Belly button piercing has gained significant popularity over the years. Celebrities like Christina Aguilera gave this type of body piercing mainstream exposure in the late 90’s. Now that we’re well into the 21st century, more folks than ever are sporting this popular piercing.
Some people just want to emulate their favorite pop stars and influencers. But just as many people use navel piercing as a form of self-expression. Since belly button piercing is certainly here to stay, we’re happy to provide you with this comprehensive overview all about navel piercing. Learn what to expect during the piercing process, how to properly care of your navel piercing, and what kinds of body jewelry you can wear.
What Is a Belly Button Piercing?
Standard belly button piercings are placed about 1/2″-1″ above the belly button. From there, it travels down and out through the upper lip of the navel cavity. The result should be the bottom ball of your belly button ring nestled inside or on top of your belly button. “Outie” belly button also has a similar placement.
Some people choose to have their belly button pierced in a different configuration. Theoretically, you can have your belly button pierced from the bottom, the left, the right, or any other angle. However, even if the piercing’s angle in relation to the navel cavity is different, the same principle applies. It will be one ball resting directly over your belly button, the barbell seated through the inner wall of your navel cavity, and the outer ball should sit between 1/2″ and 1″ away from your belly button.
As always, make sure you’re getting pierced by a reputable piercer. If your piercer tries to place your belly button piercing too high (the bottom ball is outside of the navel cavity), they’re performing the piercing incorrectly. This would be a surface piercing, which has a high chance of migration or rejection.
Belly Button Piercing: What Can I Expect?
Your piercer will likely insert the needle approximately 1/2″ above your belly button. Then, they will pull it out through the belly button cavity. Most likely, a curved piercing needle will be used and will be followed by a bent barbell or a captive bead ring. Bent barbells make ideal belly button jewelry, as the shape is a good fit for the piercing area. Also, bent barbells or traditional belly button rings (i.e., a bent barbell with a decorative end) are less likely to put undue stress on the fistula, pierced hole. Reducing pressure on the healing fistula increases your chances of having a successful belly button piercing that doesn’t slowly migrate out.
Belly button piercings are slightly more prone to migration and rejection than other piercings. That makes the placement of a belly button piercing and the gauge of your starter jewelry important. You should be pierced just far enough back from the lip of the belly button and should start off with at least a 14g belly button ring. The heavier the gauge, the less likely the jewelry will migrate.
Belly Button Piercing Pain
You can expect to experience a brief, sharp pinch as the needle punctures the skin. You may also feel pressure as the needle passes through the flesh and after installation. Like other soft tissue piercings, however, the pain is momentary and not very intense.
If you’re really concerned about pain, you can ask your piercer to apply a topical anesthetic beforehand. You’ll need to wait 20 to 30 minutes after application to experience the full benefits of a topical anesthetic. Once you’re numb, you’ll experience more pressure and less pain during the navel piercing process.
Belly Button Piercing Cost
The cost of a belly button piercing varies from place to place. Typically, you’ll find that belly button piercings cost less in rural areas versus cities, due to the costs of running a shop in these areas. Pricing is anywhere from $35 to $60 for a belly button piercing, but $45-$50 is the average.
The Belly Button Piercing Recovery Process
Belly button piercing healing times vary from person to person. To heal completely, it takes 3-6 months—and sometimes up to a year.
Location (the waist) affects healing time of a belly piercing. The body essentially hinges at your waist, which keeps your new navel piercing constantly irritated. Additionally, the waistbands of pants and skirts tend to rub against your piercing throughout the day, further irritating an the newly-senstitive area. For at least the first 6-8 weeks of recovery, you should try to wear loose, flowing, or low-waisted clothing that doesn’t sit tightly against your new piercing.
Belly buttons also tend to trap lint and dirt, making dedicated navel piercing aftercare extremely important. Your new belly piercing will heal faster and better if you keep the area clean and reduce friction by wearing low-waisted bottoms and generally loose-fitting clothing.
Belly Button Piercing Aftercare Guidelines
Follow these belly button piercing aftercare guidelines closely to minimize the chances jewelry migration and rejection and promote healing and avoid an infection:
Keep your belly button clean!
- Allow warm water to run over your piercing when you shower (but don’t scrub your navel piercing with soap; let sudsy water run over the piercing).
- Spritz or rinse your navel piercing regularly with a saline wash, like Recovery Saline Solution. You should also perform sea salt soaks at least twice per day.
- Making your own soak:
- Boil water for at least 5 minutes to sterilize it and measure out 1 cup into a heat-safe container.
- Stir in 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt (not table salt, which contains iodine—we recommend using Recovery Sea Salt), then let the mixture cool off.
- Apply this solution to both the top and bottom of your belly button piercing using clean cotton balls.
- Alternatively, you can fill a small glass or container with the sea salt solution. Then bend over, pressing the container rim to your stomach until it completely covers your belly button piercing. Hold the container firmly and tightly against your skin as you stand upright, for 5 minutes.
Be gentle when removing “crusties”
Your body’s natural reaction to any piercing is to produce lymph or “crusties”, a fluid that often dries to a whitish crust. Disrupting the crusties can invite bacteria into the healing fistula, which can lead to an infected navel piercing. We recommend using cotton balls saturated with sea salt solution, or even warm water, to soften the crusties before gently wiping them away.
Don’t change your jewelry prematurely
Typically, the belly button ring your piercer installs at first should be extra-long to account for swelling. So, while its tempting to change your starter jewelry soon after having your navel pierced, try to resist! Even if you have little to no swelling initially, more swelling can occur before your belly button piercing is fully healed.
Trapped dirt in the fistula and cause swelling and irritation. Therefore, we recommend sticking with the longer jewelry for at least the first few months. Also, the process of changing jewelry can irritate a healing belly piercing. Only change jewelry before your belly button piercing is fully healed if you’re experiencing an allergic reaction.
Avoid oils, balms, and creams!
Emulsifiers can potentially increase the risk of infection due to trapping bacteria inside your belly button piercing. If your skin is dry around your piercing, add a drop or two of tea tree oil to your sea salt solutions.
Tea tree oil has natural antiseptic qualities and will help moisturize your skin. You shouldn’t apply tea tree oil directly to the piercing, however. Always dilute it in sea salt solution (no more than 2 to 3 drops per cup of sea salt solution).
Addressing Common Belly Button Piercing Problems
There are a few common issues that can occur while your belly button piercing heals. Some are more serious than others, but as long as you know how to identify and address them, your belly button piercing shouldn’t be at risk. Here’s how to recognize and treat the most common belly button piercing problems.
Excessive swelling
Some swelling is normal for a new piercing, and each person’s body will respond differently. But swelling that begins pressing your jewelry into your skin in an uncomfortable way is concerning. This pressure could cause necrosis (tissue death), which can lead to infection. If you experience this, you should see your piercer immediately. Ask them to swap out your current belly button ring for one with a longer barbell.
Allergic reaction
If the skin around your piercing is consistently and noticeably red, irritated, and itchy, you may be having an allergic reaction. Some people are more sensitive to certain body jewelry materials than others, and cheaper body jewelry contains a high percentage of nickel, which is a common metal allergen.
We recommend getting pierced with either a surgical steel belly ring or titanium navel jewelry. Titanium is the most inert metal that body jewelry can be made from, therefore least likely to cause an allergic reaction.
If you are having an allergic reaction you’ll need to change your jewelry, regardless of how recently you got your piercing.
Hypergranulation
Hypergranulation occurs as the result of excess moisture and/or pressure, both potential issues with new belly button piercings. It presents as a taut, red bump around your fistula (piercing hole) that looks almost fluid-filled.
If you’re experiencing hypergranulation, ramp up your aftercare routine. Increase sea salt soaks to 3 per day, with additional saline rinses in between. In addition, keep your piercing as dry as possible by wearing loose, breathable clothing. If pressure is more the issue than moisture, ask your piercer to take a look and swap your jewelry for a longer barbell.
Infection
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try to avoid it, infection creeps into a new piercing. Look out for:
- Pus (thick, yellow discharge and not clear lymph, which is benign).
- Red streaks emanating outward from your piercing,
- Skin that’s hot to the touch around your piercing.
- Fever.
If you suspect you have an infected belly button piercing, see your doctor right away. Be sure to ask if you need an antibiotic. If they tell you to remove your jewelry, don’t worry. It’s actually better to leave your jewelry in while taking your antibiotic so infected fluids can drain out. Without drainage, the infection could potentially cause an abscess.
Take your antibiotics on schedule and clean your belly piercing regularly. Do full sea salt solution soaks 2-3 times a day and mist your piercing with aftercare spray 3–6 times a day until the infection clears.
Scarring
Some people develop hypertrophic scars around their belly button piercings. These present as a small, circular scars immediately around the fistula with a flat top and a slightly textured surface. Atrophic scars, recessed scars with a rough-textured surface that semi fills the piercing hole, can develop after removing belly button jewelry.
Jojoba oil and silicone scar therapy gels are the best options for treating hypertrophic scars and atrophic scars. Simply massage into the scar tissue twice a day to diminish the appearance of your belly piercing scar. However, wait until your piercing is fully healed before beginning these treatments. Inserting these materials could clog your healing fistula.
Keloids
Keloids look like scars, but they are not. They are actually the result of a genetic affecting a small percentage of the population. Keloids present as smooth-surfaced, bulbous, and reddish scars that grow excessively past the area immediately surrounding a piercing.
Treating keloids often requires the help of a dermatologist. Alternatively, silicone scar therapy gel can help reduce their appearance in some cases.
Types of Jewelry Used for Belly Button Piercings
A navel piercing can accommodate many different types of body jewelry, and with the wide selection of belly button rings in our online store, you’re sure to find the navel jewelry you want. Check out some of our options below.
- Acrylic Belly Button Rings: Each of our acrylic belly button rings includes a stainless steel bent barbell shaft and end balls or a decorative charm made of colorful, lightweight acrylic.
- Bali Belly Rings: Bali jewelry is crafted in Indonesia, where each jewel is carefully placed by hand into the framework of a meticulously crafted belly button ring. These elegant designs are the work of highly skilled local craftsmen who we partner with.
- Jeweled Belly Button Rings: Whether you’re looking for a fun navel ring with a little sparkle or a sophisticated jeweled belly button ring to add to your collection, you’ll find the perfect piece of jewelry here.
- Gold Belly Button Rings: Our gold belly button rings are made from solid, 14-karat yellow or white gold. Each piece is precision-machined, hand-polished, and 100% guaranteed.
- Dangle Belly Button Rings: Draw attention to your sexy midriff with one of our dangly belly button rings! Our dangle belly button rings feature a wide range of dangling charms and delicate chains interspersed with gems.
- Navel Shields: These unique belly rings are framed by decorative loops that beautifully encompass your belly button.
- Opal Belly Button Rings: Opal is a beautiful accent to any jewelry, and with our opal belly rings you can click a style you like, then customize it by choosing your favorite opal color.
- Pregnancy Belly Rings: Our comfortable pregnancy belly rings will bend and flex as your belly grows. Their adjustable-length, extra-long shafts can be cut to the perfect size, and each one features a beautiful jeweled charm.
- Top Down/Reverse Belly Button Rings: Flip fashion upside-down with our reverse belly button rings! These fun navel rings feature charms that overlay your belly button and bent barbells that go through your belly piercing from the top down, with the ball screwing on the bottom behind the charm.
- Unique Belly Button Rings: These are a little different from your normal belly button rings. From dangling jewels to funky charms to glow-in-the-dark options, these belly button rings are sure to make an impression.
- Navel Clicker Rings: Our unique navel clickers provide a fun and easy-to-wear alternative to your traditional belly button barbells. These belly rings feature a hinged segment that “clicks” into place, allowing for easy insertion and removal from the piercing.
- Venus Hoops: Venus hoops are attractive belly button rings that fill the belly button and extend a bit beyond it. Each piece has a ball surrounded by a hoop that nestles into the belly button, as well as several dangling beads for added ornamentation.
- Titanium Belly Button Rings: Our titanium belly button rings are made from pure elements—no coatings here! Titanium is stronger than steel, as light as aluminum, and ideal for sensitive skin types due to its hypoallergenic properties.
- Surgical Steel Belly Button Rings: Our solid 316L surgical steel belly button rings make great starter jewelry. Choose from plain bent barbells and belly button rings with a charm loop, where you can attach any charm to create a completely custom look.
- Spiral Belly Button Rings: These unusual navel rings contain twisting, spiral designs that are sure to catch attention.
How to Change a Belly Button Ring
Avoid changing your belly button ring until your piercing is fully healed. Complete healing takes between 3-12 months (see above). Changing a belly button ring can be tricky, so asking your piercer for help the first time is a good idea.
First, you’ll want to make sure that your new jewelry is the same gauge as the jewelry you’re removing. One of the easiest ways to change a belly button ring, especially for newer piercings, is to use a threaded taper.
To remove your old jewelry:
- Unscrew the top ball of your belly button ring.
- Pull down gently on the bottom ball until the barbell slides out through the bottom of the piercing.
To install your new jewelry using a taper:
- Unscrew the top ball.
- Screw the taper on in its place.
- Insert the taper into your piercing and use it to pull the rest of the jewelry through.
- Once the barbell is in the correct position, unscrew the taper and replace it with the ball.
If you’re having trouble getting your new jewelry in, use a drop of water-based lubricant on the jewelry. Adding lubricant to the taper, or the piercing should make the process smoother. Be careful not to use too much though, or else you may not be able to handle the jewelry.
PainfulPleasures Has You Covered
We hope this guide helped you better understand belly button piercings, the healing process, and the types of jewelry you can wear with a belly button piercing. Be sure to check out our full online store for even more body jewelry options and the PainfulPleasures community page for more information about piercings, body jewelry, and body modification.
Happy piercing!
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