s happened too many times to be a fluke. For a place that prides itself on expertise and community, it feels oddly cold and transactional.

What’s most frustrating is how disconnected the in-person experience is from their online presence. I follow Identity on social media — they highlight beautiful work and seem so client-focused — but that’s never been my reality. I’m treated like a first-time walk-in every visit — asked to fill out the same forms over and over, with zero recognition or personal connection. You would think they would have a system to pull up my information, but no. I once booked a curation appointment, only to be met with blank stares and, “So, what do you want where?” It was honestly comical.

I’ve also gotten conflicting aftercare instructions from different piercers, and on multiple occasions, staff have implied my piercings were done incorrectly — even though they’re the ones who did them!

After so many chances, I’m just tired of the unwelcoming attitude and lack of care. There are too many other great studios out there to keep spending my money somewhere that makes me feel like just another...