NAVEL

FYI:

Although the navel piercing is one of the most popular piercings it can be one of the most difficult to heal. Wearing tight waistbands or frequent activity involving bending at the waist can prolong healing time. The pressure of waistbands can force the ring to one side causing the piercing to heal crookedly or scar. Too much pressure can cause the piercing to migrate or reject completely. The shape of the navel varies from person to person. Not all navels can be successfully pierced. An "innie" navel with a distinct ridge or lip is most likely to be pierced successfully. Navels lacking a distinct ridge often cannot support a piercing. The upper ridge is usually more prominent than the lower ridge. Often there is a natural indentation or slight wrinkle where the piercing is made. The entrances of the piercing should be placed equidistant from the edge of the ridge to make the piercing as perpendicular to the tissue as possible. A curved barbell can provide a non-constrictive curvature in many cases, and some piercers swear by them in new navel piercings. Some women have successfully worn healed navel piercings jewelry throughout pregnancy. In other cases, the navel ridge pops out, making the jewelry uncomfortable.  A piercing that has been completely healed for several years might remain open with the jewelry out; it will shrink, though, often necessitating the aid of an insertion taper to install the original jewelry.

INITIAL JEWELRY:

Captive bead ring, circular barbell in 14 to 12 gauge and usually 7/16” to 1/2” in diameter; A ring which is too small in diameter will constrict the piercing and cause the entrances of the piercing to migrate to conform to the tight curvature of the ring. Curved barbell in 14 to 12 gauge and 7/16" to 1/2” in length.   

AVERAGE HEALING TIME:

6 - 12 mo