Y2K belly button piercings are back – here's everything you need to know, according to a piercing pro

The ‘90s beauty and fashion redux is still going strong, so it's little surprise that belly button piercings are also enjoying a revival.

Of all the piercings out there, it was somehow the belly button piercing that became an unofficial Y2K rite of passage for many. So, what is there to know about belly button piercings in 2024?

Well, quite a lot, actually. There are different placements you may not know about; belly buttons that aren't suited to this type of piercing and jewellery types you may not of heard of. Plus, there are some key things you'll need to know if you want to avoid infection and get your new belly button embellishment healed as soon as possible.

We've quizzed Niki Yeadon, piercing expert and founder of Crystal Point Piercing on everything you need to know about belly button piercings…

In this article:

→ What is a belly button piercing?
→ How is it done?
→ Who can get a belly button piercing?
→ What jewellery materials are used for the piercing?
→ Best types of belly button jewellery
→ Pain and healing time?
→ Aftercare for belly button piercings
→ Potential side effects
→ How to change your piercing

Professionally known as a navel piercing — but often referred to as a belly button piercing — it features “a piece of jewellery that sits through the skin fold, most commonly above the belly button but also around the navel,” explains Niki.

Placement of the piercing can be tailored to your anatomy, too. “The most common belly button piercing is through the top fold of skin,” explains Niki. That said, you can also get the belly button pierced in the slides and lower navel if the piercer thinks your anatomy allows it.

Belly button piercings should always be done by a professional piercer. Niki reassures that “the piercing is very quick and what you feel is minimal if done well and in a calming environment."

First there is a consultation – your age is discussed, as is your navel shape. “The maturity of the body is important," she says. "The female body still grows into our late teens, so each person is looked at individually,” she adds. “Once we have established if the anatomy is suitable, we then move on to choosing a bar that works.”

Any clothing is then loosened or folded away from the stomach. "Your skin is then prepped with an anti-microbial cleanser and we mark out where we are going to pierce on the skin,” Niki explains. “We ask the client to take a good look as there is always time to move the mark if the client has a preference.”

Once you're happy, you'll be asked to lay down comfortably on the bed. “Some piercings are clamped [where your skin is held in a clamp to keep it taught] and others are done free hand — it all depends on the skin type,” she adds.

While the idea of a clamp can be intimidating, it sounds far worse than it is, says Niki. “The clamp gives a grip that allows the piercer precision. While a free hand technique has the benefits of avoiding bruising, both are acceptable in capable hands.”

Niki then uses a needle specifically created for piercing to create the gole, rather than a cannula needle (a flat-tipped needle) because it creates more trauma than necessary.

“Once the piercing is done the jewellery is installed gently and the top is screwed on — et voilà! It's done!” says Niki, who notes that she also likes to finish off with a gentle cooling compress of sterile saline while explaining the next steps.

Unfortunately, not all navel areas are suitable for a belly button piercing. This includes outie belly buttons, says Niki, because “it takes a certain shape for the piercing to be successful.”

So it's important to listen to the piercer's advice and not go to a different, less reputable studio to get it done. Doing so and getting a piercing where you anatomy doesn't allow can lead to migration. “In a lot of cases, if the shape doesn't allow for the bar to sit comfortably, it will grow out,” Niki explains.

There may be some alternatives, especially if you have a deeper belly button where the ridge isn't very defined. “For some anatomy shapes, a floating navel can help it heal better," says Niki. "The M&M disc [flat discs] on the bar allows for the client to sit comfortably, avoiding the bottom of the bar getting caught in the skin.”

The jewellery you are initially pierced with tends to be either implant-grade stainless steel or medical-grade titanium, as a non-reactive material is important during the healing process. The latter is approved by the APP (association of professional piercers) as it is nickel-free (ideal for those with metal allergies). 14K gold is another option.

Cheap jewellery with low-grade polishing on the surface, says Niki, can contain small traces of lead, cadmium and nickel – meaning the surface has small irregularities where the body fluid collects, which can cause complications.

Curved barbell — This is the most common type of jewellery used for a belly piercing and features a curved bar with two balls on either end.

Non-dangle bar — Similar to a curved barbell but with jewels on either end instead of plain balls.

Dangle belly bar — This is similar to the above but with an extra piece dangling down.

Other options include a captive bead — aka a hoop that doesn't fully close with two balls on either end – and the twister ring, which is a spiral shaped bar with two balls on either end.

According to Niki, most people rate navel piercings as a four or five out of 10 on the pain scale. Pain is, of course, subjective and it really does depend on how well-trained your piercer is. So it's always worth doing your research prior to your appointment to make sure you're in experienced hands.

As far as healing time goes, “it can take up to a year to fully heal but most belly button piercings can heal within six to eight months,” says Niki. “It heals from the outside in, so if you have signs of fluid or crusties then you have a while yet to go.”

Cleaning

Cleaning your new piercing once daily is vital. Niki recommends saline soaks using ½ teaspoon of sea salt with a pint of boiled water (waiting for it to cool down before using it, of course). If you aren't keen on making your own, you can use Stericlens or Neilmed Piercing Aftercare sprays, which are a super easy way to take care of your piercing.

Things to avoid:

• Poking your new piercing with a cotton bud – It's a common mistake people make, which can cause irritation and delay healing.
• Touching your piercing too much – “Most complications are from clients over-cleaning it and picking scabs and touching it too much," Niki warns.
• Swimming and hot tubs, fake tan and sun bathing – “This is why the perfect time to have a belly button piercing done is in winter when you cover it up, then it will be ready to show off in the summer,” says Niki.
• Clothing with zips and buttons – These can put pressure on the area and irritate it.

It's completely normally to experience a little soreness and see some clear or white-ish fluid for the first couple of days post-piercing.

However, as with all piercings, signs of infection include swelling, heat, redness and foul-smelling yellow discharge, at which point it's important that you contact your GP.

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. Most piercers recommend waiting the full year-long period before switching it out but, if you really can’t wait, your best bet is to go back to your piercer.

It's also advisable to visit the piercing studio for that first change of jewellery so that they can ensure the measurement is correct. “We use either a 12 or 14 gauge and 12mm long bar when someone is first pierced," says Niki. “When the belly button piercing has healed, it may shrink a little.”