Long Belly Rings

What Is a Belly Button Piercing?

A belly button piercing is when you have a ring or other ornament through the skin around your belly button. If you want to get a belly button piercing, keep in mind that it only takes a few minutes to get it done, but it can take up to a year to heal. During that time — as well as after — you’ll need to take extra care of this area.

What is the longest belly button ring?

16mm is “XX-Large/Long” and 19mm is XXX-Large/Long. The most popular size that actually fits most people is 14mm. Sizing – Standard belly ring bars are 10mm-11mm. If your belly ring is just a bit tight, then 12mm or 14mm is the longest you want to go.

Belly Button Piercing Safety

If you want to have a belly button piercing, take steps to prevent problems:

Choose a piercer with care. Just because a piercer has a license doesn’t mean they’re well trained and experienced in piercing. Ask your piercer how long they’ve been doing this and how they learned. Ask how they continue to learn and improve. This is important because piercing does have risks, including infection and the possibility of spreading blood-borne diseases. A good piercer should be willing to talk to you about their qualifications and the details of the piercing you want. If you don’t trust them, look for another piercer.
Go to a salon you trust. Look for a clean, sanitary shop that has a license from the Association of Professional Piercers. You should see a sign on the wall. The lighting should be good so your piercer can see what they’re doing.
Make sure the needle is sanitary. Instruments should be in sealed pouches, which shows they are sterile. If your piercer uses a disposable, one-use needle, you should watch them open a new package.
Choose your jewelry carefully. Medical-grade stainless steel is the least likely to cause an allergic reaction. Other safe choices include gold (14 karat or higher), titanium, and niobium. The ring or stud you choose should have a shiny finish and be free of nicks, scratches, or rough edges.
If the jewelry has irregular surfaces, your skin will grow to fill those areas. Anytime the jewelry gets moved, your skin could tear. If this happens a lot, you’ll get scarring and it may take even longer to heal. You’ll also be at more risk of infection.

Belly Button Piercing Procedure

If you go to a salon to get your piercing, a trained piercer will pass a sterile, hollow needle through the loose skin of your navel. Here’s what to expect:

  • Your piercer will mark the spot to be pierced.
  • You’ll feel a sharp pinch and can expect a small amount of blood.
  • The jewelry you choose will go through this new opening.
  • Expect to pay for both the piercing and the jewelry you pick.
  • You shouldn’t get this done with a piercing gun since it can damage your tissue and raise the chances of infection.

Belly Button Piercing Aftercare

Unlike pierced ears, which take 4-6 weeks to heal, your belly button may not fully heal for up to 1 year. You’ll go home with tips on how to keep your new piercing clean and prevent infection.

You’ll need to:

  • Wash your hands before you touch your piercing. Also, don’t let anyone else touch the area until it has healed.
  • Swab with saline solution to keep it clean and avoid infection. At least once a day, dab the area with clean gauze or a paper towel soaked with saline solution. You can use a ready-made brand or dissolve 1/8 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm, distilled, or bottled water. If your piercer suggests that you use soap, choose a mild, scent-free one. Rinse well so you don’t leave any soap behind.
  • Don’t clean too much. Cleaning too often or too much can slow down healing.
  • Gently dry the area with a clean, disposable paper product.
  • Leave any crust alone. It’s normal for a white or yellow-colored fluid (not pus) to ooze from your new piercing. This may form a crust that can itch or feel tight. Try not to pick at it, since that will cause the area to bleed. This crust will come off on its own as your piercing heals.
  • Don’t put anything on your belly button unless a doctor tells you to. That includes lotions, oil, and perfume. Even antibacterial cream and hydrogen peroxide may slow healing or trap bacteria inside your new opening.
  • Wear clean, loose, and soft clothes. Tight clothing and rough fabric will rub against your piercing, which can make it take longer to heal. You may want to use a stretchy, elastic bandage to hold an eye patch over your belly button and protect the area.
  • Stay out of lakes, hot tubs, and pools. A waterproof bandage may help, but it’s best to avoid any water that may not be clean and could cause an infection.
  • Don’t wear charms or dangly jewelry in your piercing. Hanging or dangly charms or jewelry can get pulled and tear your skin.
  • Watch for signs of infection. These include redness, swelling, yellow or green discharge, or pain when you touch the site. You could also have a fever. If you have any of these symptoms, call your doctor right away.

Belly Button Piercing Risks

Although many people don’t have any problems after they get a body piercing, you could have:

  • Infection. A piercing on your belly button is more likely to get infected than other body parts because of its shape. It’s easy for bacteria to hole up inside it. If the piercing needle wasn’t sterile, there’s a chance you could get serious infections like hepatitis or tetanus.
  • Tearing. If your jewelry catches on things, it could tear your skin. If this happens, you may need stitches.
  • Allergic reaction . This is often due to nickel in the jewelry.
  • Scarring. Thick, lumpy scars called keloids may form around the site of your piercing.
  • Migration or rejection. Sometimes a piercing moves from its original spot or your body could reject it. This happens most when the piercing wasn’t done in a good place or when the jewelry is too small or of poor quality.

If you run into problems or decide you don’t want it, simply take out your ring or stud. Fresh belly piercings tend to close quickly. If you’ve had one for years, it can close in a few weeks, but for some people, it can take longer.

Make sure you clean the area regularly until it’s fully healed. If you want to keep your piercing for the long term, put jewelry in it all the time.

Who Should Not Get a Belly Button Piercing?

Some health issues can make it harder for your body to heal or cause you to have a reaction after you get a piercing. Talk to your doctor first if you have:

  • Diabetes
  • Hemophilia
  • An autoimmune disorder
  • Heart problems
  • A skin condition around your belly button (like a rash, open sore, or moles)

If you are pregnant or overweight, a belly button ring could move around under your skin, which can lead to scarring.

Navel & Belly Piercing Guide

You’re getting your navel pierced, here’s what you need to know:

  • Most belly button piercings are done with a curved barbell preferably made of 14k gold, 18k gold, or high-quality titanium.
  • The standard size for a navel piercing is 14 Gauge (aka 14G). You should never use a barbell thinner than 18G since a higher gauged needle presents more risk of rejection, tearing, and migration.
  • The length of your first barbell will likely be 7/16-inch to allow for extra room for your piercings to heal and be easily cleaned. You can change the size later. (Belly button piercings almost always use 7/16-inch or 3/8-inch jewelry.)
  • During healing, protect your navel piercing from being snagged on clothing, irritated from friction, or injured during physical sports and activities with this simple tip: get a vented eye patch of hard plastic (found at most pharmacies), and secure it over your piercing using an elastic bandage like an ankle wrap.
  • Follow a daily cleansing routine for your new navel piercing.
  • Don’t change out your belly button ring until it has completely healed.

Your piercing is healed. Time to shop for a new belly ring!

You followed all the advice, and you’re completely healed. Now for the fun part: shopping for jewelry to adorn your awesome navel piercing! Remember when we talked about sexy body jewelry sizes? It’s still important. You want to look for 14G navel piercing jewelry with a barbell length of 3/8″ (standard) or 7/16″ (longer).

Our belly button rings are made from solid 14k gold. Our gold is nickel-free, as nickel is generally the metal that people with metal allergies react to. The reason we choose gold, platinum, or titanium as our metals of preference for your belly piercing is that these materials are more pure and tend to have fewer additives that your body can react to.

  • Cost considerations: if you want a healthy belly piercing and love the look of quality body jewelry, then you may want to invest in a gold belly button ring.
  • Important: Be aware that even though you’re going to want to adorn your belly button with gorgeous, sparkly, dangle jewelry all the time, it’s best to wear basic jewelry for the majority of the time. This means that you should stick to simple, non-dangle curved barbells or CBRs (hoops) made of high quality titanium or gold with minimal adornment. Save your elaborate chandeliers and dangle belly button rings for day wear or special occasions. Whatever you do, don’t sleep in elaborate navel rings. This preserves your piercing, keeping it from getting irritated, and also keeps your jewelry in good shape.

Now that you have a better understanding of the different styles of navel piercings, here are some tips that will help you care for your new belly piercing:

  • Try to protect your belly piercing from getting caught on clothing. Wearing something baggy will help prevent friction and minimize the chance of your jewelry getting stuck. If you’re committed to physical activity, such as sports, you may want to cover the piercing with a bandage-type material to protect it from discomfort.
  • We know you want to show off your belly piercing, and you should! One of the joys of having a belly button piercing is wearing an outfit that shows it off to full effect. But if someone wants a closer look, make sure they don’t touch your belly jewelry, even if they just want to admire it. This could cause damage to your skin, which will be healing from the piercing.
  • Don’t go swimming for at least the first month after you get a belly piercing until you’re sure that it’s healed properly. This includes pools as well as the ocean, where sea salt could cause problems for your piercing.
  • You’ll want to decorate your belly with cute belly button rings, such as dangle belly rings (or, if you prefer, non-dangle belly button rings), but it’s very important that you do not change your belly ring until your piercing is fully healed. This will help minimize the chance of infection and ensure that your piercing heals properly. If you’re not sure which style of belly ring is right for you, you might want to try a belly ring multi-pack.
  • Now that you understand the different types of belly piercings, here are a few helpful

What materials are belly piercing jewelry made of?

Belly jewelry is often made of stainless steel, titanium, sterling silver, gold or acrylic.

What does getting your belly button pierced feel like?

Unfortunately, as curious as you may be, there’s no way to know ahead of time exactly what your own belly button piercing will feel like for you. Different bodies will react differently to the process. Similarly, while we’ve provided ranges above, the healing process differs person to person. What your friend felt when getting their belly button jewelry (or any piercing, for that matter) will not necessarily be your experience. As long as you use a reputable piercer with clean piercing guns and follow their aftercare directions, it should be smooth sailing.

Do belly button piercings hurt?

Whether a belly button piercing will hurt is subjective, and depends on your sensitivity to pain and your specific body. Always use a professional piercer and make sure they are taking all the appropriate precautions before, during and after your belly piercing. You can also take aspirin ahead of your belly piercing to help you handle any pain you may experience. Making sure you choose a piercer with good reviews who uses clean materials and best practices will help reduce the chances of your belly button piercing hurting, but you should be prepared for at least some degree of pain.

How long does a belly button piercing take to heal?

Belly button piercings take different lengths of time to heal depending on the particular piercing and your body. You can expect most belly button piercings will take 3-6 months to heal. One of the most important things to remember is to give your new piercing time to heal properly. Don’t do things like go in a hot tub or a pool until you’re sure it’s fully healed. This will help ensure that you’re taking the best care possible of your piercing. There’s no way to rush the healing process, so before you get your piercing, make sure that you’ll be able to follow the recommendations for caring for your piercing.

Belly Piercing Types

Belly Piercings

Belly piercing location

A belly piercing consists of one barbell located anywhere on your navel, whether that be on the top, bottom, or sides of your belly button.

Belly piercing process

This process is typically performed with a 12 or 14 gauge piercing needle.

Healing time

About 3-6 months.

Belly rings (banana barbells)

Double Belly Piercing

Double belly piercing location

A double belly piercing means two piercings, typically on the top and bottom of the belly button, equaling a total of four perforations.

Double belly piercing process

This process is typically performed with a 12 or 14 gauge piercing needle.

Healing time

About 3-6 months.

Belly rings (banana barbells)

Floating Navel Piercing

Floating navel piercing location

A floating navel piercing is an alternative for people who cannot get a traditional belly piercing due to the anatomy of their bodies. A floating navel piercing follows the same guidelines as a traditional belly piercing, but the bottom portion is much deeper into the navel, making it nearly invisible to the eye.

Floating navel piercing process

This process is typically performed with a 12 or 14 gauge piercing needle.

Healing time

About 3-6 months.

Belly rings (banana barbells)

What is the appropriate belly button piercing aftercare?

Always follow the aftercare instructions given to you by your piercer. This is crucial to ensure that your piercing stays in place and heals the way it’s supposed to. Washing your hands is a key part of piercing aftercare hygiene. Make sure never to touch your piercing while your hands are dirty, and to be diligent about caring for it according to your piercer’s directions, even if it feels to you like it’s already healed.

What is a small belly button piercing?

Belly or navel piercing jewelry is measured by gauges. Most belly piercings are either 12 gauge or 14 gauge; anything higher than that would be considered a small belly button piercing.

How much is a belly piercing?

There’s no definitive way to tell how much a belly button piercing will cost since price varies by location and piercer. Make sure your piercer has professional credentials and positive reviews. You may want to ask friends in your town where they’ve gotten pierced and what their experience was like to get a sense of what the cost will be.

How do you pierce a belly button?

Don’t try this at home. You only want to get your belly button pierced by a professional piercer, who has the appropriate tools and training. This piercing site in particular is very delicate and requires the attention of someone who’s trained with using piercing guns. You definitely want to protect your health and safety by finding a reputable piercer.

What is a rejected belly piercing?

A rejected belly piercing is exactly what it sounds like: for various reasons, your body may reject your piercing. This isn’t your fault; it’s the skin’s way of protect itself from something it thinks could be problematic. If you notice any skin irritation, pain or any other problems with your piercing, take it out and ask your piercer how to proceed. You may need to try it again with a different piece of jewelry.

What does an infected belly button piercing look like?

Similar to a rejected belly piercing, an infected belly button piercing will likely look and feel irritated. Make sure you don’t ignore it. If you’re concerned that your belly button piercing (or any other piercing) is infected, after washing your hands, remove it and check with your piercer as to what you should do next.

Will my belly button piercing scar?

There is a possibility that your belly button piercing will scar if it gets infected, or rejects the piercing, and it’s not treated.

Will my belly button piercing close?

If you remove your belly ring and leave your piercing without body jewelry for an extended amount of time, it’s possible that, like any piercing, your belly button piercing will close. Whether that will happen to you, and how long it will take, varies from person to person. If you think your belly button piercing has closed, don’t try to re-pierce it at home. See a professional piercer to determine the best course of action.

Why shouldn’t I get a belly button piercing?

We can’t tell you whether you should or shouldn’t get a belly button piercing, but if you’re having second thoughts, you might want to wait. Consider what your concerns are; if you’re not sure about whether you’ve found the right piercer, do more research. You can always choose to wait and get your piercing later. Maybe there’s a different type of piercing that’s more appealing or a better fit for your lifestyle. Take your time and make the decision that’s right for you when it comes to anybody piercing.

How do I care for my belly button piercing?

As with aftercare, for ongoing care for your belly button piercing, we recommend consulting your piercing professional if you have specific questions, such as if your piercings hurt or you aren’t sure what the best belly piercing jewelry is right for you. You can learn about how to clean your body piercings right here on our blog.

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