Belly Piercing Question

[poohbear]

I had planned on getting my bellybutton pierced when I reach my weight goal. However, I would much rather splurge on a brand new costume instead. So I am thinking of getting it done before then. I have a few questions for those of you have pierced your bellybuttons and those considering it.

1. does it hurt?

2. what kind of maintenance is there? (Turn it every day, wash with peroxide, etc)

3. do you think it would look bad on "bigger" belly?

4. any other suggestions/comments?

Thanks for your input!

[resullivan]

1. I felt a sharp pinch, and I think I jumped a little. A little worse than ear piercing, but not all of the aching afterwards, at least for me.

2. My directions were to wash with anti-bacterial soap and turn, I think once a day (maybe twice). No peroxide or alcohol.

3. I think so. But then again, I'm a few pounds more than when I got mine, so I'd better like the way it looks on bigger bellies.

4. comment: I still don't exactly know how to take mine out, but I happen to like the closed ring, so I haven't felt the need for other belly jewels.

Oh, and I am pretty sure my piercing was less than my costumes. But maybe inflation has changed that too. Piercing about 5 years before first costume.

[annwyn]

Mine got infected some how, I used bactine and it was leared up in just a few days DO NOT USE PEROXIDE OR ALCOHOL. And it hurt but only for a min, its no worse than ear piercing

[badriya_al_ahmar]

1. Hurt intensely for a very brief moment. Floated on endorphins for the rest of the day. Worse than the piercing pain was the next day when I unthinkingly hitched a laundry basket into my hip/waist. Ow! Also, it really will take the six months or so to heal that they say it will, and some of your clothing might be uncomfortable/unwearable during the first couple of months.

2. Yep, anti-bacterial soap once a day, and also bactine twice a day. Rotating is important.

3. I thought my belly was really too big for a piercing when I had it done, but decided to do it anyway. When I stood up from the piercing couch and looked in the mirror, I could not believe that was my belly looking so sexy with its navel ring. So I'd say go for it, no matter what size you think you are!

4. Leave the initial piercing ring in for a good long time before you try switching rings around.

[damiena]

Go to a reputable piercer and make sure you listen to your piercer about the after care, not friends, family, etc. Lots of people will have advice for you, but you should only trust your piercer (if that person is reputable). I have had mine for almost ten years and I remember that it took almost 9 months to fully heal. Plan on wearing low rise clothing during the healing process; if not, it will get sore.

I change my belly ring pretty frequently - I have different ones to match my costumes! They are as easy to change as earrings (although the closed ring style is harder than the half moon/banana shape), but I always wash the belly ring with antibacterial soap before putting it in.

Asd far as hurt, mine did not; however, I have a very high tolerance to pain. My 18 year old daughter does not though, and she only winced slightly when the needle went through - she made me go with her and hold her hand!!! A good piercer will do it very quickly.

[bul_bul_ksa]

It hurt a little when I got it done but the real pain was that evening...even having the bed sheet across my tummy hurt - owie big time.

As Damiena said - go to a reputable piercer and only listen to their after care instructions.

It will take quite some time to heal - in the meantime, I'd suggest wearing low waisted trousers and skirts exclusively if you don't already. Let the air at that baby! :)

My piercing eventually grew out...literally grew out!, the ring moved in very small increments until it just fell out.

[sabrinabellydancer]

yes, i agree that you must go to a reputable piercer. it is very serious to put a foreign body in your skin and must be done with knowledge, proper placement for you body and sterile instruments. the piercer should be a member of a professional association, not just some kid in the back of a funky shop.

these links might help:
http://www.safepiercing.org/
http://www.profound-piercing.co.uk/association.html

i have had my belly ring for 17 years and never had a problem because it was done by a professional and cared for properly during healing. i have never regretted it.

make sure that they use only surgical steel, gold or titanium for the piercing. anything else and your body will try to reject it. [rejection also happens when the piercing is placed to shallow]

you can request a topical anesthetic. you can also get Lmax at most pharmacies and if put on thickly for 1 hour prior to the service, will numb the skin.

one more thing: if the piercing costs as much as a new costume, it better be gold with major gem stones :)

good luck!

[Nat242]

It's definitely a good idea to go with surgical grade steel - it's safe and strong. Mine didn't really hurt much at all, and healed very swiftly. It wasn't even red or anything, and I never had any problems with it at all.
I used a saline solution to clean it, and pushed it through about once a day, with clean hands (I had a banana belly bar, not a ring).
Reiki also helped it to heal quickly.

I eventually took it out - not because it was unhealthy, but because I went through a period of illness and a healer told me it was disrupting chi flow along my meridian...

Go figure.

Good luck, and I'm sure it'll look gorgeous!

[theesfield]

Mine took exactly 1 year to fully heal. I thought they were kidding when they said that. They weren't. Mine fell out about 9 months into healing. I didn't realize it until it's been out for about 3-4 hours. It closed up :( I had to go get it re-stretched. I like belly rings on all shaped and sizes of bellies. After all, we celebrate the curves, right?

Nilaja

Originally Posted by Nat242

I eventually took it out - not because it was unhealthy, but because I went through a period of illness and a healer told me it was disrupting chi flow along my meridian...

Go figure.

Good luck, and I'm sure it'll look gorgeous!

I've heard of both piercings and tattoos disrupting meridian/charkra flow, the same person who said it also suggested it was a form of self abuse. I thought I was just beautifying myself.

[poohbear]

Thanks for all the tips!!! I am getting more and more excited to get it done right away. I love how they look and am too impatient to wait til I reach my goal weight. I think I'll do some calling around to get prices. Maybe go back to the place that did my ankle tat

[Viv]

I got mine done as a surprise for hubby when he was stationed in Afganistan. He'd always told me it would look good on me but I'm a baby when it comes to needles. I actually didn't feel a thing when it was done. The shop assistant was talking to me so I was distracted and it wasn't until shop owner who did the piercing closed the ring that I was even aware that he had started...LOL!
It did take around 9 months to heal all the way and it was a year before I changed out the ring for some of the pieces that hubby bought me once he was home. I have to be careful of any dangly pieces as I tend to snag those on everything but other than that I have had no problems or regrets. One thing I found out fairly quickly with mine was that a hand held showerhead with a stream setting worked really well for keeping the piercing clean and making sure I get all the anitbacterial soap out of the piercing.
The other thing I found after I had my belly button pierced was even though I had done it mainly for the hubby, I am just as thrilled with it. I feel like I have reclaimed a part of my body that I hadn't been really happy with since after my daughter was born.

[Nepenthe]

I didn't feel a thing when I got mine done. I actually had to ask if she had started yet. She said "I already finished!"
I used a salt-water solution on it (H2Ocean) and Dr. Bronner's soap. It was touchy for about a year. AFter six months I could change rings very carefully.

The bellybutton ring changed my perspective of my tummy entirely. I definitely have a better idea where my bellybutton is. It looks so cool though - I can't imagine ever not having it. I love coordinating the ring with my costumes.

[Nisima]

Well I am a 1x with curvy belly and hips and I could not believe how *cute* it looked. I loved it and after a couple of months was changing it to all sorts of really beautiful dangly rings, a big no no! It got very irritated although not infected and this time the Dial soap made it worse and although I switched to "Provon" a much better anti-bacterial liquid soap the piercing started to look oddly loose and flopping around - holes were getting too close together. My piercer said to take it out immediately and let it heal because it was "resurfacing" (piercer's term for when the body rejects a piercing by pushing it up to surface of skin). Mind you, it wasn't hurting, my body rejected it and this is very common with naval piercings.

Fortunately, they heal up fast - a month or two and it can be redone but this time I'm following aftercare instructions to the letter. No changing of the belly ring for six months, and after that only about once a week. So, I say go for it, the experience itself is a very mild "pinch" it is the aftercare that is extremely important; follow your piercer's instructions, don't wear waistbands that sit right on navel and ask about Provon as opposed to Dial soap, there is also a soak called "H20" that is really good or you can do the sea salt soak to calm it down in beginning couple of weeks. And, no tub baths, no hot tubs, pools or ocean or swimming - the water isn't *clean* enough and you could wind up having to go to doctor and get antibiotics.

I still say go for it - it is totally gorgeous looking and I will keep you guys posted after my "belly ring redo" on August 25.

[crystalllized]

1. The actual piercing didn't hurt too much. The pain came during the first 6 months when I would forget about the new piercing and hug someone too hard or knock something into it. When I did exercises with belly on the floor (some yoga positions), I would tape a plastic water bottle cap over it to give myself a little buffer and reminder.

2. Turning is so very important or the skin will start to attach or grow tight. I got mine pierced with a banana bar. It made it difficult to rotate. I suggest a ring. It is much easier to turn. I soaked mine daily in warm sea salt water.

3. I don't think it looks bad at all on "bigger" bellies. I think it shows a sexy confidence.

4. I change my piercing sometimes between sets to match different costumes. I like the ones with dangles that move when you shimmy
I wouldn't recommend this until at least a year after the initial piercing.
For the first time changing the ring, I would go back to the piercer to have him/her show you/help you. Those beads in the ring are a pain to get in and out.
If you buy a banana bar, get a ton of extra screw tops. Mine always seem to come loose and roll away.

[mihnea]

Most of the advice on this thread is really good. It takes a year to fully heal, use antibacterial soap like Provon...Dial can be too harsh on some people's skin. However, you should not rotate the piercing. The piercing becomes tight because the sebum (not sure if I spelled this right) that your body secretes dries. This can make it sort of stick in place. You just need to soak in warm salt water and you can gently clean it. Rotating is bad because if you don't clean off all the dried crusty stuff (I know ick) you can drag some of that through the tender skin area which will delay healing. Just clean with Provon and use a warm salt soak and you will be just fine! I suggest reading the Tribalectic forums for more info on piercings.

[mihnea]

Oh also, get pierced with what you will want to be wearing after it heals. If you like the ring, get a ring. If you like the banana bar, get the banana bar. If you are pierced with a ring, there is a chance that if you want to switch to a bar later it might not be straight.

[maliam]

Yes it hurts. You're punching a hole in your flesh! But it doesn't last long.

USE H2Ocean!!!
If you can't find it in a piercing store in your area, order it online. I've had 8 piercings and it's the best stuff on earth! Spray it 6 times a day and then leave the piercing alone. I know some people have suggested bactine, but please don't use this. It will prolong your healing time.

If you do get a ring, like some one mentioned, it will heal sideways. They make J shaped bars for this type of piercing if you choose to switch after a year. Good luck!

[basina]

I felt a pinch when mine was done, nothing more.

It did take a year to heal. My piercer (a friend who is a long time pro), had tried to talk me into a curved barbell at first, saying that they heal up MUCH faster than a ring. I was stubborn and went with the smallish ring. . . I had issues for months until i finally relented and switched. A month after I switched to the curved barbell I was all healed and could change out my jewelry as I pleased.

I suggest stainless steel or titanium for metals. And definitely no peroxide or alcohol, drying the area out invites infection. Gentle cleansing and daily moving of the jewelry is the best bet, but make sure your cleaner gets OUT of the piercing, other wise it can irritate (I suggest you do the cleaning/turning while int he shower).

[mahira-michelle]

Yes, make sure you find a reputible piercer. I got mine done the first time and it was done too deep and it was always infected. It hurt really bad. I had it for about 2 1/2 years then had to have surgery (non related to peircing) and had to take it out for that. It closed immediately. I waited a year and got it done again. The second time was much better. Better piercer and it didn't hurt at all. It healed much quicker and no infections. I now change mine fairly often as well. I have a bigger belly and I've learned that the bent barbell or half moon style is best. A full hoop or circle ring tends to lay crooked or sideways and pulls, especially when I sit. For after care I used antibacterial soap and soaked it with non sea salt and water by filling a cup and holding it to my navel. It does help.

[mahira-michelle]

THE DO’S AND DON’T's TO HEAL YOUR NAVEL PIERCING
DO-Use a mild antibacterial soap or sea salt in the shower twice a day. Cup your hand under the piercing and soak it for 1-2 minutes. Make sure when washing to ALWAYS rotate the ring. If this step is not taken your skin will start to heal around your jewelry and may tear the inside of the wound when jewelry moves. This is painful and can lead to infection
DO–Make sure you dry your navel thoroughly after cleaning. This should be done with a paper tissue as towels can harbor bacteria. If you have a very deep navel you should clean it every day using a clean cotton swab soaked in warm water taking extra care to remove any dirt and dry it properly afterwards
DO–Use tea tree oil as it promotes healing and lubricates the wound reducing tenderness. Apply a small amount with a cotton swab after cleaning then move the jewelry gently so it gets into the wound. Remove any excess with a tissue as leaving it on can cause the skin to become irritated. It may be purchased at supermarkets in the medicine section
DO–Continue to apply a drop or two of tea tree oil daily after the piercing is healed or the wound can become tight and dry.
DO–Use antibacterial soap or sea salt to cleanse your piercing. Stay out of oceans, public pools, and Jacuzzi’s
DO-Make sure that you wash the piercing carefully after exercising or sweating a lot as sweat acts like acid and can cause the wound to become aggravated
DO–Give the piercing some sunshine as it helps the body produce Vitamin D which helps promote healing. It also helps dry the wound and minimizes infection

I have to post this in 2 messages as it's too long.