Belly Button Piercing Guide (All About Navel Piercings)

A belly button piercing is done through the skin above your navel to hold curved jewellery like a belly ring or barbell. The piercing sits at the upper rim of the navel cavity where the skin folds inward, creating a space for the jewellery to rest. 

Most piercers use a sterile hollow needle, not piercing guns, to reduce trauma and improve healing. This guide covers the process, healing timeline, aftercare, and what to expect based on your belly shape and skin type.

Call Xtremeties Tattoo and Piercing Studio at (905) 897-3503 if you have more questions or need piercing services in Mississauga, Ontario. 

What Is a Belly Button Piercing (a.k.a. Navel Piercing)?

A belly button piercing goes through the skin near your navel and holds a curved piece of jewellery. Most piercings are placed just above the navel cavity, allowing jewellery like belly rings or barbells to hang over your stomach. This style suits navels that naturally fold inward. If yours doesn’t have a clear fold or has scar tissue, a piercer will check if it's safe to pierce.

Belly button piercings are a popular form of body modification. They highlight your midsection without needing to show much skin. You can wear a simple curved barbell or choose from navel rings with gems or charms. Most piercers never use piercing guns to make the hole, as it causes skin trauma.

Where Belly Button Piercings Go on the Body

Piercings are placed on the top edge of the navel, where the skin is soft and flexible. The goal is to avoid areas with tight skin folds or excess scar tissue. Some people can get variations like lower navel or side piercings, but the most common is the upper rim. Before piercing, the piercer will examine to make sure the placement suits your shape.

Common Types of Navel Piercings

The most common navel piercing is a standard top-down. Other belly button piercing styles include:

• Inverse navel piercing (bottom-up)

• Double navel piercings (both top and bottom)

• Side navel piercings (done on either side)

Most people start with one piercing and add more once the first has healed. It’s important to heal one piercing fully before adding more to the same area.

Do I Have the Right Belly Button for a Piercing? (Are Belly Buttons All Piercable?)

Not every belly button is safe to pierce. An ideal navel has a clear fold and enough soft tissue for the jewellery to sit without pressure. If your navel is flat, has scar tissue, or protrudes (like an "outie"), it may not hold jewellery well. A trained professional can examine your navel and let you know if a piercing is safe or not.

What to Expect During the Piercing Process

The piercing process takes about 10 to 15 minutes and includes cleaning, marking, piercing, and jewellery insertion. You’ll lie down, the area will be cleaned with antiseptic, and the piercer will mark where the needle enters and exits. Once you approve the marks, a hollow sterile piercing needle is used to create the hole. The jewellery is then inserted immediately after.

How the Piercer Preps Your Body

Your piercer will clean the area around and mark the piercing site. You’ll be asked to lie flat and relax your tummy. Once everything is in place, they’ll use a sterile needle to complete the piercing. Jewellery is inserted right after, and you’ll get care instructions.

The Piercing Tools (Why No Piercing Guns)

Professional piercers use hollow needles, not guns, for belly buttons. Guns can damage skin and increase the risk of infection and scarring. Needles create a clean, controlled opening and reduce trauma. Health Canada does not approve piercing guns for use on soft tissue like the navel.

Step-by-Step Piercing Procedure Explained

1. Clean the skin

The first step is to clean the skin around your navel with an antiseptic solution. This removes sweat, dirt, and bacteria that could cause irritation or infection. The professional wipes the entire piercing area, including the surface of your tummy and the fold around the area. Keeping this area clean helps protect the skin and prepares it for safe modification.

2. Mark entry and exit points

Next, they use a sterile skin marker to draw small dots on your skin. These marks show where the needle will enter and exit. The placement needs to suit the shape of your navel piercing anatomy. This step ensures the jewellery sits comfortably on your body and doesn’t press into your skin or snag on clothing. You’ll have a chance to check the marks in a mirror and give a thumbs-up before the next step.

3. Use a sterile hollow needle to pierce

Once everything is marked, the professional will use a sterile, hollow needle to create the hole through the top edge of your navel. This is sharp and hollow, so it makes a clean cut through, unlike piercing guns, which can damage tissue. It slides smoothly through the piercing area, causing a quick pinch. The hollow design also makes it easier to insert the jewellery right after.

4. Insert jewellery immediately

After the hole is made, the belly ring or barbell is inserted without delay. This helps reduce bleeding and allows the jewellery to settle properly into your piercing. Most studios use curved barbells made of surgical steel or titanium for fresh holes. These materials are safe and help reduce the risk of discomfort or irritation.

5. Cover with a breathable bandage if needed

Some piercers may apply a small breathable bandage over the piercing site to keep dirt and friction away during your trip home. This isn’t always necessary, but if the area is close to your waistband or rubbing against clothing, it can help protect the fresh piercing. Make sure to remove the bandage later that day and let your skin breathe as part of your normal navel piercing aftercare routine.

Does a Belly Button Piercing Hurt?

Most people feel a sharp pinch during the piercing that lasts less than two seconds. Piercing pain is short-lived, and it feels more like pressure than deep pain. Some people describe the piercing experience like getting their ears pierced, but lower on the body.

What Navel Piercings Pain Feels Like

The sensation is a quick pinch followed by a warm or tingly feeling. Discomfort usually fades within a few minutes. If you're worried about pain, ask if they offer numbing spray or breathing techniques to help you stay calm.

Numbing Creams and Pain Management Tips

Some shops use numbing spray, but pain management is usually not needed. Eat before your appointment, stay hydrated, and wear loose clothing. Avoid coming on an empty stomach or during your menstrual cycle, as your skin can be more sensitive.

Healing Process for Belly Button Piercings

The average time for a navel piercing to heal is 6 to 12 months. During this period, your body is forming a channel around the jewellery. You might notice some swelling or crust in the early weeks, but this is normal. The piercing heals from the outside in, so it may look fine before it’s fully healed inside.

What to Expect at Each Stage of Navel Piercing Healing

In the first 2 to 4 weeks, the piercing may feel sore or tight. By month 3, the redness should fade, and movement becomes easier. Full healing can take up to a year, depending on your skin type, belly button piercing aftercare, and general health. Avoid changing the jewellery too early, as this can slow down the healing process.

Signs of Trouble: Scarring, Infection, or Rejection

Look out for redness, thick discharge, sharp pain, or jewellery shifting position. These may signal irritation, infection, or rejection. Don’t remove the jewellery unless advised by a professional, and don’t apply harsh ointments.

Navel Piercing Aftercare Guidelines & Picking Belly Button Rings

Clean the piercing twice a day with saline or a sterile aftercare spray. Wash your hands before touching the area. Do not twist or move the jewellery while it heals. Avoid alcohol, peroxide, and scented soaps.

How to Avoid Belly Button Piercing Infection or Irritation

Wear loose clothing to keep pressure off the piercing site. Stay away from pools, hot tubs, or bathtubs for at least 4 weeks. Always pat the area dry with a clean, soft towel after showers. Do not sleep on your stomach if the pressure bothers the piercing.

What to Avoid While Healing (Clothes, Pools, Touching)

• Don’t wear tight waistbands or belts

• Don’t let pets lick or touch your stomach

• Don’t use bandages or plastic wrap over the piercing

• Don’t apply lotions near the area

Lifestyle Tips for a Smooth Healing Journey (How to Heal Your Belly Button Piercing Faster)

Support how you heal by staying hydrated, eating balanced meals, and sleeping on your back. Poor sleep or diet can slow how it heals and increase irritation. Avoid alcohol, smoking, and anything that puts pressure on your stomach.

What to Wear After a Navel Piercing

Loose pants, dresses, and drawstring shorts keep pressure off the piercing area. Cotton clothing helps the skin breathe. Avoid tight leggings or waistbands that rub against your stomach.

Diet, Sleep, and Body Movement During Healing

Eat nutritious foods, stay active (but avoid core workouts), and get 7 to 9 hours of sleep. Rest helps your body repair faster. If you notice fatigue, it could be your body focusing on healing the piercing.

Can You Get a Piercing If…

You’re pregnant, have scar tissue, or an outie? Not always. Pregnancy changes the shape of your stomach and can cause rejection. Scar tissue can block proper healing. A professional piercer will check if piercing your navel is safe.

Red Flags That Need Professional Help

Call your piercer if the area gets red, hot, or starts bleeding heavily. Signs like green pus, excessive swelling, or jewellery migrating away from the navel cavity should be addressed quickly. Don’t self-diagnose or use random internet remedies.

Choosing Belly Button Piercing Jewellery

Start with jewellery made of surgical steel, titanium, or implant-grade materials. These metals are safe for fresh holes and reduce the risk of allergic reactions. Once healed, you can switch to belly button rings or barbells in gold, niobium, or glass.

Best Jewellery for New Piercings: Surgical Steel, Titanium, Niobium

These materials are less likely to cause irritation and help you heal. Always buy jewellery from a trusted shop that follows public health standards. Avoid plated metals or cheap knockoffs that may flake or cause discomfort.

When to Switch Jewellery and How to Do It Safely

Wait at least 6 months before switching jewellery, and ask your piercer to change it for you. If the piercing is sore, red, or leaking fluid, do not remove the jewellery. Swapping it too early can cause trauma and lead to infection or scarring.

Belly Button Rings vs. Other Styles

Belly button rings hang from the piercing and often include decorative elements. Other options include banana barbells, which curve gently and sit closer to the skin. Choose styles that feel comfortable and don’t snag on clothing.

How Much Do Belly Piercings Cost?

Piercings usually cost between $40 and $70, depending on the studio and jewellery type. At Xtremities, you can take advantage of our 3-for-1 walk-in piercing deal, giving you more for less. Extra jewellery or upgrades may cost more, but the base service is affordable.

Talk to a Professional Piercer Who Knows Navels Inside and Out

If you’re thinking about getting a piercing, our piercers will walk you through every detail, no guesswork, no pressure. We’ll explain the whole process, check if your area is safe to pierce, and answer any questions about healing, style, or jewellery.

Here’s what you can expect:

• We’ll go over the belly button piercing requirements so you know exactly what makes a navel pierceable.

• You’ll get clear advice on the rules when getting a belly button piercing, including how to prep, what to wear, and how to care for it afterwards.

• We’ll show you safe starter belly button rings, all surgical steel or titanium, and help you choose one that fits your vibe and your anatomy.

Our team at Xtremities has pierced thousands of navels since 2000. Walk in today and talk to someone who knows navels, not someone who’s just reading from a script.

Find us at: 37 Dundas St W, Mississauga, ON L5B 1H

 Call us at (905) 897-3503.