Belly Piercing

A popular form of body enhancement and personal expression is body piercing.  In recent years, namely from the early nineties, belly piercing has rocketed in popularity and frequency.  It is more common among women and can be done with very little or no social stigma like many other types of body piercing.  Like any other body piercing, a belly piercing is not without risk.  One of the most common side effects of a belly piercing is scarring known as keloid.  Belly piercing will result in no scarring in most people as long as proper precautions are taken during the healing process.

In recent decades, body piercing has increased in popularity among men and women.  Aside from ear piercings, navel piercings may just be the second most popular piercing among women in Western cultures.  A navel piercing is also known as a belly piercing or belly button piercing.  While some men do engage in belly piercing it is much more prevalent among females.

The navel piercing is a fairly new phenomenon.  There is very little historical evidence of belly piercings although decorating the area is common for many rituals.  This type of piercing has risen to popularity in recent decades.  The late eighties and early nineties brought an onslaught of navel and belly piercings, perhaps sped by popular culture and television.  It may also be so popular because it is so easy to hide the piercing under clothing.  Additionally, this piercing has not suffered social stigma or taboo as much as other piercings such as the tongue, eyebrow, and nose.

A common association with a belly piercing on a woman is that it is sign of rebellion and wildness.  It is also considered to be sexy by men and women alike, therefore, another possible reason as to why this particular piercing is so popular.

The typical belly piercing occurs through the skin on the upper rim of the navel.  Some people may choose to pierce either side of the navel rim or even the bottom, but this is fairly rare.  Even more rare is a true belly piercing in which the person must have an “outie” belly button.  A true navel piercing is probably so rare only because a true “outie” belly button is also a rare occurrence. 

Generally, a belly piercing will heal quickly and without any issues, however, like any piercing, it is a wound and may undergo rejection by the body or an extended healing time.   Because the piercing is constantly in contact with clothing, the healing may be affected.  It is important to wear loose clothing, or pants with a low waist during the healing period.

One of the most common problems with a belly piercing is the growth of a keloid.  Belly piercing often results in keloids, which are firm, rubber-like lesions or shiny, fibrous nodules that vary in color usually ranging from pink to dark red.  A keloid is benign but usually accompanied by itching, pain, and textural changes.  There are many treatments for keloids, however none are 100% effective or guaranteed to work.  In an effort to avoid keloids in belly piercing it is important to rotate the ring, keep clothing away from the piercing, and to keep it very clean during the healing process.