I lay down and they rubbed my belly with an antiseptic wipe, clamped the skin above my belly button and pushed a needle through (top to bottom) and put in a bar that I chose before hand. Yes it hurt quite bad! A week later it went completely septic and started leeking puss, and I had to have a week off work as I was in that much pain. I was on antibiotics as it was so badly infected. Not got my belly button pierced anymore!! Sorry!!!!! But obviously this doesn't happen to everyone!! Good luck