With summer just around the corner, showing a little more skin is always a temptation, and one of the most popular decorations for that skin is a belly ring. Also known as a navel ring, these piercings have been popular for decades and their popularity shows no sign of slowing down. Here are nine of the most frequently asked questions about getting a belly ring in Austin.
Do I need an appointment to get a belly ring? We accept walk-ins at both of our Austin locations, if you are ready for a piercing, just stop on by.
How much will it cost? Navel piercings are $29. We have a special on Sundays and you can save $10. Or, come in with a friend on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday and take advantage of our “pair-cing” special and get two piercings for only $49.95.
Will it hurt? The short answer is yes, although it is one of the least painful piercings. Most people compare it to getting your ears pierced, but like everything else in life, your experience may be different.
How long will it take to heal? Probably about six to eight months for initial healing, but it will take a full year for your belly piercing to be completely healed. It will feel pretty normal after a few weeks and the jewelry will be able to be changed after a couple of months.
What do I need to do to take care of it? That’s a very important question. Start by washing your hands – always. After your hands are clean, you should clean your piercing with a sterile saline solution, such as NeilMed Wound Wash. It will probably be easiest to use a spray rather than a soaking. We recommend that you let the area air dry rather than use a towel, which can snag on the piercing.
What are the risks? That’s why the aftercare is so important. Without proper aftercare, infection is a risk. If you follow our instructions, you shouldn’t have an issue, but if your piercing gets swollen, red or has pus coming out of it, please let us know immediately.
What kind of metal should I use? There are all kinds of options out there for belly jewelry. We recommend implant-grade surgical steel for your initial jewelry. Once your navel piercing is fully healed, you can switch it out for new jewelry, but you will still want to avoid anything that can cause a reaction or an infection.
Can I take it out? Sure, if you want it to close. We recommend that you always keep jewelry in your belly piercing, unless you’ve decided you no longer want it. Even if you need to have a medical procedure, there are non-metal alternatives that will keep your piercing open.
Anything else I should know? If you are wearing tight-fitting clothes or playing contact sports after your piercing, you can always use a hard, vented eye patch to protect your piercing. Just use a length of Ace bandage wrapped around your body to secure it.
