From beach bums to #fitstagrammers, belly button rings are the piercing of the summer. Whether they’re shown off or kept under wraps, belly button piercings are one of the most popular piercing types.
With their high-demand, there are always going to be people looking to make a quick buck or to find shortcuts. The result is DIY belly button piercing kits and online self-piercing tutorials, that put people, and their piercings, at risk.
Because the belly button is one of the least painful piercings people sometimes assume the piercing is easy. Without proper training, this piercing is potentially dangerous.
Importance of Going to a Professional
A professional piercer should always be consulted when piercing the navel. The navel area contains a lot of nerves and blood vessels, so a misplaced piercing can result in a bloody mess and/or lasting nerve damage.
In fact, not every belly button is safe to pierce. While most innies are, outie belly buttons can cause complications and usually aren’t. Sometimes, however, the outie (outward belly button) itself can be pierced, instead of the skin above it. This is known as a true belly button piercing.
A professional piercer will tell you if a navel piercing is right for your body and, if not, can recommend another body piercing type that is.
In addition to making your piercing safe, professional piercers also ensure a higher quality of piercing. The placement is precise and the process is sanitary, ensuring a great looking piercing and proper healing.
Look for a piercing studio that follows strict sanitary precautions and pierces with a needle instead of a gun. A piercing gun is usually a sign of an untrained piercer, and it is a blunt, imprecise piece of equipment.
How the Belly Button is Pierced
Piercing the belly button is a 6 step process:
- Sanitize Environment/Equipment
- Clean Surface
- Mark the Target
- Pierce & Insert Jewellery
- Clean
- Aftercare
Sanitize the Environment & Equipment
Before the client comes in, the artist focuses on sanitization. Equipment is sealed in bags and sanitized in the autoclave to be opened in front of the client. The area is cleaned and any surface that will touch bare skin is wrapped.
Cleaning the Surface
When the client comes in they have a seat in the prepped area. The artist puts on new gloves and cleans the navel with an antiseptic wipe. This is an added precaution to prevent infection.
Mark the Target
The artist then uses a surgical marker to mark where they will pierce. This is a good chance for the client to make sure the piercing location is where they want it to be. As well, it makes accuracy easier for the artist, so they can focus on careful, proper piercing.
Pierce & Insert Jewellery
The moment of truth. The artist now pierces the belly button, inserting the jewellery. This jewellery will stay in until the piercing heals. Once fully healed you can replace with new jewellery. Jewellery for a new piercing differs from a healed piercing. It usually focuses on being hypoallergenic, minimal movement, irritation, and the chance of catching.
Clean (Again)
Make no mistake about it, a piercing is a wound. So it doesn’t hurt to be careful. The artist follows up by cleaning the navel one last time with an antiseptic wipe.
Aftercare
The final role of the piercer is to advise you on piercing aftercare. They will usually supply a printed sheet of instructions, as well as go over the process verbally. Following aftercare instructions is important for ensuring your belly button piercing heals safely and properly.
A navel piercing can take as much as 3-6 months to completely heal, and aftercare continues throughout this whole time. If you have any questions or concerns during or about aftercare, call or visit your artist.
Types of Navel Piercings
There are a number of different ways to pierce the navel:
- Traditional
- Inverse
- Horizontal
- Double/Multi
- True Belly Button Piercing
Traditional Navel Piercing
This is the most common type of navel piercing. The piercing goes through the skin above the belly button and into the inside of the belly button hole. It usually features a ring, curved barbell shield or dangler as jewellery.
Some people will opt for a deep navel. It’s similar to the traditional piercing, except that it goes through a larger area, with the top extruding higher above the navel.
Inverse Navel Piercing
Similar to the traditional piercing, the inverse navel instead pierces through the bottom of the belly button. Sometimes called a lower navel piercing, it usually features a curved barbell or dangler.
Horizontal
The horizontal piercing goes above the navel and usually features a curved barbell placed horizontally. To actually go through the belly button piercers will perform a double horizontal navel piercing. This is two piercings, one on each side of the navel and connected by a single piece of jewellery. The double usually uses a barbell.
Double or Multi-Navel Piercing
Double piercings aren’t always connected by a single piece of jewellery. For example, a common double piercing is one traditional navel and one inverse navel. This leaves room for lots of cool piercing jewellery combinations. Multi-piercings are any combination of more than two navel piercings.
True Belly Button Piercing
The only piercing that pierces your actual belly button, the true navel goes right through an extruding, outie, belly button. The jewellery is usually either a ring or a curved barbell.
Get A Belly Button Piercing in Newmarket
No matter what type of navel piercing you choose, you want to make sure it comes out looking just right. With experienced artists and a safety-first mindset, the Pierced studio is the best place to get a belly button piercing in Newmarket. Contact us for an appointment, or visit us in the Upper Canada Mall.
Piercing Studios Near You
Mississauga
Square One Shopping Centre
100 City Centre Drive, Mississauga,ON L5B 2C9
Phone
+1 (905) 232 -7226
Book appointment
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Need an Experienced Piercer in Mississauga?
Working with an experienced piercer can make all the difference when it comes to your piercing experience. If you’re in the Mississauga, Ontario area and have any questions about ear piercing, body piercing or jewelry, give us a call or stop by our piercings studio today. We’d love to help walk you through what to expect and help you choose the right option.
Belly Button Piercings: Importance of Professional Piercing and Types of Navel Piercings
Belly button piercings, also known as navel piercings, are a popular type of body piercing. However, it is important to approach this type of piercing with caution and seek professional assistance. DIY belly button piercing kits and online self-piercing tutorials may seem like quick and easy options, but they can put both people and their piercings at risk. Without proper training, belly button piercings can be potentially dangerous.
Importance of Going to a Professional
A professional piercer should always be consulted when considering a belly button piercing. The navel area contains a lot of nerves and blood vessels, so a misplaced piercing can result in complications such as excessive bleeding or lasting nerve damage. Additionally, not every belly button is suitable for piercing. While most innies (inward belly buttons) are safe to pierce, outie belly buttons can cause complications and are usually not recommended for piercing. However, in some cases, the outie itself can be pierced, which is known as a true belly button piercing. A professional piercer will be able to assess whether a navel piercing is right for your body and recommend alternative piercing options if necessary.
Professional piercers not only ensure the safety of the piercing but also provide a higher quality piercing. They have the expertise to place the piercing accurately and follow strict sanitary precautions. It is important to choose a piercing studio that uses a needle instead of a gun, as piercing guns are often associated with untrained piercers and can result in imprecise and blunt piercings.
Process of Belly Button Piercing
The process of belly button piercing typically involves the following steps:
-
Sanitize Environment/Equipment: Before the client arrives, the artist focuses on sanitizing the environment and equipment. All equipment is sealed in bags and sanitized in an autoclave, which is then opened in front of the client. The area where the piercing will take place is thoroughly cleaned, and any surfaces that will come into contact with bare skin are wrapped.
-
Clean Surface: When the client arrives, they are seated in the prepped area. The artist puts on new gloves and cleans the navel area with an antiseptic wipe to prevent infection.
-
Mark the Target: The artist uses a surgical marker to mark the exact location where the piercing will be made. This allows the client to ensure that the piercing location is where they want it to be and helps the artist achieve accuracy during the piercing process.
-
Pierce & Insert Jewelry: The artist pierces the belly button using a needle and inserts the chosen jewelry. The initial jewelry will remain in place until the piercing heals completely. After healing, the jewelry can be replaced with new options. Jewelry for a new piercing typically focuses on being hypoallergenic, minimizing movement, irritation, and the risk of catching on clothing or other objects.
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Clean (Again): Following the piercing, the artist cleans the navel area once more with an antiseptic wipe. This step helps ensure proper healing and reduces the risk of infection.
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Aftercare: The final responsibility of the piercer is to provide aftercare instructions. They usually provide a printed sheet of instructions and verbally explain the process. Following these instructions is crucial for the safe and proper healing of the belly button piercing, which can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months. If any questions or concerns arise during the healing process, it is recommended to contact or visit the piercer for guidance.
Types of Navel Piercings
There are several different types of navel piercings to choose from. These include:
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Traditional Navel Piercing: This is the most common type of navel piercing. It involves piercing the skin above the belly button and into the inside of the belly button hole. Jewelry options for this type of piercing include rings, curved barbells, shields, or danglers.
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Inverse Navel Piercing: Similar to the traditional piercing, the inverse navel piercing is done through the bottom of the belly button. It is sometimes referred to as a lower navel piercing and typically features a curved barbell or dangler as jewelry.
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Horizontal Navel Piercing: The horizontal navel piercing is placed above the navel and usually features a curved barbell positioned horizontally. In some cases, piercers may perform a double horizontal navel piercing, which involves two piercings on each side of the navel connected by a single piece of jewelry.
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Double or Multi-Navel Piercing: Double navel piercings can be connected by a single piece of jewelry or can involve different types of navel piercings. For example, a common double piercing combination is one traditional navel piercing and one inverse navel piercing. Multi-piercings refer to any combination of more than two navel piercings.
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True Belly Button Piercing: This type of piercing goes through an extruding or outie belly button itself. The jewelry for a true belly button piercing is usually a ring or a curved barbell.
It is important to consult with a professional piercer to determine which type of navel piercing is suitable for your body and personal preferences.
In conclusion, belly button piercings are a popular choice, but it is crucial to seek professional assistance to ensure safety and proper healing. Professional piercers provide expertise, accurate placement, and follow strict sanitary precautions. The process involves sanitizing the environment and equipment, cleaning the surface, marking the target, piercing and inserting jewelry, cleaning again, and providing aftercare instructions. There are various types of navel piercings to choose from, including traditional, inverse, horizontal, double/multi, and true belly button piercings.
