The Low-Down on Belly Button Piercings: Beautiful Pictures, Aftercare Guide, and More!

Belly button piercings are most especially popular in women than in men. It diverts the eye to the belly area which can be very sexy and beautiful to look at.

Getting a belly button piercing sure is nice, but it sure isn’t all sugar and spice. Today, we will discuss how to take care of your belly button piercing, what to expect when getting one, how much it costs, how to find the right piercer, and many more.

About the Belly Button Piercing

A couple of dermal piercings and a belly button piercing.

The belly button piercing is literally done on the belly button or navel area. The piercing is not exactly done on the belly button itself, instead, the area above the belly button is pierced and the jewelry usually hangs on top of the belly button.

It is a very popular piercing among girls, especially those who love showing off their curves in the summer. The belly button piercing can be sported by any gender during any type of season.

What to Anticipate when Getting a Belly Button Piercing

The first thing that your piercer will do is take a look at your belly button and decide if it is safe to pierce or not. There are two types of belly buttons: an “outie” and an “innie”.

Your usual innie belly button piercing.

The “outie” is a belly button that sticks out of the hole. This usually happens when a woman gives birth or sometimes, it’s just simply inborn. The “innie” is the one that you usually see on billboards and posters. It is the more common type of belly button.

An example of an outie belly button piercing.

Your piercer will be the one to determine if you are qualified for the belly button piercing. The best thing to know is to give them a visit and ask if you can get one.

If they decide that you are qualified for the belly button piercing, then it is time to pick a jewelry for your most awaited piercing. The most common and used type of jewelry for the belly button piercing is the curved barbell. However, more and more people are getting adventurous when it comes to belly button piercings and are looking for ways to amp up their own preferred jewelry.

The fancier the jewelry is, the more expensive the piercing is going to be. If you choose to get a jewelry that has precious stones and metals in it, then you can expect the price to go up. If you are allergic to nickel and any type of metal though, you should choose the more expensive ones – besides, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

After choosing the jewelry, your piercer will then wash their hands and sanitize everything that they will use – including the hollow needle that they will use to pierce your belly button and the jewelry that you have chosen. They will also put a pair of gloves on to make sure that you will not be infected throughout the process.

Once all that’s done, they will now proceed to clean your belly button area with an antiseptic to clean it out. They will make a mark on it and ask you to look in the mirror and see if you are satisfied with the marking. Once you agree, it is now time to start the piercing process.

You will then be asked to put your shirt up to have your belly button exposed. The piercer will then take the hollow needle and pierce the marked area on your belly button. You will experience a little bit of pain and sting during the piercing process, but that will only take a couple of seconds. The jewelry will then be inserted into the pierced area, and the piercer will then proceed to clean your belly button once again.

After doing the piercing, your piercer will go ahead and talk about the aftercare regarding your belly button piercing. Make sure to listen carefully and take down notes to make sure that everything goes smoothly. Follow their instructions to a T to make sure that your belly button piercing won’t get infected and that it will heal properly.

What Type of Pain will I Experience with the Belly Button Piercing?

Luckily for piercing enthusiasts, the belly button piercing is not that painful. Sure, you will feel a little bit of sting, but that will only last for a couple of seconds. If you are squeamish when it comes to pain, then you probably cannot stand any type of piercing. If your pain threshold is high, then the belly button piercing will be super tolerable for you.

A beautiful anchor ring for a belly button piercing.

During the Piercing

Once the piercer starts to pierce your belly button area with the hollow needle, you will feel a slight tinge of pain. The pain will last for about 3 to 5 seconds – after that, the sharp pain is all done.

The pain will all depend on how rough or gentle your piercer is going to be. Do your research and choose the right piercer to make sure that you are in good hands.

After the Piercing

The pain that you will feel after the piercing is different from the pain that you will feel during the piercing. While the pain during the piercing is sharp, the pain that you will experience after the piercing is quite dull and of course, less painful.

You can expect the pain to be on the throbbing side. The throbbing will last for about 3 to 5 days, while the tenderness will last for about a week or more. If you experience prolonged pain, tenderness, and throbbing for more than 2 weeks, then give your doctor a visit, as you might have contracted an infection before or after the piercing.

A simple barbell ring for a belly button piercing.

How Long can I Expect the Belly Button Piercing to Hurt?

Just like what we have mentioned earlier, the pierced area will feel a little bit tender and sore after the piercing. This pain should last for about one to two weeks, but it all depends on how you care for it. If you stick to your aftercare instructions and you do it religiously, then your piercing will more likely to heal right away.

If you refuse to follow the aftercare instructions given by your piercer, then you can expect your piercing to hurt longer, plus, there’s a high chance that your piercing will be infected. Make sure to clean your piercing twice to thrice a day and follow your piercer’s aftercare instructions to make sure that everything will be fine.

Things that can Affect the Pain in your Piercing

Take a look at the factors that can contribute to belly button piercing pain so you would know how to steer clear of it.

A beautiful sun and moon ring for belly button piercing.

Your Health

Before getting a belly button piercing, make sure that you are a hundred percent healthy. Being sick can lead to you having a low immune system and this can definitely affect the way your piercing will heal.

Make sure that you do not have a major or even a minor disease or illness before planning on getting a belly button piercing. If you are down with the colds or you are suffering from a fever, reschedule your booking to another date to make sure that you will heal quickly.

Alcohol or Drug Intake

Alcohol is a natural blood thinner, which means that if you get pierced during the influence of alcohol, you will bleed more than usual. This can be dangerous, so you should make sure to stay away from alcohol a few days before your piercing.

Drugs can also affect the pain during and after your piercing. Any professional piercer also would not agree to pierce you if you are intoxicated, so make sure that you are completely sober during the procedure.

The Piercing Tool Used

Piercing guns can cause tissue damage, which is definitely bad for your belly button area. They are also difficult to clean and sanitize and can easily cause an infection to your newly pierced area.

You should instead ask your piercer to use a sanitized hollow needle to pierce your belly button instead. This is safer and easier to use, and it hurts way less than a piercing gun does.

Your Piercer’s Experience and Handling

If your piercer has a gentle touch to their hands, then your piercing will less likely to hurt. Do your research or ask for recommendation from friends and family when it comes to their trusted piercers.

The piercer’s experience also matters, as they have had lots of practice in the past. Hiring an experienced piercer will cost you more, but it is definitely worth it. After all, it is definitely better to be safe than sorry.

What you can do to Lessen your Belly Button Piercing Pain

While the belly button piercing pain is inevitable, there are things that you can do to lessen the pain. Continue reading to make sure you will experience less pain during and after the piercing.

An example of a bottom and top belly button piercing.

Avoid the Things that can Add up to the Pain

Steer clear of things that can affect your piercing pain including alcohol, drugs, lack of sleep, and going to an inexperienced piercer.

Follow the instructions above to make sure that the pain will be tolerable for you.

Get some Rest

Get an ample amount of rest before the day of your piercing. Being well-rested will help you get through the process better and easier.

Getting in the shop without any type of rest will make you feel nauseous and out of it, so make sure to get at least 8 to 10 hours of sleep before getting your piercing done.

Drink Lots of Water

Going in dehydrated is not an option. Drink lots of water before getting the piercing done and carry a bottle of water before going to the shop to make sure that you will stay hydrated all throughout the process.

Eat Some Food

When you are hungry, your blood sugar goes down. This means that you will get nauseous faster than usual and this may affect your pain tolerance. Make sure to eat even just a light snack before coming in to get the piercing.

Be Comfortable

Wear comfortable and loose clothes during the day of your piercing. Avoid wearing tight and fitting clothes, as the clothes can tug on your jewelry, irritating your piercing. Get some comfortable clothes and wear those until your piercing gets a hundred percent better.

Come in Ready

Do your research and know everything that you need to know about the belly button piercing. Read articles about the topic, watch some videos, and interview some friends.

Decide if you are a hundred percent ready and dedicated to getting this piercing. Once you have it, there is no going back, and you definitely have to care for it properly to make sure that it heals well.

Ask for a Numbing Cream

If you are super scared of the piercing but you want to get the belly button piercing badly, then go ahead and ask your piercer if you can use a numbing cream. This will minimize or eliminate the initial sharp pain, leaving you with a beautifully pierced belly button without any type of pain.

What is the Cost of Getting a Belly Button Piercing?

While the costs of the belly button piercing vary from one artist to another, the range is at around $30 to $60.

There are lots of different factors that can affect the costs of your piercing such as the location of the shop, your piercer’s experience and reputability, and the jewelry that’s being used for your piercing.

A beautiful butterfly ring for belly button piercing.

The Jewelry

If you choose to have a jewelry that has precious stones and metals in it, the piercing costs will definitely go higher. However, if you are allergic to certain metals such as nickel, then going for a more expensive and higher quality jewelry is the safer route.

Go to a clinic and get yourself tested for any allergic reactions to different types of metals. Also, remember to wait it out before changing your jewelry. Make sure to keep the original jewelry until your piercing is completely healed. Wait for about 4 to 6 months before changing it and ask your piercer before doing so. If you are scared, then have them change it for you instead.

How Should I Clean my Belly Button Piercing?

The best way to clean your belly button piercing is to use a saline solution. Avoid using alcohol, ointments, creams, or betadine to clean your piercing.

Grab two spoons of sea salt and a cup of warm distilled water.  Mix it together and stir the salt in until it is fully dissolved. Get a cotton ball or pad and soak it in the mixture. Next, press it on your piercing and let it stay there for at least a minute or two. Remember to just dab and press and NEVER tug on it, as this can irritate the piercing. Dry with a piece of tissue or just let it air dry naturally.

If you see any crusts forming on or around the pierced area, just clean it with the saline solution. Do not pick on it, as this can only infect the piercing.

You can also try putting the mixture in a cup and soaking your piercing in it. Lay down on the bed, put the cup on the piercing, and let it stay for a couple of minutes.

Alternatively, you can also ask your piercer if they offer a ready-made cleaning solution that you can buy.

When will my Belly Button Piercing Heal?

This depends on your aftercare practices – if you follow the instructions to a T, then you can expect your piercing to heal faster. If you do not clean it regularly and you get an infection, then expect it to heal in at least a year’s time.

The usual healing period of the belly button piercing is 3 to 6 months. Do not pick on it and avoid touching it too much to make sure that it will heal and not get infected.

Belly Button Piercing Infections, Risks, and Symptoms

Any type of piercing is susceptible to an infection. We will discuss which risks are involved in getting a belly button piercing and what you should watch out for after finally getting one.

Risks

The following risks are associated with getting a belly button piercing:

1. Allergic Reaction. As we have mentioned earlier, some people are just plain allergic to some metals. The most common irritant found in jewelry is nickel. Make sure to get tested before getting the piercing and have yourself cleared by the doctor so you can steer clear of certain types of jewelry.
2. Piercing migration happens when the body rejects or casts out the piercing. This is a normal thing that the body does whenever a foreign object is injected into it. However, piercing migrations are relatively rare and you might not even have to worry about it.
3. Keloids and Scarring. If you are prone to keloids and scarring, then you can expect to get one when it comes to getting a belly button piercing. You can avoid this by not touching your piercing. You should also avoid tugging on it to make sure that it won’t be scarred or infected.
4. Having an “Outtie”. If you have an outtie belly button, then chances are your piercer will not agree to piercing you. The belly button is an extremely delicate and sensitive area and thus, you should avoid poking it and inserting things into it if you have an outtie.

Symptoms

If you are experiencing some of the symptoms below, then go ahead and visit your doctor right away and let your piercer know about it:

1. Redness is normal right after getting the piercing done, but if it lasts for over a week, then let your piercer know.
2. Tenderness and Swelling. These are common too, but if it lasts for over 2 weeks, then it might be a wise idea to visit your doctor.
3. A fever is a sign that your body is reacting to an infection inside your body. Have yourself tested ASAP and looked at by a doctor to make sure that you are okay. Your doctor might also give you antibiotics to help treat your fever and infection.
4. Pus and Blood Discharge Plus a Bad Smell. These are also signs of an infection. Let your doctor know and ask for some advice regarding what to take and what to do to keep these things away,

Pictures

Here are some pictures to get you inspired and convinced to get a belly button piercing.

A very beautiful jewelry for belly button piercing.

A simple barbell jewelry for belly button piercing.

A pair of precious stones for belly button piercing

Hip dermal plus belly button piercing.

A cute heart-shaped jewelry.

A feather-shaped jewelry for the belly button piercing.

An awwesome dreamcatcher jewelry.

An example of a double belly button piercing.

A top and bottom belly button piercing.

Some dermal and belly button piercings.

A pretty crystal bow for a belly button piercing jewelry.

A beautifully made dreamcatcher belly button jewelry.

“Country girl” belly button piercing.