Navel Piercing

Navel piercing may be more common these days, but it still makes a fabulous visual impact.

Navel piercing and belly button piercing are essentially the same thing, although some contend that a "true" navel piercing is actually done in the remaining stump portion of the navel itself, casually referred to as the "outie".

Piercing an outie is thought to be more dangerous, as some believe this offers a direct route for infection to travel to the internal organs. This incorrect belief is largely due to the fact that the umbilical cord, which the outie is a remanent of, once transferred blood and vital nutrition between mother and fetus, but the fact is that once severed and healed, it's no longer a conduit, and there is no greater chance for infection to travel in this area than any other.

Generally, a navel piercing is placed somewhere along the outer rim of the navel, and a belly button ring or some other piece of body jewelry is threaded through the opening to hang over the navel stump. You might choose to have a single piercing made at first, but you can add multiple piercings around the navel later if you want a more stunning effect.

To begin, you should only have your navel pierced by a reputable piercing professional who works out of a clean shop. Navel piercings are more prone to infection because the area being pierced may be rubbed by clothing at the waistline.

You need to give yourself the best chance to have a successful piercing with minimal chance of infection, and this means having things done properly from the start, with sterile procedures observed. Having your belly button pierced by a friend with a piercing kit is not a safe option.

Once you've checked out piercing shops/piercers and made your selection, you're ready to get pierced. Shower before you go so you'll be as clean as possible.

1. Your piercer will use an antiseptic solution to thoroughly cleanse the area around your navel.
2. He/she will then carefully mark the exact placement point where the piercing will be performed.
3. A sterilized clamp will be used to pull up the navel tissue and hold it firmly in place.
4. A special surgical needle is used to pass through the skin, creating a hole.
5. Your navel jewelry will immediately be inserted through the hole and fastened in place.
6. Your piercer will gently clean the area and apply a bandage that should be left on for several hours after the initial piercing.
7. You should then receive both written and verbal aftercare explanations so you thoroughly understand how to keep your piercing clean and free from infection.

Because of its placement, a navel piercing can a bit tricky to deal with. Clothing can catch on your jewelry or rub and cause irritation at the site, so it's extremely important to be careful what you wear during those early weeks when your piercing is freshest.

Keeping the site scrupulously clean is a must. It's better to avoid using too much soap since it will dry out the skin and cause irritation. Instead, use a cotton ball saturated with salt water to soak the navel area about three times a day. Be sure to gently rotate your jewelry a little to allow the water to get inside of the piercing too. This will help speed up the healing time, which may take six months to a year to accomplish.

If you notice redness, heat or an unusual amount of soreness develop around the piercing, contact your doctor immediately since this may indicate an infection is developing. Any infection left untreated has the potential to escalate into blood poisoning, so it's best to be cautious and seek medical care sooner rather than later.

Navel piercings are great looking, but if you're going to get one, make sure you have it done by a professional. You need to follow up with a good hygiene regimen, and be sure to seek medical care if an infection does develop.

If you can follow all of the aftercare instructions, you're likely going to wind up with a terrific piercing you can enjoy for many years to come.

For more on navel rings, read the Page LoveToKnow Jewelry article on Button Rings navel jewelry.

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