Q&A for How to Pierce Your Belly Button

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Question

Can I pierce my belly button with an earring?

Community Answer

No, because the size, or gage, of a belly button hole should be bigger than a hole for an earring.

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Question

If I have an "outie" belly button, will they have to remove it before the procedure?

Community Answer

No, but you might experience more bleeding.

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Question

How can I relax when the pain would make me tense up my muscles?

Community Answer

Bring someone with you, as a distraction (or chat with the piercer). The pain's over pretty quickly, and it really just feels like a pinch.

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Question

Can I use a regular sewing needle?

Community Answer

No. It will be hard to get the jewelry through the piercing since its not hollow and will not give a clean, straight hole when you pierce it. It also increases you chance of infection, even if you sterilize it.

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Question

How long do I have to wait to go swimming after getting my belly button pierced?

Community Answer

You would usually wait 2 to 4 months, but it depends on heal quickly you heal.

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Question

Sometimes a yellow-ish fluid and sticky blood come out of my navel. Does this mean my piercing is infected?

Community Answer

No, it's normal for the first few months of the healing process. The fluid should be yellow or white. if it's green or any other color, then it's infected.

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Question

How do I find a place to get my belly button pierced?

Community Answer

Research online and read the reviews. Remember, it is better to pay more for a place with higher ratings than save a few bucks and go to a place with lower ratings. It also helps if you have a recommended piercer from a friend.

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Question

How do I treat an infected pierced belly button?

Community Answer

You will need some normal saline bought from the drugstore, a syringe, and sterile gauze or cotton ball. Fill the syringe with normal saline and flush your navel, then use the cotton ball or the gauze to clean the area as well. After that, apply an antibiotic over the area twice a day, you will notice a difference in a week. If not, visit the nearest hospital or a primary care unit.

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Question

What's in a belly button?

Community Answer

A belly button is the leftovers from the umbilical cord that keeps you alive before you are born. Since at the the other of the cord is your mom, they have to cut it off so you won't have to stay in the same room all the time. This leaves a scar, like any other cut would. TL;DR: Your belly button is a scar, inside is scar tissue.

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Question

Can I get my outtie pierced or is that unsafe?

Community Answer

It's not unsafe, but there will be a lot more bleeding than if you have an innie.

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Question

Does it matter if you have a scar where the piercing will go in?

Community Answer

No, but it may hurt a little bit worse than getting your belly pierced with no scar, because scar tissue is thicker than unscarred skin.

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Question

Can I do this if I am 12 years old?

Community Answer

If you want a piercing, talk to your parents.

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Question

On a scale on one to 10, how bad will it hurt?

Community Answer

About a two or three, but it's based on your pain tolerance. Most of the time it's not bad at all.

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Question

How long do I have to wait to work out after getting a belly button?

Community Answer

You don't have to wait. Just be careful to not irritate your piercing.

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Question

How old do I have to be to get my belly pierced?

Community Answer

If you go by yourself you have to be at least 16, but with a parent any age is fine.

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Question

How long does it take a belly button piercing to heal?

Community Answer

It approximately takes 2-4 months, but some people might have shorter or longer time for it to heal.

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Question

Where can you find a piercing kit?

Community Answer

You can find them on eBay or Amazon.

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Question

Does the area get numbed first?

Community Answer

Not typically. Numbing often requires an injection and that’s not much better than the piercing. Also, the medication used to numb an area needs to be administered by medical professional.

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Question

What does a belly button piercing cost?

Community Answer

It depends on where you get it from and what earring you purchase to be used to get it pierced.

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Question

How can I do a belly piercing at home without a clamp? Is this safe?

Community Answer

The clamp is your safest option and one of the easiest, although some people use the end of a butterfly/binder clip, and I've also seen people use a paperclip.

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Question

Does it hurt more for thicker women or does it hurt less?

Community Answer

It usually hurts more due to more skin being pierced. The pain isn't worse, it only lasts longer than for a skinny person.

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Question

Can I take the piercing out?

Community Answer

Yes, but there is always a risk that the hole will close up. The risk decreases after the piercing has fully healed, but it depends on your body.

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Question

What causes a piercing in my belly button to heal slowly?

Community Answer

It just depends on how quickly your immune system works. Everyone is different.

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Question

Is it safe to piece my belly button more than once at the same location?

Community Answer

Yes, but you don't want to do it too many times, as the scar tissue will become thick and damaged in that area.

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Question

How do I properly clean my belly button piercing?

Community Answer

Be sure not to overwash it, because you do have good bacteria on your skin. Also, you do not want to over dry the skin, because it could cause more irritation and redness. Make sure not to touch your belly button piercing too much. Take a swab and dip it in either a saline wash or isopropyl alcohol and carefully dab around your piercing. Make sure you move your piercing a little bit so that it doesn't stick to your skin.

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Question

How do I know if my belly button has healed?

Community Answer

You'll know it's completely healed when your piercing is free of any redness, pus, pain, or swelling.

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Question

How old do I need to be to get a piercing without a parent's consent?

Community Answer

You have to be 18 to get it done by a professional, but you can also order needles, jewelry, and clamps off eBay or Amazon and do it yourself. This is not the safest option, however.

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Question

Will a piercing hurt more if I am thin?

Community Answer

No, a piercing shouldn't hurt more or less if you're thin.

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Question

What should I do if the jewelry doesn't fit in the needle?

Community Answer

If the jewelry doesn't fit, then you’re using the wrong needle size. Don't try to push the jewelry through; just get a different needle.

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Question

Can I get my belly button pierced a year after an umbilical hernia surgery?

Community Answer

Probably, but you should ask your doctor just to be on the safe side.

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