Navel (Belly button) Piercing: Questions, Answers, and More

Whether you’re a piercing veteran sporting copious amounts of metal, or a complete newcomer to piercings, a belly button piercing can make for a great addition to your personal style.

Naval jewelry styles range from ornate to edgy, including studs, dangles, elaborate chains and more, making this piercing a versatile and highly personalized option for Newmarket or Mississauga area residents.

Often, our clients want to know how a belly button piercing will blend with their lifestyle: Can you swim with a belly button piercing? What if you get pregnant? What does the healing process look like—and does a belly button piercing hurt?

If you’re considering a belly button piercing, keep reading. We’re answering your biggest questions and giving our best belly button piercing tips below.

And if you still have more questions or are ready to take the next step, reach out to us today or stop by one of our conveniently located piercing shops in both Newmarket and Mississauga.

Where is a navel piercing located?

Belly piercings, also known as navel piercings, generally extend through either the upper or lower portion of your belly button. Depending on your anatomy, your piercer can provide you with guidance as to which may be more appropriate with regards to your anatomy and the type of jewelry you wish to adorn. 

Does a navel piercing hurt?

All piercings pinch a little, but this naval piercing shouldn’t hurt too much. Because the belly button piercing goes through tissue only—no cartilage—it hurts less than many other types of piercings.

What sort of piercing aftercare should I practice during the healing process for my belly piercing?

Belly button piercings take between 9 - 12 months to fully heal. During this time, you should keep your original piercing jewelry in place and follow piercing hygiene guidelines as provided by the shop you have it done at. Avoiding infection for a belly button piercing is similar to avoiding infection for other types of piercings. 

There are a few key elements to caring for your piercing:

• Avoid submersion (pools, hot tubs, lakes, rivers,)
• Wash with medical grade soap in the showers, and wash with saline regularly
• Prevent irritation (avoid tight-fitting clothes, avoid sleeping on the belly) 

First, if you’d like to stay away from belly button piercing infections, it’s important to keep the site clean. Always wash your hands before handling your belly button piercing (and don’t let anyone else handle it). Stay away from public pools, hot tubs, or baths until it’s fully healed otherwise there may be chances of serious infections

Even people who keep their button piercings away from pools and hot tubs can be vulnerable to infections. That’s why it’s important to wash your body piercing in the shower with medical grade soap, and twice per day with a saline solution: just mix sea salt and distilled water, then spritz it onto the piercing site.

Finally, stick to loose-fitting clothing early in the healing process. Your body jewellery could get caught in some types of clothing. Others might irritate the piercing site or trap moisture against your skin. By allowing your navel piercing to breathe, you give it the best chance for a smooth recovery.

Can all navels be pierced?

Belly button piercings are a type of surface piercing—this means much of your piercing jewelry lies under the surface of your skin, with two exit points on the same side (rather than piercing from one side to the other side of a flap of tissue or cartilage). Surface piercings can be located almost anywhere: hips, eyebrows, shoulders, back, chest, or nearly anywhere else you prefer. Areas considered a high motion area will be difficult to heal and prone to snags and issues. 

You don’t have to stick to surface piercings, either. Many of our clients like the appearance of lip piercings, septum piercings, stretched lobes, or other styles. Though you can’t pierce an outie belly button, you have many other piercing options available!

What if I get pregnant?

If your piercing is already fully healed, you can leave it in for the duration of your pregnancy. It may become uncomfortable, though. If you’d like to remove your piercing, If a navel piercing is fully healed it’s unlikely to close, blockage may occur which can be cleared out once jewelry is reinserted.

If you become pregnant before your piercing has healed, you’ll need to remove the jewelry. Healing a piercing puts stress on your immune system. Trying to heal a piercing while pregnant puts yourself and your baby at risk for infection. For this reason, we also don’t recommend getting pierced while pregnant (but you’re welcome to come back after you’ve delivered your baby!).

What body jewelry can I use in a navel piercing?

There’s a wide variety of body jewelry styles available for belly button piercings. Before you stock up on jewelry, however, consider the types of metal you’re comfortable wearing.

Some popular options for belly button jewelry include surgical steel, stainless steel, and gold belly rings and body jewelry. Each of these has its own pros and cons:

Surgical steel  should not irritate your body. However, it’s not always pure; many surgical steel navel rings contain nickel. If you’re sensitive to nickel, it’s best to avoid this metal.

Stainless steel is one of the most common options for cheaper jewelry but tends to be low-quality and irritating.

Gold is many individuals’ go-to option for hypoallergenic jewelry. For many, it’s extremely safe. Unfortunately, gold is always blended with other metals, so occasionally allergic reactions to gold jewelry do occur.

If you have extremely sensitive skin, we recommend sticking with titanium jewelry—which tends to be comfortable, safe, pure, and hypoallergenic.

For your piercing, your piercer will likely insert a curved barbell into your piercing. This is shaped with a slight curve, and generally boasts a gem or metal ball at either end. 

Once your piercing is healed, you can replace it with captive bead rings and navel rings. These rings can be simple or ornate. Captive bead rings, as their name implies, feature a single bead held in by pressure onto the ring.

Variations on curved barbells and navel rings come in all shapes and sizes. Many include charms, chains, and ornate designs. Some even feature zodiac signs, precious gems, or sports logos! Shop around and find jewelry that speaks to you.

Closing Thoughts about Belly Button Piercings 

Belly button rings and other jewelry represent a stylish, unique way to show off your personality and compliment your physique and attire. They can be subtle and understated or glamorous and eye-catching. With careful cleaning and care, the piercing and healing process can be relatively pain-free. Plus, if you work in an office job, you won’t need to ask your manager’s approval for this piercing!

If you’re considering a belly button piercing, talk with one of our local Newmarket or Mississauga based piercers today. We’d be happy to help you decide whether this piercing is right for you.