Navel piercings were a popular trend in the 90s and have remained popular ever since. The belly button piercing is a great option for those wanting a piercing that they can choose to either show off or hide and with so many detailed and elaborate belly bars out there, theres definitely plenty of chance to show off your navel piercing. Want to know more about navel piercing before and after getting it done? We have gathered a list of your FAQs to help you with all things belly button related.
Is navel piercing painful?
A navel piercing is painful but belly button piercings hurt less than other types of piercing because it is pierced through soft tissue rather than cartilage, however you will initially experience some pain. Everyone experiences piercing pain differently but most people say that while it hurts it is only a brief pinching feeling. If significant belly button piercing pain occurs after you have had your piercing then make sure to consult your doctor or piercer.
How is navel piercing done?
Many people ask how belly button piercing is done. The piercing procedure is similar to most other piercings. Your piercer will mark the top of your belly button in the centre. You will get a chance to check you are happy with the location before they start piercing. The piercer will then pass a cannula needle through the marked site. They will sometimes use clamps to keep the area still and taut. After passing the needle through, the piercer will insert your chosen jewellery and your navel piercing is done.
Can I wear high waisted jeans with a belly button piercing?
When first getting your belly button piercing and during healing, it is best not to wear high waisted jeans as these will rub and put pressure on your piercing. Wearing low rise trousers and a loose-fitting top will help your navel piercing to heal. Once your piercing has healed you can wear high waist trousers but low rise jeans will help you to show off your new piercing.
How much is belly piercing?
The average belly button piercing price is £35 - £40. The navel piercing price may vary depending on the type of jewellery you choose. We recommend choosing high quality piercing jewellery, even if it costs a little more, as this will help the healing process. Belly button piercing cost will vary depending on where you go to get your piercing but sometimes the price reflects the experience of the piercer so bear this in mind when choosing your piercing studio.
Is navel piercing dangerous?
There are some risks to navel piercing, just like any other piercing but belly button piercings are not considered to be dangerous. You can experience problems if you leave a navel piercing infection untreated so make sure to keep up with good aftercare. Cleaning your piercing twice a day will help prevent dangerous infections. If you do suspect that you have an infection make sure to consult your doctor as you may need antibiotics.There is a slightly higher chance that you may get a belly button piercing infection, compared to other piercing locations because of the amount of time this piercing takes to heal. Wearing loose clothing can also help as it will reduce the chances of your piercing jewellery getting caught which can lead to a navel piercing scar.
Can you feel the bar of a belly piercing?
You may be able to feel the bar of a belly piercing depending on how deep the piercing is. You may not initially be able to feel it with your fingers if there is swelling around your navel piercing. If it starts to look like the navel bar is too close to the surface and you can see the belly button bar your piercing may be rejecting. You should consult your piercer as to the best course of action. Initially you may feel very aware of the jewellery in your new piercing but as the piercing heals and becomes more comfortable you will soon forget about it and it will feel normal.
Do you have to have a flat stomach to get a belly button piercing?
You do not have to have a flat stomach to get a belly button piercing. There is no recommended body fat percentage so if you want to get a belly button piercing then you flaunt it! Your piercer will be able to discuss the suitability of your belly button for a navel piercing. The main thing to consider is if your belly button folds in when you sit down as this will make it difficult to heal a piercing and may make the jewellery feel uncomfortable.
What should I wear to get my belly button pierced?
It is important to consider the clothes you wear to get your belly button piercing. Choose an outfit with a loose-fitting top and low rise trousers or skirt. A shirt that is too tight will rub against the new piercing and may be harder to roll up for the piercing procedure. Low rise trousers will make sure your clothes do not get in the way of your new piercing while it is still healing. You may need to check you can have a belly button piercing done as not all navels are suitable for piercing.
Will my belly button piercing stretch during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, your belly will expand as your baby grows so while you may initially be able to wear your belly button piercing, you will eventually need to take it out. It is likely that the piercing bar in your navel piercing will not be long enough to accommodate the stretch during pregnancy. You may also find the tautness of the skin starts to cause the belly button piercing to push towards the surface of the skin, therefore you will want to take out your belly button piercing before it breaks through the skin or becomes uncomfortably tight. Most people recommend that by around week 20 of pregnancy you will want to remove your piercing as your belly will have grown.
Is it normal for a navel piercing to be red?
When a piercing is new it is normal for a navel piercing to be red. This is your body reacting to the initial piercing procedure and the redness is likely to be coupled with swelling which can last for the first couple of weeks of having your belly button piercing. With good navel piercing aftercare, you should find your belly button piercing becomes more comfortable and clears up over time. If you catch your piercing during healing you may notice the redness return. This is to be expected but it is important to keep an eye on it to ensure it doesnt become infected after being caught. Catching your piercing may slow down the healing process.
Belly button piercing healing takes 6 -12 months so you will need to be patient and keep up with aftercare, twice a day for a long time. Commit to giving your belly button piercing a saltwater solution or Tea Tree Oil wash twice a day with cotton wool. Belly button piercing healing time will vary for each person and can depend on other factors such as if you catch the piercing of if it gets infected.
Can you sleep on your stomach with a belly piercing?
Like with most piercings, it is best not to sleep on your stomach with a new belly piercing. Once it has healed you may find it is ok to sleep or lie on your stomach. Initially, you will want to put as little pressure on your new belly piercing as possible. Lying on the stomach could irritate your new piercing and can have other effects such as limiting the amount of oxygen that can reach your piercing to help it heal and stay fresh.
Belly button piercings come in all shapes and sizes depending on your belly button but here at Blue Banana, we think every midriff is beautiful and if you want to show it off then go for it! Unfortunately, some belly buttons are not suitable for navel piercings but your piercer will be able to advise on whether you are a suitable candidate for a navel piercing. If you have an outie belly button you wont be able to have the classic belly button piercing but some people choose to celebrate their outie by piercing it. A bar is passed through your actual belly button for a totally unusual type of navel piercing.
If you have a larger belly button you may be able to have a double navel piercing. This is usually done by having the traditional placement above the belly button and another below the belly button. Other configurations include studs in the positions of a compass. With your FAQs on navel piercing answered why not head to our other Piercing Guides to soak up even more piercing information.
FAQs
What are the rules for belly button piercing? ›
- Wash your hands before you touch your piercing. ...
- Swab with saline solution to keep it clean and avoid infection. ...
- Don't clean too much. ...
- Gently dry the area with a clean, disposable paper product.
- Leave any crust alone. ...
- Don't put anything on your belly button unless a doctor tells you to.
In general, expect to wait three months to a year before you're able to switch out the original jewellery. You must wait the amount of time necessary — don't be fooled by the healing process.
What should I wear for my first belly button piercing? ›Pants or shorts that do not lay across your navel and a shirt are best. Anything with easy access to that area. Dresses or onesies are a little trickier for obvious reasons." I personally wore a cropped tee and the lowest-waist jeans I own (which are still pretty high).
How do you shower with a belly button piercing? ›Allow warm water to run over your piercing when you shower (but don't scrub your navel piercing with soap; letting sudsy water run over the piercing is fine). During the day, you can spritz or rinse your navel piercing regularly with a saline wash, like Recovery Saline Solution.
Can I change my belly ring after 3 weeks? ›The safest option is to wait until the wound has healed completely, which can take nine months to one year. It takes longer than other body piercings because of the constant movement of the jewelry. Your core is always moving, so the belly button jewelry also moves and irritates the new piercing.
When can I take a shower after belly button piercing? ›Avoid baths, hot tubs, swimming pools, saunas, lakes, etc. for the first three weeks after being pierced as they contain bacteria which can increase the risk of infection.
How long do you have to clean your belly button after piercing? ›Wash the area with lukewarm water and then clean with a sterile saline solution or a mild liquid soap. It may take four weeks to 1 year to heal the piercing completely. It is essential to maintain this cleaning routine to avoid infection during this period.
When should you change your belly button piercing for the first time? ›Generally, belly button piercings will take 6-12 months or sometimes longer to have fully healed. The first time you take your jewellery out, we recommend getting a piercer to help you as they can assess whether it has healed enough for a changeover without irritating the piercing.
How can I make my belly button piercing heal faster? ›A sea salt solution is a natural way to keep the piercing clean, help it heal, and reduce any swelling that may be causing an unsightly bump. A person can dissolve ⅛ to ¼ of a teaspoon of sea salt in 1 cup of warm distilled or bottled water, rinse the piercing with the solution, then gently pat it dry.
What is the pain level of a belly button piercing? ›Belly button piercings are considered the second least painful piercings after ear piercings. That's because the thick tissue left behind from when your umbilical cord was removed is flesh and not very nerve dense.
Should I cover my belly button piercing overnight? ›
Clean gauze padding should be worn over navel/nipple piercings during the night for the first few nights. This should be done for the first 1-2 weeks during the day as well if wearing tight clothes/bras or participating in physical exertion (such as sports / gym) or work that may cause friction around the area.
How do you sleep with a belly button piercing? ›Sleep on your back or sides.
Sleep on your back and sides for the first few weeks after your piercing. This helps to ensure that you don't apply uncomfortable pressure on your piercing by sleeping on your stomach, while it's still new and sensitive.
Ensure that the adhesive for the bandage is not sticking to the piercing or the jewelry inside the piercing. The adhesive can irritate the skin if it is placed on the piercing and it can tug on the jewelry and increase the chance of irritation and infection.
How often should you soak your belly button piercing? ›Apply a warm compress.
Soak a clean washcloth in warm water, wring out the excess, then press against the piercing for three minutes. Repeat 3 to 4 times a day.
Contrary to popular myth, however, whether or not a belly button piercing will work for you has nothing to do with weight. "What it comes down to is the anatomy in the area you are piercing, much more than someone's overall body type," she says.
Do you need a flat stomach for a belly button piercing? ›The shape of the navel doesn't matter too much, any navel can be pierced if there is enough tissue depth to the skin available above or below the navel.
What is the age limit for a belly button piercing? ›Unfortunately, not everyone is a suited candidate for this piercing so it may not be possible for you to get a belly button piercing. If your belly button is too deep or has too much surrounding tissue, it can cause constant pressure on the jewelry, preventing the wound from healing properly.
How to tell if you have the right anatomy for a belly button piercing? ›In order to be a candidate for a navel piercing, you need to have a protruding lip of skin on the top (or, uncommonly, on the bottom) of your navel, with enough space behind the flap for jewelry to sit comfortably. The flap must have a definite front and back, with a clear edge dividing the two.
What does it mean when a girl has a belly button piercing? ›A belly button piercing was originally meant to signify sexual attraction, or to draw sexual advances to the woman wearing it. These days, most girls just like them because they are cute, but when women first started piercing their belly buttons, it was for a sign of sexuality!
How do I know what size belly bar I need? ›
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.