Should You Have Your Belly Pierced?
Posted by ellie on August 18, 2009 · 9 Comments
Have you been considering getting your belly button pierced, but aren’t sure if it would be safe? Like most other things, there are some cautions that go with navel piercing, and some people who simply shouldn’t do it. Overall, navel piercing is safe for almost everyone who wants it, but there are a few exceptions. If you belong in one of the following groups, you should consult a doctor before you decide to get your navel – or most other parts of your body pierced.
- If you’re pregnant
While many women have no problems with their navel piercings during pregnancy, it’s not recommended to have your navel pierced while you are pregnant. In addition to the risk of infection, your skin just isn’t quite the same when it’s being stretched out to accommodate the little bundle growing inside. Wait till after the baby and get your navel pierced to celebrate.
- If you have a heart condition
While it’s very rare, people with heart conditions run a heightened risk of developing infective endocarditis – a bacterial infection of the heart muscle – when they get a body piercing. Most professional piercers suggest that you speak to your doctor before you make a decision to get a navel piercing if you have a heart condition. Some doctors will give you a course of pre-emptive antibiotics to help prevent an infection from developing. This is recommended especially if you’ve ever had corrective surgery for a heart condition, or if you have a moderate to severe heart condition.
- If you have diabetes, allergies, asthma, hemophilia or immune irregularities
Any of the above conditions can predispose you to infection when you get a body piercing, and most impede healing. Again, talk to your doctor first about the possible risks and any precautions that you should take. Prophylactic antibiotics may be prescribed so that infection doesn’t develop, or you may be advised against getting the piercing.
- If you take anticoagulant medications
Anticoagulant medications thin your blood and prevent it from clotting. If you are taking anticoagulant medications for a heart condition, high blood pressure or any other reason, be sure to inform the person who is doing your piercing of the fact. You should also speak with your doctor before making a decision to find out if there are any precautions you should take to make it safer.
- If you have a skin infection, scarring or other skin condition at the site you want pierced
The Association of Professional Piercers suggests that its members may refuse to do a piercing without a second consultation from a medical professional if there is a skin rash or abnormality, including bumps, moles, freckles or warts.
- If you are obese
There’s a higher risk of navel piercing complications in people who are overweight. This is due in part to skin-on-skin contact.
- If you have an outie belly button
Many piercers suggest that people with outie belly buttons not have them pierced. Because the internal organs are actually closer to the surface, there’s a higher risk of infection or damage.
- If you have an umbilical hernia
See the caution for people with outie belly buttons. In a hernia, the muscle wall is torn allowing your inner organs to press against the skin from the inside. The risk of complications from a piercing that close is unacceptably high.
- If you are under 18
Most reputable piercers will refuse to do a navel piercing without parental permission before age 16, and many won’t do them at all if you are under 18. Part of the reason for this is that your body is still developing and growing, and damaging the tissue is not healthy for a growing body.
When I get pregnant like years from now, will I have this gapping hole where my navel was pierced? And if so, will it go back to normal size?
Hi Anna, You will have tiny scar after you remove the belly bar. The hole usually closes afterwards, but even if it stays open, it will be small. – Ellie
I really want to get a belly button piercing but my most main concern is.. will it hurt?!
Im so scared about the pain.
I got my belly button pierced two days ago and I didn’t have many questions until now.
What is the best thing to clean it with? A lot of people are telling me ear care solution is good, or iodized sea salt with water is good. I’m confused. What is the best thing to use?
And how exactly should I be cleaning it?
There’s a lot of great information here: http://www.navelrings.biz/body-piercing-care.html Salt soaks are all you really need, but there’s also good products available at piercing studios.
Hey guys,
I just got my piercing re-pierced for the 2nd time 3 days ago. My first piercing rejected because I didn’t know how to take care of it properly, I followed the instructions I was given, but it wasn’t enough.
The first time I barely felt it when she pierced me, it was almost like someone pinched my bellybutton and quickly twisted it, then it was done. It feels extremely uncomfortable, but so worth it in the end.
The second time I got it done it actually hurt alot, this being because she had to go behind my scar tissue and quite possibly went through some. This time it bled a bit, which kind of scared me but she told me it was normaly to bleed when going through scar tissue.
Now to clean it, you want to have antibacterial soap and the sea salt solution (you can buy it pre made like H2Ocean or you can make your own at home.) I make my own, measurements being 1 cup of distilled boiling water and 1/2 tsp of NON-IODIZED sea salt. Stir and let the salt disolve into the water, then let the solution cool down a bit before you use it. Pour it into a shot glass, lie down and swish the solution around your navel for about 10mins then afterwards use q-tips to clean off crusties.
I stress, DO NOT use iodized sea salt, it has too many other ingredients in it. Please use Non-Iodized, and also do not use table salt either, I’ve heard of a few people using it. When I first had the piercing I read that BACTINE was okay for my piercing and would help it heal, so I used it everyday. Turns out BACTINE is actually really bad for it, it dries out the piercing and traps the bacteria causing your body to reject it. Which is exactly what happened to me.
Hope I helped answer some questions. Please take care of your piercing responsibly and don’t make the same mistakes I did, it’s not fun re-piercing it lol.
Thank you for sharing!
Oh and can you use your own salt solution if you run out of H2Oean?
I wnt to get my belly button done but I’m scared bc I have a hernia do I have to go ask the doctor or what?