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Original poster

Belly button piercings

18 replies

Emmielu · 28/08/2012 14:33

Ok so I have started exercising and watching my foods so I can get back into better shape. And I was looking through the Argos mag when I saw belly button rings. Some were tacky some were nice. And it dawned on me. I'd quite like to have my belly button pierced.

Whats it like having it done? What do they use to pierce it? How long do you have to keep it cleaned for? How do you keep it clean? If I fell pregnant again would I have to take it out?

OP posts:
suburbandweller · 28/08/2012 15:20

I had mine done when I was 20 as a sort of rebellion after being dumped by my then bf. Had a few regrets afterwards but still wear a basic belly bar 12 years and a DS later - I just don't show it off anymore apart from at the beach! It's done with a needle and hurts a bit but nothing terrible. Easiest way to keep it clean while healing is by having a hoop put in initially as you can pull it through and clean bit by bit. I think I used a tcp-based solution to clean mine. It takes a few weeks to heal properly and you do need to look after it. I had no infection problems but they're quite common if you neglect it during the healing process. I don't do anything to clean it now - it's just like having your ears pierced once it's healed, no real ongoing aftercare required.

You can buy pregnancy belly bars/rings so you don't need to take it out while pregnant. I took mine out for the last few weeks as it started to get uncomfortable but had no problem putting one back in once DS was born.

SchrodingersMew · 28/08/2012 16:14

Pain is subjective so you might find it a breeze or might find it very painful.

Make sure you go to a reputable piercer and that you check the studio out first and walk straight back out if anything doesn't seem right, if you don't like the piercer, if it doesn't seem clean etc.

Make sure needles are taken from a packet and that everything is autoclaved (this includes any clamps and jewelery), gloves are changed frequently etc.

Never use anything stronger than sea salt and boiled water to clean it as this can and probably will irritate it and can affect the healing process.

"Easiest way to keep it clean while healing is by having a hoop put in initially as you can pull it through and clean bit by bit"
Please don't do this, aim to move it as little as possible and a barbell is much better for healing as hoops tend to get caught very easily, also make sure the jewelery is surgical grade stainless steel, titanium or a medical grade plastic and has no acrylic balls.

Sorry about the mega post, it's just there are loads of shoddy piercers out there who will try and cut corners wherever possible. :(

suburbandweller · 29/08/2012 09:44

Actually, ShrodingersMew has reminded me that I did clean mine with a salt water solution, not tcp (I did say it was 12 years ago!). I maintain that a ring piercing is better than a bar when newly done though - that was the advice my very reputable piercer at the time gave me and I had no problems whereas friends who went for bars took much longer to heal. It can catch though - but frankly you're going to be much more careful with that area anyway when it's freshly done so I don't see that as a problem. Of course things may have moved on since I had mine done and advice may be different now Smile

lurkingaround · 29/08/2012 10:44

Just to chat, and I get that you've decided to have a belly button ring, but what is the attraction? I see nothing attractive about them, and they get infected so easily.

AmberLeaf · 29/08/2012 10:48

I agree that a bar is better than a ring for healing time. Ive had it done with both (had it repierced) and the ring one was much more problematic.

This is a good forum with lots of info.

SchrodingersMew · 29/08/2012 11:01

A bar is much better for healing, not just because the ring can get caught but because as it turns constantly it can irritate the wound and make it very hard to clean effectively as it is constantly introducing bacteria inside the wound when it turns, whereas a bar is more likely to move less. Also, the fistula will heal to the shape of jewelery used and if you later plan to have a bar and put a ring in at first the fistula will be more curved than ideal and this can cause discomfort when the jewelery is changed to a bar.

Lurking If looked after properly and done by a reputable piercer they do not get infected easily.

SchrodingersMew · 29/08/2012 11:02

Another great site

coansha · 29/08/2012 11:02

I fainted when I got mine done, it was an hour later in an electrical shop.
How bloody embarrassing, well it got infected despite meticulous cleaning, then gt pg and it had to come out, wish I hadn't bothered ....

PutIcecubesDownTheVestOfFear · 29/08/2012 11:19

I had mine done about 13 years ago and kept it in for 3 years (until I was 20). It never got infected, healed quickly and was easy to clean. And it didn't hurt at all!

BUT it did once get caught on my bf's belt buckle which was f$^~$&% painful.

SchrodingersMew · 29/08/2012 11:33

Icecubes Ouch! I had 5 to make a star and had to take 4 out as they kept getting caught. :(

HoopDePoop · 29/08/2012 11:33

I loved mine, but got told to remove it at my 12wk scan and never got round to sorting out one of the ones appropriate for pregnancy. Wish I had as I loved it. Tummy not so flat now though Hmm

SchrodingersMew · 29/08/2012 11:47

Hoop Why were you told to remove it? Confused

HoopDePoop · 29/08/2012 11:51

Dunno, they were quite firm and I wasn't in the mood to argue! Think because it was metal maybe it would obscure the view or something? I just took it straight out but wish I hadn't, or that I'd had it switched to a plastic bendy pregnancy one in advance. I suppose I could put it back in but I'm a bit too squeamish to do it myself.

I had a ring piercing btw which I swopped to a bar later with no healing or shape problems. I was backpacking at the time so bathing never infrequently but swimming in the sea loads, think the salt water def helped loads.

bronze · 29/08/2012 11:51

I had mine done twice top and bottom and had a wonderful combination of rings
But my stomach got so knackered by pregnancy stretch marks I just took them out and haven't worn them since

SchrodingersMew · 29/08/2012 12:02

Strange! Btw, most people don't have problems with changing jewelery, it's just some do and they really are harder to keep properly clean with a ring but as you say, you were in the sea loads which would have helped. :)

You never know, it might still be properly open. Some people can have jewelery out for years and the piercing doesn't close.

bronze · 29/08/2012 12:55

I was told te same when I was first pregnant. When I looked there wasn't nearly the same amount of stuff about it online and suitable bars were really hard to find compared to now so maybe they were just going with old advice/experiences.

Snowboarder · 29/08/2012 14:05

I have the tiniest of rings in my BB. I had it done when I was 17 and still wear it now at 28. I have worn it through 2 pregnancies and only ever taken it out on the day I had my sections. Both times I put it back in a couple of days after as my stomach looked so odd without it.

GroupieGirl · 29/08/2012 14:14

I don't know about healing times but I constantly catch/caught the bar peircing (on belts, waistbands, counter tops...) and find a small ring much less irritating. Same goes for nipple incidentally...

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