Navel Piercing

The most popular body piercing

The navel piercing has been the most popular body piercing worldwide for decades and has lost none of its fascination. Whether at the beach, during sports or under a crop top: A well-placed navel piercing is a timeless classic that gives the belly an attractive accent.

The standard placement is at the upper rim of the navel (top navel), where the skin fold forms a natural pocket. The jewellery sits half in the navel, half on the skin above, thereby moving naturally with the body. This position offers the best hold and the highest success rate for healing.

Variants

Top Navel (standard): At the upper navel rim. The classic and most commonly chosen variant. Offers the best conditions for uncomplicated healing.
Bottom Navel: At the lower navel rim. Less common, but a beautiful complement to the top navel or as a standalone piercing.
Side Navel: At the side of the navel rim. Can be pierced on the left, right or both sides. Requires suitable anatomy with sufficient skin fold at the side.
Inverse Navel: Below the navel pointing outward. An unusual variant that is particularly interesting in combination with a top navel.

Consider anatomy

Not every navel is suitable for a piercing. A sufficiently pronounced skin fold at the navel rim is a prerequisite. We check this during the consultation and recommend the optimal variant for your individual anatomy. For very flat navels, a floating navel may be an alternative.

Piercing procedure

After the consultation and anatomy check, we mark the optimal position. You can check in the mirror whether you like the placement, both while standing and sitting. The belly shape changes depending on body position, and we ensure that the piercing looks good in both positions.

The piercing is performed quickly with a sterile piercing needle. As initial jewellery, we insert a curved barbell made from titanium (ASTM F136). This is slightly longer than the final jewellery to accommodate the initial swelling. The procedure itself takes only a few seconds and is described by most clients as a brief sting that quickly subsides.

Healing & care

The navel piercing has one of the longest healing times of all common piercings at 6 to 12 months. The reason: The navel area is constantly in motion (when bending, sitting, exercising) and blood circulation is lower than in the facial area. Patience and consistent care are the key to success here.

• Cleaning: Gently dab the area twice daily with sterile saline solution (NaCl 0.9%). Let lukewarm water run over the piercing in the shower.
• Clothing: Tight waistbands and belts can irritate the piercing. Choose loose trousers in the first weeks or wear the waistband below the navel. High-waisted jeans are unsuitable during the healing phase.
• Sports: Limit contact sports or activities with heavy abdominal engagement (sit-ups, yoga twists) in the first 4 to 6 weeks. Cover the piercing with a breathable plaster if needed.
• Swimming: No swimming pool, lake or sea during the healing phase. Chlorine and salt water as well as bacteria can severely disrupt healing.
• Sleeping: Avoid sleeping on your stomach. Sleeping on your side or back is ideal during healing.

Patience is key

A navel piercing can still react sensitively even after months. Just because it looks healed on the outside does not mean the piercing channel is already stable on the inside. Only change the jewellery after complete healing and come to us for a check-up if in doubt.

Jewellery options

After complete healing, a huge selection of navel jewellery is available to you. The curved barbell remains the standard form, but is available in countless variants: With crystals, opals, dangling elements, chains, charm pendants and much more. Clicker rings are also popular as an alternative. We carry a large selection in our studio and are happy to help you choose.