I got my belly button pierced for the first time when I was 17 years old. It hurt like a mother, the most painful piercing I’d had up until that point (it’s since been unseated by my tragus piercing). It gave me all kinds of problems.
Mainly because I only cleaned it properly for three days and then changed the jewelry out after the first week. Ah, young and dumb.
It obviously got infected and after about two months of dealing with the disgusting side effects, I’ll spare you the gory details, I took the jewelry out and the hole closed up. On a whim, when I was 19, I had it re-pierced. I used the salt water shot glass method for aftercare and immediately began to deal with a horrible infection. I think I was more prone to infection at this time because they had to pierce through so much tissue, I was already over 200 pounds then.
Long story short, I got tired of dealing with the puss, took it out again, and my poor little belly piercing loving soul thought that would be the end of that.
Fast forward 13 years later, after losing over 300 pounds over the course of 6 pregnancies and having skin removal surgery on my tummy… I decided I wanted to give it a go and get pierced again.
Board certified surgeons recommend you don’t get your belly pierced after tummy tuck until at least 12 to 18 months post op. This is to ensure that the blood flow is properly restored to the area. You are high risk for rejection if you pierce it sooner.
It is also important to make sure you go to a piercer that has experience piercing reconstructed tummies for the best possible outcome. Shout out to Jose @ Adornment Body Piercing in Palm Springs, CA! By and far the most knowledgeable piercer I’ve ever met with a beautiful, bright, wholesome establishment that I feel comfortable taking my children into.
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I had my reconstructed belly button pierced with a gold bar, I wanted to give myself every chance at healing optimally. I’d paid thousands to have my tummy skin removed, I didn’t want to mess it up by skimping on jewelry so I went for it. It was pricey but I do feel like it aided in my healing.
There were some crusties for the first week or two but I was diligent about cleaning it three times a day with my NeilMed piercing aftercare fine mist wound wash.
NeilMed Piercing Aftercare Fine Mist Wound Wash
I continued to use the wound wash three times a day for 3 months. (One of these bottles should last you 4 to 5 months.) Then in the 4th month I began using it two times a day, and I reduced to once a day during the 5th month. By the 8th month I discontinued using the wound wash entirely.
I never had it ooze, never experienced infection, or bumps. It’s been pretty smooth sailing but I’ve been super diligent about doing everything I could to ensure it would heal optimally.
Even though you might be excited it’s so important NOT to change your jewelry for 8 months. You don’t want to introduce any foreign bacteria and it’s best to wait until you’re completely healed. When changing jewelry you want to use surgical steel grade rings, gold, or another high quality hypoallergenic material instead of cheapies. I bought this pack on Amazon and I love all of them, click here!
Ask your piercer when you’re allowed to submerge yourself in water again. I waited a couple months before taking a bath or going for a swim. For this reason it’s usually best to get pierced after Summer. I’d suggest getting it done in the Fall. That way, next Summer you have a totally healed button to show off!
My belly button went from my most painful piercing to my least. One of the perks of getting a tummy tuck belly button pierced is that it’s usually still pretty numb. You hardly feel anything at all. Certainly no pain, just a tiny bit of tugging.
Running in Miami
If you’re looking to get your belly button pierced after an abdominoplasty, make sure you clear it with your surgeon first, wait until you’re 12 to 18 months post-op for the lowest risk of rejection, and follow your after care routine religiously!
Have you gotten your belly button pierced before? What was your experience like?
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