BellaOnline Forums Beauty and Self Body Art Navel piercing changes

It took my navel a year to heal. BIG pain in the butt! I've been stretching it and now have a 12 gauge in. As for changing it...that's up to you. It's not always easy to get the jewelry in! I have my eyebrow and navel done. I wear the same jewelry in them all the time. Too much of a hassle to change! I'm sticking with tattoos...they're easier!!! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Hi all! I just got my navel pierced a week ago Friday <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I am loving it! I got a curved barbell put in and I think it looks great. I can't wait to be able to change it.

My piercer told me not to change it for at least 6 months, I am going to try and resist the urge and wait out the 6 months and see how it is doing.

I have been cleaning it twice a day with Provon and soaking it once a night (right before bed) with sea salt. I love the soaks as they help with the itching i am getting now.

I had a little pain for a few days after it, but now I feel nothing (unless I bang it). I think I am healing really well.

All I ahve is a tiny bit of redness but it isn't visible at all as it is right behind the barbell ball.

I am just now getting "crusties" as my piercer called them, but that is all. I am really very happy with the results and am so glad I got it done. I ahve always wanted to, but never got the nerve up to do it. I am almost 32 and wish I had done this sooner.

Thats all for now

Cat

My own navel piercing took over a year to heal, and wound up being much happier with a curved barbell than a ring.

Mine stayed red for the longest time, and would swell up at the drop of a hat it seemed, but then suddenly one day, it was fine.

Well I went back to my piercer to just have him give it a look to make sure all was well and to my suprise he said it was healing faster and better than many he had seen before in just five weeks. He suggested I switch to a barbell since he thought the CBR was starting to irritate the holes. Few was I glad to here that. I have changed my barbell daily just like earrings. I went a little crazy buying navel jewelry and I think I have a different one for each day of the year <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ,and it is much easier to clean. The redness and dryness went away and I couldn't be happier. The piercer stated that sometimes movement and getting bumped can draw the crusties or whatever inside and then you are back to square one. So if in doubt go back to the piercer. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Friday will be 4 weeks since I got it done. I no longer have any pain, but every now and then I have a little white sticky goop after I work out (which i do everyday). The Provon and sea salt soak help, and I ahve very minimal redness, again, after I work out.

I am itching to change my curved barbell, but I am going to obey my piercer and wait at least 4 months. I check the ends daily to make sure they are secure, and I tell you, I don't know how I am going to ever get this thing changed, my oeircer really has them in there tight. Any suggestions to get the ends loosened for when I do change it?

Cat
Getting a tattoo next!

The ends are just screwed on...just loosen one and slip it out!

I ahve tried unscrewing them, but as I said, they are on there very tight and I can't get them to budge at all! I was just curious as to whether or not anyone had some pointers in actually loosening them?????

I was reading an article on healing and cleaning and read something about using pure essence of Lavender oil to help with the healing and to keep the piercing lubricated...anyone know anything about using Lavender oil?

Cat

I've had to use pliers (with the ends wrapped in tape to prevent scratching) to both tighten loose jewelry securely enough and to unscrew body jewelry that was stuck. Small flat tips can be very useful for turning stuck barbell ends. You tape the pliers so that the jewelry isn't scratched, my fave is to use small band-aids. If you need to hold the barbell with a second pair of pliers, needle-nose often work best for that grip.

Also, some barbells have two threaded ends and some have one fixed and one threaded. If you have the mixed version, make sure you are trying to unscrew the threaded side only.

I got my belly pierced with a ring 4 months ago. I had the ring changed to a bar last weekend. The cleaning was easy with the ring. It never got infected or sore. Now I am just worried it is going to get infected with the bar since it seems more difficult to get the soap in there good. Any suggestions? I am very worried for some reason.

Well, Cathie, if you are worried, why did you change the jewelry?