Although we refer to it as navel piercing, when a navel ring is inserted the actual navel is not pierced, except in the case of a true navel piercing. Instead the skin on the upper rim of the navel {is often pierced|is pierced} in the procedure that we commonly refer to as a navel piercing. Lower rim navel piercings, horizontal and multiple piercings are also an option. Getting your navel pierced is a procedure that shouldn’t be risky. However there are a few precautions that should be taken to speed recovery as well as some health risks of which to be aware.

By focusing on 3 areas following your initial piercing you will be able to reduce the chances of experiencing problems. 1) Get the piercing done by an authorized professional, 2) Get pierced with a navel ring made from appropriate material, 3) Follow basic maintenance steps until the wound heals.

You want to get off to a good start so get an authorized piercing professional to do the job. They will use the appropriate sterilization procedures and the piercing will be done with the least possible amount of trauma to the surrounding skin. Navel piercing is never done with a piercing gun. If the person doing the piercing tries to do it with a piercing gun, leave immediately.

The healing time will be affected by the type of navel ring material you choose. It will also affect the chances of whether your body will reject the navel ring. So you have to be sensible about choosing the material your first navel ring is made from. Here are some options that will minimize the risks somewhat.

Bioplast is acknowledged as a very good material to use for initial piercings. It is a biopolymer material that is flexible, biocompatible and can be sterilized in an autoclave. All of these features make it perfect as a navel ring material. It’s not always the case, but people who have been pierced with Bioplast experience less swelling and infection and their wound heals faster than other materials. Bioplast navel rings are a great option to try first up.

Titanium is a very good option for your first navel ring. Like Bioplast, Titanium is biocompatible and will not be rejected by the body. It is also a particularly strong, yet lightweight metal that rarely produces an allergic response. Titanium has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any metal, so you have a light piece of jewelry that is very strong. If you prefer the look of metal over Bioplast, navel rings made of titanium are an outstanding choice.

Steel is a safe choice of material. The chance of infection is reduced because the steel is treated with a hypo-allergenic alloy. Steel doesn’t quite have the same properties as Bioplast or titanium but does give you a low-risk material to use. The fact that surgical steel can be autoclaved should mean that the problems with wearing a steel navel ring are minimised.

Basic care and maintenance steps must be followed immediately following your piercing. Different bodies react differently to the trauma of a piercing and greater attention may be required than what is in the instructions you receive. All piercings attract risks to some degree or another. Complaints to be aware of include bleeding, infections, nerve damage and allergic reactions. You also leave yourself open to more serious problems such as tetanus, HIV or hepatitis, particularly if the person doing the piercing has not taken necessary sterilization precautions. You might also find that wearing tight-fitting clothing will irritate the wound and so the healing time may be prolonged as a result.

As with any change to your body that could potentially bring a health risk with it, the best advice to follow is to consult your family GP. This will help you to understand exactly what you can expect. Common sense and good health practices should then be all it takes to keep your piercing infection-free.