Navel piercings

So, look... I've been obsessing over getting a belly button piercing for a minute now. It’s one of those things I just really want to do. But honestly, what kind of fallout am I looking at? Is this actually a smart move or am I just asking for trouble? thanks 😉

If you're planning on having this done, I really think you should make sure you go through someone who actually holds a professional license for it. It’s probably best to be careful there.
I suppose I should double-check everything just to be certain.
When I finally went to get my tattoo, I was being incredibly particular about everything. I mean, I was obsessively checking the needles and making absolutely sure they were pulling them out of fresh, sterile packaging right in front of me...
There is a lower risk of complications... I suppose.
But unfortunately, things like inflammation, infection, or even rejection can always happen—it’s just one of those ways the body reacts when it senses a foreign object. It’s a reality of the procedure that even a top-tier, licensed salon in a major city like Chicago or New York can't completely prevent. They can certainly do their best to minimize the risk of any unnecessary complications, but at the end of the day, there are some biological factors that are simply out of anyone's hands.
I really don't want to go there by bringing up all those nasty diseases, but honestly, if you're thinking about going to someone who doesn't maintain a sterile studio or use fresh, single-use needles... well, I guess it just isn't worth the risk.
I have to say, I find it a bit much that at this tattoo parlor I go to, they actually require you to take your shoes off just to step inside. It feels like such an unnecessary hassle, I guess.

What kind of women's health issue could this be?

Nicole Parker93 said:How is this even a women's health issue?

🤷Maybe the connection is just that I know plenty of girls who had belly button piercings during pregnancy and ended up with a totally stretched-out hole. One of my friends could literally slide her whole hand through it. 😱

p.s. there's no such thing as a medically approved or sterile enough piercing tool... so... good luck.😁

Angela Wright said:🤷Maybe there’s a connection there, since I know quite a few girls who had belly button piercings during pregnancy and ended up with a totally stretched-out hole. One of my friends actually had a gap wide enough to stick her hand through. 😱

p.s. There isn't really such a thing as a medically approved or sufficiently sterile piercing... so... good luck.😁

Hehe, I have a piercing myself.
During pregnancy, you can wear specialized jewelry specifically designed for that situation; they cost a tiny bit more, but it's nothing extreme.

Nicole Parker93 said:hehe, I actually have a piercing.
When you're pregnant, you just get specific jewelry designed specifically for that stage of life. They cost a tiny bit more, but we're talking pennies, nothing crazy.

Clearly, nobody bothered to tell them 😁

It’s such a shame because people can really mess up their bodies if they don't take care of their piercings properly. Honestly, without wanting to sound like I'm lecturing anyone, I think people need to do way more research than just thinking, "Oh, I want a piercing." I made sure to learn everything before I even thought about getting my own, and I did the exact same deep dive before I ever got tattooed.

You also really need to go visit tattoo and piercing studios in person to vet them. Ask all the questions you want and demand to see their setup; once you do that, you can rest easy knowing you picked a solid spot. Any self-respecting shop owner won't mind a million questions because they care about their reputation, and a great reputation is built on top-tier service and happy clients.
That’s actually why I always go to the same artist, and plenty of my friends have signed up too because they got a five-star experience from me.

To circle back to the first post, I personally love my piercing (though I wouldn't have gotten it if it weren't so easy to manage, hehe), but people really have to think this through. A belly button piercing doesn't fully heal for at least six months. For that first month, you basically have to keep it covered and apply Betadine regularly. It requires quite a bit of maintenance if you're being careful—I was cleaning mine and applying special bandages several times a day to prevent infection. Some people just neglect the care because everything looks perfect after a week, but when a navel piercing gets infected, let me tell you, it is incredibly painful.

But hey, to each their own.

Nicole Parker93 said:To circle back to my first point, I actually think piercings are great—though, honestly, I wouldn't have one myself hehe—but people really need to think this through. A belly button piercing doesn't just fully heal in six months. For that first month, you're basically keeping it covered and constantly applying Betadine. It requires a fair amount of maintenance (if you’re the type to actually take care of things). Personally, I was cleaning and treating mine multiple times a day, even using special bandages to prevent any irritation. There are people who just ignore the upkeep because everything looks perfect after a week, but let me tell you, when a navel piercing gets infected, it is incredibly painful.

But hey, to each their own.

It all comes down to how much it varies from person to person. Everyone's body reacts differently to having a foreign object in it.
For instance, I only wore a bandage over mine for a week or two, purely so I wouldn't snag it on my shirt. I just rinsed it with saline solution and used a disinfectant spray. It never turned red, never got inflamed—nothing. But again, like I said, it's totally individual.

alright... thanks for the advice... so when's actually the best time to get this piercing done?

Maria Sanchez59 said:It’s all pretty subjective because everyone's body reacts differently to a foreign object.
For instance, I wore a bandage on my navel for just a week or two simply so my shirt wouldn't snag it. I just cleaned it with saline solution and used a disinfectant spray. There was absolutely no redness or inflammation. But like I said, it varies from person to person.

I didn't have an issue either, but I still followed every single instruction my piercer gave me—plus I watched what other girls did when they skipped doses, and seeing how a belly button piercing looks once it gets infected (you wouldn't wish that on your worst enemy!) makes me want to advise everyone to follow the instructions until the very end, rather than just doing what they think is "fine."

Like you, everything went smoothly for me, but not for everyone. A colleague of mine thought she was doing great for nearly two months, but then it got inflamed. Honestly, my stomach turned just looking at it. When she went back to the shop, the guy just calmly told her, "I told you a belly piercing takes six months to heal, even if it doesn't look like it to the naked eye."🤷
Now she has a scarred navel and no piercing at all.

When is the right time for a piercing? Well, whenever you want, as long as you're fully aware that it requires constant care, otherwise, it’ll just get nasty and infected.

I’ve been thinking about getting a belly button piercing myself, but honestly, I’m allergic to pretty much every metal out there, so I’d have to pass 😢plus, I'm terrified of the whole thing getting infected

coastalviper46 said:fine... thanks for the input... but when exactly would be the best time to actually get the piercing done?

You’d probably be better off doing it right before summer hits, maybe just before you head to the beach; salt water can actually help with healing, and since you aren't wearing layers of heavy clothing in the heat, there's less chance of it getting snagged or irritated.

Kate James50 said:I've thought about getting a navel piercing myself, but I'm allergic to pretty much every metal out there, so I'll pass.😢 I'm way too worried about it getting infected.

I'm also allergic to basically any reactive metals, yet I've had mine for nine years now. I once bought some Swarovski earrings that caused so much pain I thought my ears might actually fall off, so it’s vital to mention your allergies at the studio; when picking out jewelry, you really need to stick to surgical steel. Right now, I mix surgical steel and silver and haven't had a single issue.
You definitely won't have an allergic reaction to something like surgical steel.

Donna Turner said:Honestly, you should try wearing it over the summer—maybe right before a beach trip. The salt air actually helps things heal, plus you aren't layering up with heavy clothes in the heat, so there's way less chance of your gear catching on something and getting irritated.

I’ve got allergies to basically every living metal out there, so I’ve been dealing with this for 9 years now. I once bought some Swarovski earrings and my ears were throbbing so hard I thought they'd fall off. You really need to make sure you tell the people at the piercing studio what's going on; when you're picking out jewelry, insist on surgical steel. Personally, I mix surgical steel and silver and I haven't had a single issue.
There is no way you'll have an allergic reaction to surgical steel.

😉 I’ve definitely considered that, but I'm still pretty nervous about it... either way, I'll go ask around! thanks 👍

Donna Turner said:You might want to wait until summer to try that, maybe right before a beach trip... the salt air actually helps with healing. Plus, you aren't wearing layers in the heat, so there's less chance of the fabric catching on it or causing irritation...

I thought the same thing... but it turned out to be the exact opposite. During the summer, you’re sweating like crazy at the beach, and you can't exactly spend four hours in the ocean while layering on sunscreen and all that... it just builds up around your navel. It makes inflammation way more likely. Plus, if the water isn't clean, you're looking at all kinds of issues. Salt is great for wounds, but not for piercings... better to wait until the winter, or at least after summer is over. I can't remember the name of that soak we use at home where you dissolve the salt in water... what was it...

That’s what everyone told me... even my piercer, Ana...😍)

Nicole Parker93 said:How is this even a gynecological issue?

I believe we are currently in the "women's health" subforum rather than "gynecological issues."

I used to have a piercing. In the beginning, it’s a bit unpleasant until the hole actually stabilizes. Back at the studio, they recommended a specific disinfectant solution—I can't quite recall the brand name—along with a healing ointment. I stuck to that regimen for a few months until the piercing was fully set. For the next four years, I didn't encounter any trouble at all, though I did experience some minor soreness if I accidentally snagged it on a T-shirt or a strap.

Then, I ended up being admitted to the hospital, and the doctors were quite frantic about making me take it out, as piercings were still relatively novel back then. By the time I was discharged, the area had begun to close up, and the jewelry simply wouldn't slide back through.
Now, five years later, the piercing has left a mark, but the surface has healed over. Occasionally, some sebum and debris collect there, and I have to squeeze it out like one would a pimple. Honestly, I regret losing the piercing; I never experienced any actual health complications, provided you maintain proper hygiene and keep everything clean.

On a side note, when I first got it, the post wasn't even metal; it was made of a high-quality, flexible plastic, with only the beads being metallic. Once the piercing is properly formed, you can swap out the jewelry daily just as you would with earrings.

I’ve had my belly button pierced for ten years now, and honestly, I’m just so glad I went through with it when I did. Even though all those "concerned" voices were breathing down my neck, telling me it was a bad idea and claiming it takes about six years for the body to reject a navel piercing because the hole just shrinks up... yeah, they were wrong. This is actually the only piercing I’ve ever gotten—I haven't even bothered with ear piercings. I haven't dealt with any issues at all. The piercing site hasn't changed size in years; I mean, it did shrink a little bit during those first couple of years, which I guess is pretty common, but ever since I switched to white gold jewelry, everything has stayed perfectly stable. No signs of rejection whatsoever.

As for upkeep, I don't use any fancy sprays or store-bought solutions. It’s enough to just clean it with some boiled saline solution until it’s fully healed.

So, I’ve had my belly button piercing for 10 years now, and honestly? I’m so glad I went through with it. Even though all those self-righteous "experts" were breathing down my neck, telling me it was a bad idea... you know, claiming that the body usually rejects them after about six years because the hole starts shrinking or whatever. This is actually the only piercing I’ve ever gotten—I didn't even do my ears. And I haven't had a single issue. The piercing site hasn't changed much in years. I mean, sure, it tightened up a little during those first couple of years—which apparently happens a lot—but ever since I switched to white gold jewelry, it’s stayed perfectly stable. No signs of rejection at all.

Maintenance-wise, I just stuck to cleaning it with boiled saline solution until everything healed up. I didn't bother with any fancy sprays or those overpriced retail solutions. I was pretty disciplined about it, too; I kept cleaning it religiously for almost a year before I even thought about swapping out the jewelry. My first piece was a ring shape, which they suggested would help with the healing process.

I didn't just walk into some sketchy mall jeweler, either. I went to a highly recommended professional studio where the person doing the piercing was an experienced pro who actually worked as a nurse.

The bottom line? If you're careful and actually follow the aftercare, it was definitely the right call.