Can You Stop a Belly Button Piercing From Rejecting?

A belly button piercing rejection hurts differently, especially if you enjoy getting piercings and were looking forward to it. If you’ve got multiple piercings, rejection is probably the last thing you were expecting. But you can’t give up on a unique piercing such as one on your belly button.

So if you experience rejection from your belly button piercing, know that this is very common, and there are many ways to overcome this. Many factors pave the way for unexpected rejection, and if you’re currently going through one, you’re in the right place.

This article will guide you on everything about belly button piercing rejection. You will learn about how long it lasts and what symptoms you may experience. So don’t stress out if you’re in a similar situation; this article has got you covered!

What Is Belly Button Piercing Rejection?

Belly button piercing rejection occurs when your body tries to defend itself from the metal in your jewelry. Your body will slowly push the piece of jewelry out of your body and begin healing itself from within.

How Common Is It For a Belly Button Piercing To Reject?

Belly button piercing isn’t common, but quite a few people tend to experience such a unique rejection. Your belly button rejecting a piercing is more likely when your family has a history of piercing rejection.

If a close family member experienced the same issue, it’s highly probable that you’ll experience it as well. This should encourage you to be cautious while getting a belly button piercing.

If you’re prone to allergic reactions, especially from poor quality jewelry, you’re more likely to face belly button piercing rejection. Such rejections may lead to bigger problems such as infections, making it difficult for you to get another piercing.

If you know that you have allergies, stick to high-quality jewelry such as 14k gold and titanium nickel-free.

If you’re going through a difficult time with your bodily changes and see a sudden change in your body weight, belly button piercing rejection will be more likely. When facing bodily changes, your skin starts to stretch, especially during pregnancy, which greatly affects your belly button piercing.

You don’t necessarily need to experience belly button piercing rejection, even if you can relate to the factors mentioned above, but this way, you can be more alert and avoid such a frustrating situation.

How Can You Tell a Belly Button Piercing is Rejecting?

Sometimes it’s difficult to tell if you’re facing belly button piercing rejection. Nevertheless, a few symptoms may help you spot this issue in its early stages.

Your Piercing Hole Increases in Size

If you pay close attention to your naval and notice a change in the side of your belly button, then this a big sign that you’re experiencing a piercing rejection.

The size often tends to get bigger when you experience piercing rejection and is one of the most common you can tell by that something’s wrong.

Soreness

Soreness in the belly button is very common once you get a piercing, and you will feel soreness for a few hours right after your piercing appointment.

However, if the soreness continues to persist for a few days, then this is a major sign of piercing rejection. This could also lead to an infection as well.

Sagginess

Sagginess is another sign of piercing rejection. If you notice your belly bottom piercing hanging loosely and looking different from the way it did before, you’re surely going through rejection.

Changes in Positioning of Your Piecing

If you notice slight migration in your belly button piercing when the piercing is now more towards the skin’s surface, then that’s definitely also a sign of piercing rejection.

Migration is quite common and may not necessarily mean you have a piercing rejection, but it’s best to consult your piercer as soon as you see this. If the migration persists and moves more towards another direction, then you’re surely experiencing a belly button piercing rejection.

Keloid or Scar Formation

You may notice scar tissue around your belly button piercing, such as Keloids, and these keep building up. You won’t feel any pain, but it’s surely is a sign that’s something is wrong, and it can lead all the way to a piercing rejection.

Extra Discharge

Discharge is a very common occurrence during the first few weeks after getting a belly button piercing. However, if you notice a weird pattern and the discharge suddenly stops and increases again, there is a high chance that your belly button piercing is going through rejection.

H2Ocean Piercing Aftercare Spray, Sea Salt Keloid & Bump Treatment, Wound Care Spray 4oz
BRIOTECH Pure Hypochlorous Acid Spray, Multi Purpose Topical Body & Facial Mist, Eyelid Cleanser, Support Against Irritation & Redness Relief, Dry Skin & Scalp Treatment, Packaging May Vary, 3.4 fl oz
NeilMed NeilCleanse Piercing Aftercare, Fine Mist, 6.3 Fluid Ounce
Dr. Piercing Aftercare Swabs - Saline Solution for Piercings - Earring Nose Belly Ear Piercing Cleaner - Saline Wound Wash, Ear Hole Cleaner - Keloid Bump Removal Treatment, 36 swabs (1-Pack)
Name
H2Ocean Piercing Aftercare Spray
BRIOTECH Topical Skin Spray
NeilMed NeilCleanse Piercing Aftercare
Dr. Piercing Aftercare - Medicated Swabs
Size
4oz
4oz
6.3oz
0.8oz
H2Ocean Piercing Aftercare Spray, Sea Salt Keloid & Bump Treatment, Wound Care Spray 4oz
Name
H2Ocean Piercing Aftercare Spray
Size
4oz
BRIOTECH Pure Hypochlorous Acid Spray, Multi Purpose Topical Body & Facial Mist, Eyelid Cleanser, Support Against Irritation & Redness Relief, Dry Skin & Scalp Treatment, Packaging May Vary, 3.4 fl oz
Name
BRIOTECH Topical Skin Spray
Size
4oz
NeilMed NeilCleanse Piercing Aftercare, Fine Mist, 6.3 Fluid Ounce
Name
NeilMed NeilCleanse Piercing Aftercare
Size
6.3oz
Dr. Piercing Aftercare Swabs - Saline Solution for Piercings - Earring Nose Belly Ear Piercing Cleaner - Saline Wound Wash, Ear Hole Cleaner - Keloid Bump Removal Treatment, 36 swabs (1-Pack)
Name
Dr. Piercing Aftercare - Medicated Swabs
Size
0.8oz

What Causes a Belly Button Piercing To Reject?

There are ant factors associated a belly button piercing rejection. Mentioned below are the reasons:

The Type of Jewelry

Your jewelry type plays an important role in the piercing’s healing process. If you choose poor-quality jewelry, then you’re bound to experience an infection that may lead to the rejection of your belly button piercing.

If you have a sensitive skin type, then the best type of jewelry for you is titanium-based as it reduces the chances of rejection and skin allergies. The jewelry size may also cause rejection, especially if it doesn’t fit properly and allows for movement.

Strong Immune System

Piercings cause a high amount of trauma to your skin, and as soon as you get your piercing, your immune system works faster, trying to get rid of any possible infections that the piercing could bring.

This is a response to rejection from the body when you start to notice inflammation around the belly button and scar tissue formation.

Changes in Weight

You may face belly button piercing rejection if you’re going through a sudden increase in weight due to obesity or pregnancy. Bodily changes such as obesity and pregnancy cause your skin to stretch; hence this adds more pressure on your piercing, causing your body to reject it.

Skin Type

People usually who have a flat skin surface are more likely to face belly button piercing rejection. This may be because the piercing isn’t able to sit firmly, causing a shift.

Stress

Stress is dangerous and can exacerbate health conditions. It is also a common reason your belly button piercing suffers from rejection. It is important to have a strong immune system that promotes a smooth piercing healing process. Stress can be emotionally and physically draining. Hence, in response to this, your belly button piercing may face rejection.

Genetics

Everyone goes through different healing processes, as everyone’s body reacts to piercings differently. If your family members usually have a belly button piercing rejection, then it’s likely that you may also experience it. This is not necessary, though, as all our bodies function differently.

Can You Re-Pierce a Rejected Belly Button Piercing?

Yes, you can totally get your piercings re-pierced after their rejection, but this depends on a few factors. If you’re able to spot signs of piercing rejection at an early stage, then you can easily replace your piercing.

For this, you will have to consult your piercer immediately, and if they feel like your piercing will face rejection, they may change it. This also depends on the amount of damage.

If you’re too late in figuring out the symptoms of piercing rejection, then there are fewer chances of getting a piercing again. However, it’s not impossible.

If you notice the signs too late, your piercing may have already migrated, making your piercing visible through the skin. This causes a lot of damage around the area of the piercing.

If you plan to get a piercing again, you will have to wait till your skin fully heals. You have to wait for the trauma to settle on, and after that, you can get a piercing again.

The healing stage varies from person to person, but it may take you a long time as your skin will take a while to heal from the trauma and the piercing rejection after-effects.

Sometimes, the re-piercing is successful even after all the rejection, but this depends on how long you wait till your skin fully heals. Sometimes even after waiting for too long, your piercing may not suit your skin.

This is due to the persisting trauma and infections that may be around that area. You can make sure to use a different type of jewelry this time, one that you’re not allergic to, and go to a professional for your piercing appointment.

How Long Does It Take For a Belly Piercing to Reject?

It takes at least four weeks for your belly piercing to reject fully. When you get a piercing, your immune system will work to get the harmfulness of a piercing. While this may begin instantly, you may notice signs of rejection much later.

Some people can tell instantly, because of soreness and redness, that their body is rejecting their belly button piercing. Some don’t experience symptoms and find out later, which gradually leads to skin scars and infections, paving the way for more complications.

Ways to Prevent Piercing Rejection

Prevention is always better than cure, and you can prevent facing the complications of piercing rejection. One of the best ways to prevent something like this from happening is by keeping the area clean. Aftercare is very important, especially during your piercing’s healing stage.

All you need to do is clean the area daily with soap and water using a soft cloth or gauze. At the same time, you can use a flat compress, which speeds up the healing process. You must do this at least twice or thrice a day and make sure to keep the area dry after performing this aftercare act.

Hopefully, the next best thing that will keep you away from a piercing rejection is by going to a professional and renowned piercing parlor. You will come across many piercing parlors in your area, but you must carry out a bit of research in choosing the best one.

Here, a professional means someone who relies on adequate equipment and sterilization techniques. The safer the technique the piercer uses, the fewer chances of you achieving a piercing rejection. If you’re going for a stomach piercing, make sure your piercer has the experience, as every part of the body requires a different technique.

Are Belly Button Piercing Rejections Fixable?

In most cases, you can fix your belly button piercing rejection, but this depends on how fast you’re able to identify the symptoms and the severity of the damage.

There are many ways to prevent this from happening, but in some rare cases, you may not be able to get a belly button piercing again. This is because of how much scarring the previous one caused. There is a high risk of infection, which could spread again if you try to get another belly button piercing.

Final Thoughts

Your body rejecting your belly button piercing may be one of the most frustrating situations you go through as someone who enjoys body modifications.

This experience may totally kill your excitement about getting a piercing, and you may never want to get one again. However, such things are quite common and remember that they’re easily preventable.

Many times, people get lazy sticking to the aftercare routine every day. If you choose to get something unique on your skin, you also have to prepare yourself to take some responsibility in taking care of it. Hopefully, with the help of this article, you now know how to deal with a belly button piercing rejection and will be able to prevent any in the future.