Belly button piercings are eye-catching body mods that will give you that little bit of flair you’ve been searching for. A belly button piercing is a jewelry piece usually placed above the navel. However, some people choose to get them below and even on the sides of their navel.
Before you head to the piercing shop, it’s a good idea to research the piercing, so you know what to expect. We want to ensure you have the right information on getting a belly button piercing, so you know what you’re getting into. Before committing to getting a navel piercing, read on to find out what it’s like to get your belly button pierced.
Belly button piercings rank relatively low on the pain scale since the piercing is going through a fleshy part of your body. Everyone’s experience will be different, depending on your anatomy and pain tolerance. If you go to a professional piercer, the process will be sterile, and you can be sure that the piercing is placed correctly.
Are you considering getting your belly button pierced? If so, do you want to learn more about the piercing before getting it? Read on to learn what it’s like to get your belly button pierced.
What does it feel like getting your belly button pierced?
When getting your belly button pierced, you can expect it to feel like a slight pinch right above your navel. Many claim that it feels similar to an immunization shot, so if you don’t mind getting shots, the piercing process should be easy!
The piercing process is fast, and the pain associated with it is very brief. After getting the piercing, you can expect to feel mild discomfort such as throbbing, swelling, and aching for a week or so. This discomfort is entirely normal. If the pain increases, you should talk to your piercer or a medical professional.
How bad do belly button piercings hurt?
Like any piercing, you can expect a little pain with a belly button piercing. Having a needle pushed through any part of your body won’t necessarily feel great. Although, belly button piercings are less painful than other piercings, such as cartilage piercings.
During the healing process, a little pain and swelling are expected at first. If you develop an infection or other complication, the pain may get worse. If this happens, see your piercer or a doctor as soon as possible.
Can you pierce your own belly button?
We strongly suggest that you don’t pierce your belly button and find a professional to do it instead. Saving a little money isn’t worth the risk of a nasty infection. Getting it done in a piercing shop ensures that it is done in a sterile environment, sterile tools are used, and the piercing is placed correctly.
If you choose to do your piercing, the risk of an allergic reaction, scarring, and bleeding is significantly increased. Many people who choose to do their own navel piercing often have the piercing reject itself later because they incorrectly did it.
How long does it take to get your belly button pierced?
The piercing process should only take about 10 minutes! Belly button piercings are a quick and easy piercing to get.
When you first enter the shop, you will tell them that you plan to get your belly button pierced. They may take a look at your belly button to ensure that you have 
the right anatomy to get it pierced. Some people don’t have enough skin around their navel cavity to get a piercing done.
After that, you usually get to pick out the jewelry you want in your piercing (choose wisely. That will be the jewelry you have to keep in for up to a year!)
Next, you’ll meet with your piercer, who will mark the spot that they will pierce on your belly button.
Once the marking is where you want it, they’ll push the needle through your belly button. You will feel a pinching sensation. After the needle is through, they’ll guide the jewelry piece you picked through the piercing site.
After the piercing process is over, your piercer will go over aftercare instructions with you, and you can ask them any questions about healing that you may have.
Finally, you can pay for your new piercing and jewelry. Don’t forget to leave your piercer a tip as well!
Do they numb your belly before piercing?
Piercers do not numb your belly before piercing it. The reason is, topical numbing creams don’t reach the deep tissue layers that the piercing will penetrate. Most people who apply a numbing cream before getting a piercing done say it feels the same as it would have without the cream. It is advised that you don’t use a numbing cream because it could lead to piercing issues. The reason is that they constrict and cause tension on the skin. Numbing creams are made with lidocaine and vasoconstrictors, which constrict blood vessels leading to skin movement. Even if the piercing appears straight, when the cream wears off, and the skin relaxes, the piercing will be crooked. Besides being unsightly, crooked piercings don’t heal well, and you’ll have to remove your new belly button piercing.
What aftercare should you do after getting a belly button piercing?
If you’ve ever had a piercing, the aftercare process for a belly button piercing is very similar. The difference is that you will have to keep up with belly button aftercare for about a year instead of a couple of months.
Aftercare instructions:
- Always wash your hands before touching your piercing.
- Clean the piercing daily using a saline solution to avoid infection. To clean your belly button piercing, dab the site with a clean paper towel or a cotton ball. You can either use a pre-made solution or make your own by adding ⅛ teaspoon of sea salt into warm distilled or bottled water.
- Make sure not to clean your piercing too often. Over-cleaning will slow down the healing process.
- If any crust forms around your belly button piercing, leave it alone. White or yellow fluid is normal for new piercings. When it dries, it can form a crust that may be itchy. Try to avoid picking at it; the crust will fall off by itself as the piercing heals.
- Don’t put anything on your belly button piercing unless your doctor or piercer tells you to do so. Avoid lotions, oils, perfumes, antibacterial cream, and hydrogen peroxide; these may slow the healing process or trap bacteria.
- Wear clothes that are clean and loose-fitting. Tight clothes will rub against the piercing, which may slow down the healing process. If you have to wear tight-fitting clothes, use an elastic bandage to place an eye patch over the piercing.
- Don’t wear dangly jewelry until the piercing is fully healed. Hanging jewelry can pull and tear the skin around the piercing site.
Do belly button piercings get infected easily?
Belly button piercings are more likely to form an infection than other piercings because of the friction and bacteria introduced from clothing. However, most will heal perfectly fine if you’re cautious during the healing process and follow the aftercare instructions. It can be challenging to distinguish signs of an infection from routine healing. Pain and swelling after getting a piercing are expected, but if the pain increases or new symptoms form, you could be developing an infection.
Belly Button Piercing Infection Symptoms:
- Increasing pain or burning around the piercing site
- Redness around the site
- Development of a fever
- Bad-smelling discharge from the piercing site
- Swelling or a bump forms around the piercing
If you suspect you have an infection, it’s essential to seek medical assistance as soon as you can. Please do not remove the jewelry from the piercing as it can trap the infection in the piercing. Besides infection, there are other complications that you should look out for including, tearing, an allergic reaction, scarring, migration, or rejection. If you have any issues, ask your piercer before taking out the jewelry.
Can you take a bath with a belly button piercing?
For a few months, you should avoid submerging your piercing in any standing water, including baths. Submerging it in water can introduce bacteria into the piercing site, leading to infection and other complications. It would be best if you avoided pools, hot tubs, lakes, and oceans as well. These water bodies carry many bacteria.
If you must submerge the piercing in water during the initial healing phases; securely cover the piercing site with a water-proof bandage to keep bacteria from entering. After you’re out of the water, make sure to clean it with saline solution to kill any bacteria.
Belly button piercings are a stylish way to add bling to your look. It’s an easy piercing to get and is low on the pain scale. Be sure to do research and find a reputable piercer near you before getting your piercing. An infection from an unsanitary piercing shop is the last thing you want. Even though the healing process is long, it’s worth it when you get to choose from a wide array of jewelry options to put in your new belly button piercing!