Belly Button Rings
 

Since I got back from spring break, I've been thinking about getting a belly button ring... and after talking to a few of my friends this summer, I decided I really want one.

Only problem is, my parents would kill me.

I tried bringing it up to my mom yesterday but she went psycho -- she thinks it will get infected and that i'll get really sick (I have 2 holes in each ear, none of which have ever gotten infected) and she just hates the idea of me having one.

Does anyone here have a belly button ring?

Any regrets? Any parental conflict? If so, how did you handle it.

I'll be 20 in August so technically I could go out tomorrow and get one, but my parents would murder me.

Thanks ;)

You'll be 20? You're about 4 years too old to have one.

-Rudey
--But other than that, it'd be super!

I've had mine for almost 5 years and never had a problem with it. If you keep a good ring that can move around in the hole and you clean it often and correctly, you won't have issues.

As for the psycho mom thing, you're an adult, but if she'll flip, do it and see if she really flips. You can always remove it, but the sooner, the less it will scar.

I think you should pull a connect 4, and go for it.

I had one a few years ago until I turned 21. When I took it out, it left an ugly scar. To make matters worse, when I was pregnant recently, it was awful. It stretched out and my doctors asked me what the heck happened to my belly button.

They look cute now, but they won't look so cute in a few years. I'd pass if I had it to do over again. (Not to mention the TERRIBLE pain when they were putting it in... It hurt worse than any I.V. I've had.)

I've had my eyebrow, nose and still have my tongue pierced and I contemplated getting my belly done. I went against it because I didn't want to NOT be able to go to the beach.

Tippiechick's story was the same as my stepsister's. That isht just looked so NASTAY when she was at full term.

it can get infected easily.......and like one of the girls said about the beach is true...........same with baths.......if you love baths, water, beach, swiminmg, etc.........its not for you..........plus I hate to say this......do not take offense but guys tell me that girls with pierced belly show that they are easy that they have "Open pussy" ............gag................ but ya get the hint

BabyP, I think just saying that guys think they're easy would have sufficed;)

true but it helps to paint a picture and if you say these two words to guys they will confirm what i am talking about. Too many girls are just saying oh they are easy.......but i am really quoting the guys :) If i could I would get a fake one......just for lying in the sun.....

I've had mine for about 4 years now... wasn't any big deal to get done. Unfortunately when I got mine done the low rise jeans weren't quite all the rage just yet, so wearing jeans the first few weeks could be painful it if rubbed the wrong way.

As long as you clean it like you should you should be fine. I forget mine's there anymore. Every now and then I wonder if i should take it out, but i'm just so used to it, no one sees it but me and whoever i happen to be dating.

It's the only body piercing i've ever had besides the ears, and I have no tattoos. So even if it does leave a scar (which really couldn't be all that big... it' s just 2 holes, and one's on the inside of navel), i'll survive.

I happend to take my belly button ring out this week. I got mine like 5 months ago and it just won't heal. I don't know if it was where I got it or what but I was tired of it being infected. I don't know if it has anything to do with it, but I had a lot of trouble with ear rings too....I am just not meant to have piercings.

I personally would not recommend getting a belly button ring but that is just me. I really didn't think it hurt that bad when they did it and it didn't hurt that much while it was healing....not that it ever did heal.:rolleyes: Well good luck deciding.

I am thinking of taking mine out. I've had it since 99 and recently changed the ring about a month ago. Since that time I've had a lot of problems and it's gotten really infected and gross.

You could be allergic to something that's in the metal. That happened to me too, and I found out that I was allergic to nickel, and the new ring I had put in contained nickel. I got one that didn't contain nickel, and I've been fine ever since. But yeah, I've had mine about as long as you have and I'm kinda over it now. I might take mine out soon too.

with the downsides...the question i would ask is, why?

If you're going to go through with it, make sure the business is liscensed and the piercers have experience. Ask questions. For the cost of a piercing you should be given the ant-bacterial solution to take home with you.

I had my belly button pierced and even after 2yrs. it still leaked a small fluid now and then. Finally I took it out and have a scar.

If I had to do over again I would have gotten a tattoo.

That could be it. Most of my other rings have been really expensive, this I got from Spencers so that could be it. I really like it too, it's a butterfly :)

since we are on the subject of body mutilation, does anyone know anything about TATTOO REMOVAL? does it work, cost, etc.?

I got mine pierced this past december. I had wanted to get it done in high school, but couldn't because I was on poms and we couldn't wear them when we competed. The actual piercing part definitly hurt and then it felt and looked kinda weird for the next week or two, but now I forget its there. I haven't had any problems with infection which suprises me because my ears are very sensitive and get infected a ton. So, as far as my experience has gone, I've loved having it! :D

I used to have mine pierced but I developed a keloid around it so I had to take it out.
I do have a scar there, but it doesn't bother me. I have 4 tattoos so a little scar is nothing.
However, if you're concerned about things like that I would say don't get one.

I have mine done... I really didn't think it hurt; it just felt really weird when they were pulling the ring through.

I'm 22, and my parents still flipped. It seems to me like there are still lots of parents these days who have that whole "body piercing is for freaks" idea, even if they won't come right out and say it. As long as you take care of it, it shouldn't get infected much... although I know some people whose bodies have rejected the piercing, and they had to take it out. There's really no way you can tell if that's going to happen ahead of time, and nothing you can do to stop it. But that's only a few people out of many I know who got it pierced.

Ive got one. I actually got it in HS (I think that was sometime early 98) so about 6 or 7 years ago and Ive kept it since then. I love it. I like it more when I am all tan so it looks very cute. I change my jewerly on it all the time. I even have one with ADPi I wear sometimes too. Some people have had it infescted so take good care of it. My mom is a doctor so she made sure mine was taken good care of.

No regrets at all. I was one of the first in my hs class to get one and I have loved it. If I didnt want it anymore Ill just let it grow out.

As far as parents being mad, my mom took me to get it pierced cause I wasnt 18 yet. She actually thought about getting one too. She has always been a younger mom Id say so her and my dad have always been super cool about all of that stuff. She told me shed take me to get a tattoo if I wanted one. Im still not sure I do but I hate needles.

Some parents dont like to see their kids pierced or tattooed. I guess it depends on how your parents are. My hubbys mom told him if he got either shed quit paying for school, now that we've graduated I told him if he wants one, get one. I wont be against it. His mom hates me for saying that lol...

I've had mine since 99- my mom told me only sluts got it done. I told her I guess I am a slut cause I think they are cute. Mine got a lil infected, but honestly it wasn't too bad. Took about 3 months to heal completely. Now i just have a hole above my bellybutton if I take my ring out. It will never heal over. It looks looks the tip of a pencil hit me and left a mark. No big deal.

I like mine. No one sees it unless I am in a bathing suit (or bed).
Just another accessory. I didn't get a tatoo, but this is something i can remove and I dont have to worry about it looking trashy for work or whatever.

They lay you down to do it, and I thought the clamp was the worst part! They clamp the area TIGHT and it hurts! But the needle going through, that took a second, I don't really remember it being too painful, I just wanted that god awful clamp off.

My parents got over it- as a matter of fact my dad told my mom to chill, if she was my age she would have gotten one. She still hates it but she doesn't say anything.

It's the only rebelious thing I ever did.

I have had one for about 6 years. I don't really notice it any more and really wear things that anyone would see it. I have just been to lazy to remove it. My college room mate had one also and hers never healed and was always infected. She thought for sure that she would have a huge scar but she didn't. I also have 3 tats so a little scar on my belly will not bother me when I get around to taking it out.

I got mine done last year and I love it. It did hurt when they pierced me but other than that I've had no problems. I keep it clean and I only like low rise pants so I never worry about my pants rubbing it. For anyone who thinks about getting it done just make sure you do your research beforehand. Healing can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years so be prepared for that. Parents aren't always going to agree with what their children do so you have to decide if it's really something that you want. I think mine looks cute and the mister likes it as well so that's all I care about.

scars
 

honestly, a scar wouldnt bother me.... i already have scars on my stomach from my appendix rupturing last summer... one smallish curved one along the bottom of my belly button, one 3"+ one on my right side, one about 1" on my left side, and a smallish circular one about the size of a pencil eraser lower down...

as for the rest, i'm not a huge fan of pain, but if its like getting your ears pierced where theres a pinch, and then its sore for a day or so and then its ok, i wouldnt mind

the main obstacle is convincing the parents bc i really would not want to sneak around...

::Sigh::

how much does it cost at a reputable place?

I've got mines done February of last year and I love it. My parent do not know about it at all. I'm very sneaky. Hee Hee Hee. I'm thinking about getting two rings. One that is a plain curved barbell with white diamonds, and the other one dangled. I think the dangle ones are sexy.

Re: scars
 

Wine and Silver Blue,

Mine stayed sore for over two months. I had it done in June 1998. I can still remember having to roll my jeans' waist down b/c it hurt so much when classes started in August! It was worse than just ear piercing... IMO. It oozed bits of fluid about every couple of weeks. That sucked.

got mine at 16 (my dad signed for it) but when I was 17 it got ripped out by my seat belt. So i let it heal, and on my 18 B-Day I got it redone. I never had a problem (besides the ripping out part) I love it, and I can put cute stones in it.

mm mmm i have 1 mm mmm my liktte asian boyfriend loves it mm mmmm

If you want a piercing (anywhere) and your parents object, there's not a whole lot they can do if you are an adult. Go and do!

I wanted to get my ears pierced when I was 12. As I was a child, I needed a parent's permission. My father was dead set against it because it was "barbaric" (and we're talking ears here :rolleyes: ) - but I gave such a convincing argument to my mother that not only did she sign for me, she signed up to get her own ears pierced! :) Their only stipulation was that I go to a plastic surgeon (which is expensive but arguably safer). It was my personal choice not to get any additional piercings.

You must be very careful. Go to someone who knows what they're doing. Keep in mind that you may have to keep to gold rather than surgical steel. And remember what may happen if you become pregnant.

as for price, i think it was $60 or so back in 99... that was awhile ago, though.

I was 20 when I got mine pierced, and even though I thought my parents probably would've flipped if I had mentioned it to them, I went ahead and did it anyway. It cost me about $40. One day, several months after I had it done, I asked my mom what she would think if I got my belly button pierced. She just sort of waffled and said she didn't think I would ever do that because I hate needles, so I couldn't resist--I just lifted my shirt and showed her. :p She didn't freak out, though...she just laughed and said I was nuts, and then she added that if that had been "the thing" back when she was my age she probably would've done it too.

Wow, this thread makes me feel older since I got mine done back in '95-before all the high schoolers were doing it and people thought that it was really crazy. I took it out in 99, just because I got tired of it and though the scar is not obvious, it's there. I have some advice for you...

-if you do decide to get it done, make sure you go somewhere really reputable because no matter where you go you run the risk of getting an infection.

-Do keep in mind the fact that if one day you might want to get pregnant the scar may end up looking all nasty.

-This is going to sound totally mean and it is to be honest, but it's reality...ask any guy. Please, please, please have a relatively flat stomach and not be over the age of 30 when you get it done. I have seen far too many women/girls (both friends and not) who have not so great tummies getting it done and then it looks like crap because they just don't have the body type. I saw a woman who was easily pushing 40 at a breakfast restaurant the other day with one and she had a gut with one and I just thought, "Ewww." I have students who have it done, and it just looks awful and I wish their parents would have told them "Hell no!"

Anyhow enough of my rambling. I know the above sounds b*tchy, but honesty can hurt some times.

This is a little off topic, but I'm surprised to read that so many of you were left with scars after you took out your piercing. I had my nose pierced for a little while, and after I took it out, it healed up fine and there's not a visible scar. Is it just that my scar faded more or is it that the belly button rings tend to get moved around more since they are in contact with pants and so they scar worse? Just curious.

Yes, I have to say that is mean and bitchy. Which means I have to respectfully disagree. If you want an navel ring, go right a head an get one. When I got mine done, I didn't have the greatest stomach in the world. But I didn't get one so I could show it off to the whole world and I certainly didn't get it because I wanted to attract some guy. I got it for me and no one else. Also, a woman I used to work with got one for her 40th birthday. She's had 2 kids and it looks great. However, she doesn't walk around showing it off to everyone who walks by. She got it because she wanted it. The only one who ever sees it is her husband. If you want to get it done, get it done. It doesn't matter what other people think.
Don't worry about a little scar if you you get pregnent. So what? Telling someone not to get their navel pierced because of a little scar is like telling someone not to get pregnant because you might have a c-section and you don't want a scar do you?
Anyway, my biggest piece of advice to anyone who want to get pierced/tattooed. Do it because you want it, not because you think it looks good on someone else. If you think it's not for you, then don't do it.

I don't have a scar on my nose either...
But the jewelry used for navel piercings is a bigger gauge, so the hole is bigger. Also, when they pierce it, they use a hollow needle, which takes some of the skin away, instead of just poking a hole through it like they do for the nose piercing.

stomach
 

While I have a flat stomach.. I feel that it's really up to someone whether they should get one. Whether they wear "belly shirts" or bikinis is a different story, but you should really do what makes you happy

I got mine done back in 2000 and sometimes I forget I have it. I figure skate, so it was always covered up and it got infected, but it eventually healed and I haven't had problems with it since. Mine cost about 35.00, but I have seen them up to 100.00. Check around on prices and make sure the place is up to health department codes. They should have prepackaged needles that they don't reuse. I didn't feel it when he pierced me, I felt the ring going it. It didn't hurt and trust me, I'm VERY VERY needlephobic!! If you have a Spencers get their Morbid Threads rings. They are stainless steel and they are cleaned before packaged, but you still want to clean them before you put them in. Hot Topic's body jewelry is ALL stainless steel.

If you decide to get one and it gets infected, don't take the ring out to let it heal up, b/c then the infection gets trapped inside *if you have questions ask a doctor*. I was told not to go hot tubbing, but baths and the ocean were okay. If you get one and to clean it, use antibacterial cleaner which you can buy at piercing parlors or Hot Topic. If you use rubbing alcohol it can break the acrylic balls and crack them.

I was told not to clean mine with rubbing alcohol. I was told to use Bactine.

I got my bellybutton done on my 18th birthday (2001) and I had a LOT of problems with mine. First of all, the guy who did it was new at it, sort of, so he put a bigger guage than was EVER needed (10 guage:eek: ) so, mine was infected and raw for 6-8 months. I finally got it changed down to a small guage and it healed in less than a month. SO, regardless, I'm going to have a funny looking scar.

Now that it is a smaller guage, I love it. I'm not a tiny girl , by any means (I'm not a huge girl either, don't get me wrong).. but its not for anyone else.. I did it for me, and me alone.

My mom flipped out when I told her I wanted it, but I did it anyways (same with my tongue and my nose), and she didn't flip out.. not even a little.

I saw go for it, if you want it. You are an adult.