Navel Piercing: Care, Infection, Healing, Jewelry, Price, Types

What is Navel Piercing?

Belly Button Piercing or Navel Piercing is not actually done on the belly button, but the skin surrounding it. It is believed that the Pharaohs invented it to symbolize their courage and later bikinis popularized it. One of the advantages is that one can easily hidde it underneath clothes. You can show it off whenever you want or keep it private. The procedure is fairly safe and less painful if you find a professional piercer and hygienic piercing studio.

Types of Navel Piercings

Stomach Piercing

Vertical

It is the most popular piercing but ironically, it is most prone to rejection. In Vertical Navel Piercing or outie belly button piercing, the ring passes from the top to interior of the belly button. Inverse navel piercing is almost the same, the difference is that the piercing goes from the top of the navel to the lower rim.

Horizontal

Horizontal Navel piercing or bottom belly button piercing is a type of surface piercing where it goes through the flat area of the skin along the rim.

True

True Navel Piercing is the one that gives an “outie” belly button. The umbilical scar tissue on the navel is pierced and this type of piercing is considered risky because of the presence of blood vessels in the area.

Belly Button PiercingNavel Piercing Photos

Multiple

When you get two or more piercings on your navel or, it is called Multiple Navel Piercings or double belly button piercing. You can get a double navel piercing on top and bottom rims and adorn a single long barbell.

Getting Your Belly Pierced

Preparing Yourself

Spend a considerable time on researching and if you are seriously interested, visit a few piercing studios and weigh your options.

By the rule of thumb, get a piercing done only by a certified piercer.

Find out more about safety standards and check out the studio to ensure it is practicing safe procedures. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to the expert, this might not be the place for you.

Wear loose clothes the day your piercing is scheduled.

Navel Piercing Pictures

At the Studios

Before the actual procedure starts, the expert will chalk out a few details with you.

First of all, you will need a few documents like your ID to ensure you are above the legal age.

He will also give you a consent form to sign and legally acknowledge your permission.

Keep an additional copy of the form with you to protect your rights if something goes wrong.

Things to Check

Ensure that each of the equipment that the piercer uses is sterilized with alcohol. Unsterilized needles can transmit diseases like HIV and AIDS so there is a reason to be attentive to these details.

Piercer needs to wash his hands before touching you or the needle and sanitize the area to be pierced with alcohol or antiseptic solution.

Piercing Kit

Navel Ring
12-Gauge Piercing Needle
Latex Gloves
Piercing Cork
Piercing Clamp
Cleaning Wipe
Antiseptic swab
Cotton Ball

Navel Piercing Scar

The Process

Piercer asks to select the jewelry before commencing the process
Proper sizing of the navel using a marker
To stabilize the tissue, the piercer attaches a surgical clamp to the top portion of the belly
A hollow long needle is pierced at the top and jewelry is inserted

Deep breathing throughout the process keeps you calm and increase comfort.

Pain

Belly Butting piercing is a surface piercing which includes insertion of a piercing needle through the navel rim. It hurts quite a bit as the tissues around the area is very soft. However, the level is directly proportional to the endurance level of an individual. There is a misconception that skinny people feel lesser pain and the effort of the piercer plays a critical role in reducing pain.

Bleeding

It does bleed as the piercing damages the tissues around that area. However, it quickly stops the moment the healing process starts. However, the level of aftercare plays an important role to stop bleeding.

Navel Piercing

Infection

Although it looks attractive, the process breaks the skin from inside and be a reason for possible infections. Any unhygienic approach without the right care increases the chances of fungi or bacteria related infections. Some symptoms of infection include:

Pain in & around the area
Redness & swelling after a couple of weeks
Oozing of pus
Skin discoloration around the entire abdomen (advanced stage)
Presence of abscess

Jewelry

Depending on the kind of navel piercing, the jewelry differs. Additionally, people have different types of navel, so it also plays a critical role in determining the kind of jewelry. Some common options include:

Barbells: Available in different shape, size, and style it includes a range of elaborate crystals to simple colored knobs.
Belly Bars: For the outey kind of navel, it is the most preferred option.
Curved bars: For people having a small, deep and round navel.
Droopers: It is for all those who have classic outey navel as piercing the top is quite easy.
Other Options: Belly button rings, Butterfly, English Rose, Open Triangle, Amour, & Diamond Solitaire.

Navel Piercings Images

Navel Piercing Rejection & Migration

Migration is a situation wherein the jewelry moves inside the pierced area and dislocates to a new location. Mostly it occurs when there is unsuitable or insufficient tissue around the area. It may also be due to the smaller diameter of the jewelry used. Even inexperienced piercers or improper aftercare may be among the reasons. Thus it is always better to check for any possible allergies related to the kind of jewelry being used before piercing the area.

On the other hand, rejection is a situation where the body simply rejects the artificial modification. The symptoms usually include redness around the area clubbed with greenish or yellow discharge. Mild pain along with a crust the formation followed by moderate movements appear near the belly button which may continue for a few months. However, it will not pull or stretch the skin. Once displaced, the skin will eventually heal giving an impression that the entire thing is moving from the original place. Lastly, the body completely rejects the jewelry and you need to use antibacterial solutions along with non-iodized salt water at least twice a day.

Precautions

Navel Piercing Jewelry

Adopting the following practices can help in eliminating the chances of rejection:

Only visit a studio or a piercer who has the experience in regards to the sterilization process, tools and jewelry needed for this kind of piercing.
Selecting jewelry made of titanium, sterling silver or gold can drastically reduce the chance of rejection.
Clean or touch the pierced area after washing your hands
Limit the jewelry movement during the healing period
Avoid removal of the jewelry for at least 12 weeks
Do not introduce foreign substance such as skin care products

Healing Time

Navel piercings ask for extremely precautious aftercare. It can take up to nine months for a navel piercing to heal. You are responsible for keeping it clean, giving it the much-needed care and nourishment.

Navel Piercing Aftercare

Navel Piercings

The first thing you need to do after coming home with this piercing is leaving it alone. Never touch a fresh piercing as it is still sore and might hurt you.

Clean the pierced area a few hours later with salt and water. Showering is a good alternative to bathing as the fresh stream of water keeps the area clean at all times.
Never wipe it with a towel or cloth because they carry germs. Use a tissue instead.
Wear loose clothes with soft fabrics that don’t irritate your skin too much.
When you sleep, be careful so as to not hurt yourself unconsciously. Avoid sleeping on your stomach and try some other position to keep your piercing safe.
Keep it tidy, touch it with clean hands and keep everything that touches your belly ring like clothes, bed sheet etc. dirt-free.
Never play with your navel piercing and don’t change the jewelry at least for the 1st 2 months.

Important Tip: An infected navel piercing will hurt more than usual and when you see it is looking odd, it might be the time to go to the doctor.

Belly Piercing Cost

The cost of piercing depends on a number of factors. Jewelry’s material, the design, etc play a crucial role too. Apart from that, the price that a piercer will charge can be anywhere between $50 to $100

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