There’s no specific cause that leads to piercing rejection. It happens due to a combination of factors, including:
What Is Piercing Rejection?
When you get a new piercing, you’re welcoming a foreign object into your body. Sometimes, your body isn’t as welcoming as you are, and it wants to push the foreign object out.
In the early stages of rejection, your piercing will begin to migrate toward the surface of your skin. Eventually, your body will push the piercing to the surface, and your skin will crack open to let it out.
Piercing rejection isn’t nearly as common as some other piercing complications, like infections, keloids, and dermatitis. When rejection does happen, it’s usually in a flat area of the body. Rejection is more common in the following types of piercings:
- eyebrow
- belly button
- surface piercings
- nape
- hip
Read on to learn about the symptoms of piercing rejection and how you can treat it.
Your body is all about self-defense. It spends every minute of the day protecting you from an incalculable number of hazards: airborne diseases, bacteria on your skin, fungi, germs, and more.
When you injure yourself, your body’s immune system kicks into gear, helping you heal as quickly as possible.
The symptoms of piercing rejection are actually signs that your body is working to protect itself from what it perceives to be a threatening invader: your jewelry.
If your body is rejecting a piercing, you may experience the following symptoms:
- The jewelry has noticeably moved from its original place.
- The amount of tissue between the entrance and exit holes gets thinner (there should be at least a quarter inch of tissue between holes).
- The entrance and exit holes increase in size.
- The jewelry starts to hang or droop differently.
- The skin between the entrance and exit holes is:
- flaky
- peeling
- red or inflamed
- calloused-looking or unusually hard
- nearly transparent (you might see the jewelry through your skin)
Rejection usually happens in the weeks and months following a new piercing, but it can also happen years, even decades, later.
If you bump your old piercing in an odd way or have an infection that kicks your immune system into overdrive, you might suddenly see signs of migration and rejection.
Your skin is the largest organ in your body and the only one that comes into contact with the outside world. It holds in all your bodily fluids and keeps out harmful microbes that cause infections.
When your skin is injured, it goes through a complex process of healing that begins with inflammation and ends with the formation of scar tissue.
Your body will only build up scar tissue around a piece of jewelry if that process is easier than pushing out the jewelry entirely. In the case of surface piercings, the body is often tempted to push out the jewelry rather than wall it off with scar tissue.
Part of wound healing involves contraction, which means your skin is pulling itself back together. This is what allows holes to close up when jewelry is removed.
There’s no specific cause that leads to piercing rejection. It happens due to a combination of factors, including:
- Genetics. Some people heal differently than others.
- The skin surface. Flat surfaces are more prone to rejection.
- The tautness of skin. Piercing into tight skin around the belly button or chest puts more pressure on the piercing to hold the skin together (like a staple).
- The size and shape of the jewelry. Ill-fitting jewelry is often the initial cause of migration.
- The material of the jewelry. Some materials, such as titanium, may be better for those with sensitive skin and can reduce the likelihood of an allergic reaction or rejection. Your piercer can recommend the right jewelry for you and the location of your piercing.
- Weight changes. Pregnancy and obesity cause the skin to stretch, which may put pressure on the piercing.
- Physical or emotional stress. A healthy, strong immune system is important for the healing process — and too much stress can negatively affect it.
It can be frustrating when your body rejects a piercing, but there’s no danger other than scarring (unless there’s a severe infection). The best thing to do is prevent the jewelry from pushing itself through the skin’s surface.
If the jewelry cracks open your skin’s surface, it’ll cause more damage, which means more scar tissue. Excessive scar tissue at the piercing site makes re-piercing difficult.
Here are a few tips for dealing with piercing migration and rejection:
- Take out the jewelry if you see it migrating toward the surface.
- Try a new piece of jewelry in a different size, gauge, shape, or material.
- Speak with a qualified piercer for advice.
- Opt for a nonirritating plastic ring or bar.
- Try a larger piece of jewelry if your ring won’t lie flat or your barbell looks like it’s getting swallowed up.
- Wait about a year before re-piercing.
- Apply a topical vitamin E oil to reduce the appearance of scars.
The most important thing you can do before getting a new piercing is to research the best piercers in your area. If you’re getting a surface piercing, make sure to talk to the piercer about their experience. It’s a good idea to ask about rejection rates for the area you’d like to pierce.
Keep in mind that piercings may leave visible scars.
Here are a few tips to reduce the likelihood of rejection:
- Getting a larger gauge, or width, may reduce your chance of rejection.
- Speak with your piercer about the depth of the piercing and the best size for jewelry to wear while you’re healing.
- Follow all aftercare instructions. Keep the site very clean and soak it in a saltwater compress.
- Stay healthy, eat well, and avoid stress.
Piercings are a way to express yourself and adorn your body, but they do come with risks. Migration and rejection are some complications that can result from a new piercing.
If you suspect something is wrong, take out your jewelry and talk with your piercer. A new piece of jewelry is often enough to stop migration and prevent rejection.
Last medically reviewed on January 5, 2021
If You’re Getting a Belly Button Piercing, Here’s What You Should Know
Isabelle has been contributing to Byrdie since 2020. She has worked in digital media for over five years and is an expert on a range of topics, including tattoos, piercings, and culture. Her work can be seen across the web on Backstage Magazine, Merry Jane, Vulture, and more.
Updated on 09/01/22
Reviewed byCozmo Faris is a professional piercer with more than 12 years of experience who teaches for the Association of Professional Piercers.
Professional Piercer
Fact checked bySabrina Crews is a copy editor and fact checker. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Minnesota.
- EMAILSHARE
@haileybieber/Design by Cristina Cianci
In This Article
What Is a Belly Button Piercing? Pain and Healing Time Cost of a Belly Button Piercing Aftercare
Side Effects of Piercing How to Change Out a Belly Button Piercing What Type of Jewelry Is Used for a Belly Button Piercing? What Jewelry Material Is Used for a Belly Button Piercing?
Belly button piercings have been popular for a long time—and for good reason. Considering the piercing is fairly painless due to a fleshy placement and easy to take care of since you don’t have to look in a mirror to see it, they’re a great choice that has endured the test of time.
However, it’s important to note that not everyone can get a belly button piercing. Because they are very anatomy dependent, some piercers may deny you service or suggest a different type of belly button piercing (like a floating navel piercing) or location over the traditional style and placement.
If you’re still interested in a belly button piercing, the best place to start is to find a licensed, experienced piercer who will work with your anatomy to give you the best piercing. For more info, read on for everything you need to know about the popular piercing.
Belly Button Piercings
Placement: Pierced through the skin right above the naval, with a true belly button piercing centered directly above the navel
Pricing: $30-$75
Pain level: 4/5
Healing time: 6-8 months, fully healed by 12 months
Aftercare: Wash the piercing two times a day with a sterile saline solution and pat dry with a paper towel.
What Is a Belly Button Piercing?
A belly button piercing, also known as a navel piercing, is a piece of jewelry that’s typically inserted through the skin, directly above the belly button. This allows the jewelry to hang slightly over the belly button to essentially highlight itself. Other placements of belly button piercings include the lower rim, upper rim, and sides of the navel.
Belly button piercings are done either with tools or freehand by a professional piercer. First, the area will be cleaned, and if you have some hair there, your piercer will most likely shave the area with a disposable razor to allow for a smooth and clean piercing site. Then, if your piercer is using tools, the area is held taut with a clamp. The placement is then marked; you should have agreed on location with your piercer beforehand, but now is the time to double-check that it’s marked in the correct spot. After that, a hollow needle will be pushed through to create a hole in the designated spot, followed by the jewelry. Don’t worry if you experience slight bleeding, swelling, or redness immediately after the piercing—that’s completely normal and should subside quickly.
Pain and Healing Time
Although you may think a belly button piercing wouldn’t hurt that much due to being on your stomach, it will hurt slightly—just like any other piercing. Because the skin on your stomach is fleshy, it’s true that you can probably expect it to be less painful than some sort of cartilage piercing. However, a piercing is created by pulling a needle through the skin, so there is, of course, some pain involved.
“I would say around a 4 or 5 with my clients based on their feedback; I would rate my own at a 4 or so,” says Kristina Outland, a body piercer at Deep Roots Tattoo & Piercing. “It’s a super quick process which makes it very manageable.”
A belly button piercing will most likely take anywhere from six months to a year to fully heal depending on how you care for it and your day-to-day lifestyle; however, the most common time frame is between six and eight months Regardless, it’s important to check with your piercer when you believe it’s healed before stopping aftercare—if it’s still healing, the site could become infected.
Cost of a Belly Button Piercing
How much a piercing costs is entirely dependent on the studio you go to, your geographic location, your piercer’s experience, and how complicated your piercing is. On average, however, you can expect a belly button piercing to run between $30 and $75. Of course, this price tends to include a very basic jewelry option (if it’s included at all). If you decide you want to get a better or different piece of jewelry, you’re most likely going to have to pay more. Some studios may even have you pay a separate fee entirely for both the piercing itself and the jewelry.
“In my studio, we usually charge 40 euros [or $40 USD] with a basic titanium internal threaded piercing,” says Claudia Valentini, a Barcelona-based body piercer. “If the customer chooses another option, we charge [for] the jewelry.”
Aftercare
Following the correct aftercare during the healing process is super important, both because it will help the piercing heal properly and because not doing so could slow down the process.
The first thing to note is that you should wash your hands before touching your piercing to ensure you’re being as sterile as possible and to avoid passing any bacteria. Then, it’s recommended to clean your piercing twice a day with a sterile saline solution. Be sure to dry the area with a paper towel after, as a typical hand or bath towel could harbor bacteria.
During the healing process, Lauren Dozier, MD,—a dermatologist and medical director at Brickell Cosmetic Center in Miami, FL—suggests staying away from antibiotic ointment, as this can suffocate the piercing site and cause more problems. She also recommends wearing loose-fitting clothing and pants that have low-rise waistbands to ensure you don’t irritate the piercing site or cause further complications.
After washing your hands with soap and water, rinse the area with warm water. Don’t pick at the area, as it can cause further irritation or bleeding. It’s also important to avoid soaking your new belly button piercing in anything but a sterile saline solution until it’s healed; bodies of water both big and small like baths, the ocean, or a pool may harbor bacteria and cause infection.
Side Effects of Piercing
- Rash: The piercing site should maintain a normal appearance for the entire healing process, but a rash could pop up due to irritation of the jewelry or the skin around the piercing location. If at any point you notice a rash that wasn’t there before, seek medical help immediately.
- Discharge: It’s completely normal for your piercing to leak some off-white fluid for the first few days. This is your body’s natural reaction to a purposeful wound and is meant to protect the area. If the discharge keeps happening, however, or the color changes to a murkier yellowish hue, that’s a sign that something could be wrong with your new piercing.
- Infection: Infection is a common risk when getting a piercing, and can be caused by improper care at home (though an inexperienced piercer with unsafe tools could also be the culprit). Watch for a deep red color, increased swelling, skin that’s hot to the touch, and pain, as these could be signs of an infection.
“I always recommend seeing a physician, such as a dermatologist, for evaluation and treatment right away if you develop any of these symptoms,” says Dozier.
How to Change Out a Belly Button Piercing
You can effectively change out a belly button piercing yourself, but you have to be completely sure that your piercing is fully healed before doing so. And, as mentioned, while six to eight months is the typical healing period, it could take up to a full year. Because of that, most piercers recommend waiting the full year-long period before switching it out, but if you can’t wait, your best bet is to go back to your piercer to get it changed out.
“I suggest coming to the studio for the first change,” says Valentini. “If that’s not possible, make sure that it’s the right time to change it, and [that you] have good quality jewelry to replace it.”
According to Outland, the top of the jewelry usually comes unscrewed, allowing for the jewelry to be slipped out and easily replaced in the same manner. The one thing to keep in mind is to always wash your hands before touching the piercing in any way to avoid irritating it or transferring bacteria.
“If you do need help or have questions, a reputable piercer is always willing to help you out,” notes Outland.
What Type of Jewelry Is Used for a Belly Button Piercing?
Curved barbell
The typical and most popular jewelry choice for belly button piercings is a curved barbell, which slightly curves outward to pop against your belly button and generally fits better with the natural shape of your body. This jewelry has a small bead on each end, with one of them being adjustable/removable to allow you to change out the jewelry if you want.
Twister spiral
Curved in both directions twisted spiral jewelry is fun to wear and makes a statement. The design of this piercing is said to put less stress on the navel area.
Captive bead
With this jewelry, size is everything. You’ll most likely find 14- and 16-gauge offered for this style, which hugs the navel and lays outward, so the side of the ring is showing.
Reverse/Top-down
Those who sport the reverse/top-down style of jewelry typically showcase the larger part of the jewelry above the navel and the smaller part inside it. Heavier design elements will be featured up top, however, the great thing about this style is that you can wear the jewelry however you like, hence the name.
Dangle
If you’re going to show off your belly button piercing, dangle jewelry is the way to do it. Typically featuring a curved barbell, this style has a plethora of options and adornments like stones, jewels, or charms hanging off the end of the ring.
Non-dangle
This smaller jewelry style is perfect for those who lead a very active lifestyle or don’t feel the need to show off their navel piercing all the time. Non-dangle jewelry hugs closer to the belly button and is usually seen as a drop, hinge, or curved barbell.
What Jewelry Material Is Used for a Belly Button Piercing?
- Implant-Grade Stainless Steel: “[Implant-grade] stainless steel is usually the safest type of metal for a piercing due to its low irritant or allergic sensitizing potential,” says Dozier.
- Titanium: If you’d rather avoid the potential negative effects of surgical steel or if you know you’re allergic to nickel, medical-grade titanium is your best bet.
- Gold: If you’re more of a gold person for the general aesthetic and look, feel free to choose that metal for your new piercing. Also, make sure it’s at least 14 karats, as anything less than that is too soft and unsafe for the body.
Article Sources
Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
- Halloran L. Body Piercing: Avoiding Complications. JNP. 2015 Jan; 11(1):142-43. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2014.10.004
About Us
Family Medicine
In 2024 our team of doctors and nurses provide a comprehensive range of family planning services. Our doctors have expertise in antenatal care, preconception planning, and STD checks. Contraceptive advice including Mirena and Implanon insertion is available.- Early detection of illness;
- Family planning;
- Promotion of healthy lifestyle;
- Skin cancer checks;
- Sports injuries;
- Weight reduction;
- Workers compensation and third party.
- Cervical Screening tests;
- Reproductive health. Including Mirena and Implanon insertion;
- Shared antenatal care.
- Preventative Healthcare. Including cardiovascular screening, mental health and cancer checks;
- Prostate examination.
Children's Health
Baby Weighing Service. Babies can be booked with our Nurse for weighing, a doctors appointment is not required to use this service. Contact reception for a appointment to have your baby weighed.Immunisations. At Tuggeranong Square children's immunisation is regarded an important part of your childs health care. Our doctors take immunising children very seriously. and to ensure all children are immunised Tuggeranong Square Medical Practice doctors BULK BILL for all childhood immunisations. Tuggeranong Square Medical Practice also ensures the Practice Nursing Staff are highly trained in childhood immunisations.
Women's Health
Our practice is dedicated to treating a wide spectrum of women’s health concerns. We offer pre-natal, antenatal and postnatal care, contraceptive options, pap screening, and preventative health care advice. We provide assistance, advice and support through all stages of life, recognising the many issues many women may face from adolescence through to the peri and post-menopausal period.
Men's Health
We encourage men to present routinely to their GP to discuss all aspects of their health. We provide comprehensive advice and support for men to address the prevention and management of various health conditions. This may include assessments for cardiovascular risk, diabetes, cancer prevention, mental health assessments, STD screening, sports injuries and the importance of sleep as it relates to other areas of health.
