Belly button piercing, method and care

Table of contents

• The History of the Belly Button Piercing
• How is a belly button piercing done?
• Proper care of a piercing
• When can I change my belly button piercing?
• What to do if the belly button piercing is infected?
• Piercing during pregnancy: what to do?

The History of the Belly Button Piercing

The piercing has been cultivated in various cultures for a long time. However, it became established in Western culture in the early 1990s, mainly for aesthetic reasons, and is one of the most common types of piercing alongside nipple piercings. Most women treat themselves to a navel piercing to emphasize their figure or to give their stomach a special significance.

How is a belly button piercing done?

The belly button piercing is quick and usually painless or very minimal. The professional piercer disinfects the skin, uses sterile forceps to grasp the fold of skin above the button (most customers choose a piercing above the navel), and pierces this fold with a sterile cannula (hollow needle). The initial piercing is inserted through the cannula and closed with a small ball. Anyone who wants a different piercing location, such as below the button or on the sides, should talk to their piercer about it.

Proper care of a belly button piercing

First, you should leave the piercing alone immediately after it has been pierced (for about 12-24 hours) and not use any shower gel for the first few days. After that, you should clean your navel piercing regularly twice daily with a suitable care product. You should also avoid wearing tight clothing, high-waisted jeans, and belts for the first few days and avoid swimming pools, saunas, etc. until everything has healed. This will usually be the case after about 3 to 6 months. After it has completely healed, cleaning with clear water and mild soap is sufficient.

When can I change my belly?

Once the piercing channel has completely healed, the jewelry can be changed. The first jewelry change should be carried out by the piercer to get a piece of jewelry that fits perfectly. So-called banana bells, i.e. curved bars connected to two balls, or rings are particularly suitable for this.

What to do if the belly button piercing is infected?

The greatest risk of infection with a navel piercing is during the healing phase. During this time, an open wound is in an exposed place and germs can easily enter. Therefore, special hygiene is required during the healing phase. Later, infections only occur if, for example, the skin is torn; a minimal wound is sufficient for this. First, it is important to remain calm and disinfect the inflamed area with a cotton pad or swab. If redness is accompanied by pain, the piercing is bleeding or the area is festering, you should not waste any time and go to the piercer immediately.

Belly button piercing during pregnancy: what to do?

In itself, a piercing is not a problem during pregnancy. However, not only do hormones change, but also the circumference of the abdomen, which can cause the piercing to tear and become infected. Therefore, you should always pay attention to your own body and only leave the piercing in if there are no apparent problems. An excellent alternative for the first few months would be a plastic piercing to minimize the risk of it tearing or even coming out. The piercing must then definitely be removed for the birth. Depending on the wearer’s tissue and the course of the pregnancy, the piercing channel may close quite quickly after birth.