My 16-year-old wants a navel piercing

[Zee_RN]

I'm not sure. I know if I were her age (and had the figure I used to have!), I'd love one too.

I'm concerned with infection, of course.

I'd like to know if anyone has experience (personal or clinical) with navel piercings and your comments/suggestions, etc.

[RN and Mommy]

I was 15 when my navel was pierced. It was no big deal. I kept is clean and it healed well. I eventually grew out of it (the piercing phase, not physically) and it was not permanent. Better than a tattoo:)

[SmilingBluEyes]

Being in OB I see piercings that make me want to scream. IT's amazing what people endure for vanity????

Belly button rings are the least of it.

I agree w/Marla. My kids need not get piercings (except ears, my son has a pierced ear) til they cover any potential complications. I think that is fair.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

I'm one of those weird people that thinks that below-the-belt piercings are just gross and a completely stupid idea.

(let's be realistic here, i've heard that they, uh, enhance things, however, i'm quite happy with the way things function as it is, and i'd be afraid that needle would kill something i'm rather fond of.)

I didn't think the 'gross' part, until i started working in OR, and learned very quickly (even after the pt. was told a million times to take the **** thing(s) out) that some people aren't very hygienic even with the piercing(s).

[gr8rnpjt, RN]

Piercings close over time without anything in them, hair can grow back after it has been shaved into a mohawk. Hair can be colored back to normal, too. My issue is the popularity of tattoos these days. They are permanent. I had one at 16 (lied about my age) and had it sanded off at 19 (before the days of laser removal). Let me tell you, that pain convinced me never to get another one.

And yes, if I had a nice figure, I'd pierce at a minimum my navel. Maybe my nipples if my breasts were perky (never a day in my life... ).

Do you have a scar now? what do they use to "sand" a tattoo?

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

I got mine when I was 19 and engaged. My parents would have never let me have one as long as I was living in the house. Infact, my father threw a fit when he found out I got it done. My mom had to remind him that was going to be married in a month and to practice letting go now. When I got mine done it was still done the old school way with a needle and cork. The guy screwed up and when he pulled the cork out he pulled the needle out too and had to re-do it. I do not know if this is why it took a month to heal or not. Others have told me theirs have healed in less time. However, once it healed I never had any problems. But, for a month I had to un-zip my pants every time I sat down, and I said I would never do it again!! But I love my peircing! I have had it six years now.

[RedHeadRN2b]

I've noticed that some people are just more prone to piercing infections than others no matter what sanitary measures they take (no science to back this up, just observations of myself and friends). If she has had trouble with other kinds of piercings, like ears, and infections some extra consideration may be needed.

I can vouch for this one. I had my navel pierced about 3 years ago and no matter what I did it never seemed to heal - and I was FANATICAL about care and sanitary measures. It kept leaking a whitish fluid (not pus - white cells??) and stayed tender to the point of being annoying. Finally a year later I had it removed and 2 years later the hole has still not completely grown closed. Not worth it if you ask me, but I know many people who love theirs.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

My mother always told me you have to pick your battles.

If I were ten years younger, I'd get one myself. I think they're pretty cool.

Might still get one if I didn't think DH would freak out. I actually still get carded at bars and he turns 36 next month - maybe an ego boost for him? As in, I'm with the blonde kid with the pierced navel? LOL...:roll

If I had a kid, I'd rather them have a bellybutton piercing that I KNEW about and that I took them to get than have them have it done in someone's garage while they're smoking crack...a bit extreme but you get my idea.

I draw the line at nipples and tongues, though. TOO GROSS.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

OK, well so much for deliberation, lol. We went to ask the RN-piercer questions and now it's done. Not only her, but her identical sister too (I have triplets). They are both sporting titanium navel piercings. He was very thorough in explaining everything to them. He and I talked about wound care and I felt very comfortable.

They have the "barbell" type with acrylic balls; the "posts" are not colored; simply metal.

Their sister has no inclinations for piercings whatsoever. :)

And you now have about a zillion cool points from teens you've never met. What a cool mom. I think it was a good idea and I like the way you/they had it done.

Man, I want one now.

[not now, RN]

When (at the age of 20) I had my belly button pierced I thought my mother was going to kill me. She wanted to, my father more so. After a while I got bored with it. I guess I'm not much of a jewelry person since I've let the (single) holes in my ears close up three times.

What really killed my parents was the back tattoo. My first was music notes on my ankle at 22 that really didn't phase them. My back piece was my graduation gift to myself. I planned it so it would be done by nursing school graduation. Thankfully I am very good friends with a talented tattoo artist in town. I have flowers that start at my neck and fall/flow down to my right hip, almost like you were dropping them and the wind carried them. I had to visit my mother every day so she could cover my back in A&D. My father would walk by and make a rude comment. My mother actually warmed up to the idea by the time the color was done (Two sessions. Two hours to outline then two weeks later another three to color it all in) and now loves it. :chuckle

[LilRedRN1973]

I pierced my navel when I was 25 (I'm now 32) and never had a problem with it. It was done with surgical stainless steel, a capture ring, and it healed up quite nicely within a month. I had to sleep on my back for the first few weeks (I'm a stomach sleeper!) and be careful where my pants rubbed me.

Tell your daughters to go buy some natural sea salt. Dilute about a teaspoon of the sea salt into a coffee mug of warm water. Lean over, press the mug up against your belly, then slowly lay back on a couch for about 10 minutes. Takes away any pain, itching, or redness. I was also told to only clean it once a day in the shower with something like Dial because too much cleaning can dry it out, causing more problems.

I'm no stranger to piercing....it started with the belly button, then I did my tongue, my nose, my nipples, and finally worked up enough courage to get second holes in my ears (LMAO). Why I could handle all the others, but not the stupid ears, I'll never know. I've since taken the tongue out (they are horrible...I would never let my child get one as they do major damage to teeth), my nose came out a day before my interview as an Apprentice Nurse at the hospital during nursing school, and my nipples came out shortly after they went in...they just er, weren't "working" for me and I still can't fathom why I decided to do them in the first place.

All my piercings healed up nicely with no scar tissue, I never had any drainage or infection. You definitely have to keep them clean. Tell your daughters as tempting as it may be, DO NOT touch their piercings unless they are cleaning them. It could/will lead to infection and since there is less of a blood supply around that area, it will take much longer for the healing process.

Melanie = )