Does a Belly Button Piercing Hurt a Lot? Good news: most people say that belly button piercings don't hurt that much. They're comparable to ear lobe piercings in terms of pain. If you've gotten your ear or nose cartilage pierced before, that type of piercing usually hurts more than a belly button piercing.
According to Niki, most people rate navel piercings as a four or five out of 10 on the pain scale. Pain is, of course, subjective and it really does depend on how well trained your piercer is. So it's always worth doing your research prior to your appointment to make sure you're in experienced hands.
Let's start with the basics: Even when a belly button piercing goes well, you can expect some tenderness, redness and even crusting at the spot for 12 to 18 months.
A piercing on your belly button is more likely to get infected than other body parts because of its shape. It's easy for bacteria to hole up inside it. If the piercing needle wasn't sterile, there's a chance you could get serious infections like hepatitis or tetanus.
Bellybutton (Navel)
For ages 13 and up. Bellybutton or Navel piercings are the first in what we like to call a big kid piercing. These piercings take even more care than a cartilage piercing with longer heal times but are a must have for the trendy teen.
If you're under 18, you must have a parent or guardian present to sign off on your piercing.
Laws relating to piercing in Australia
This includes piercing of the genitalia, anal region, perineum or nipples. In Victoria, it is also illegal for a body piercer to perform body piercing on a person under 16 years of age, without obtaining written consent from: the parent or guardian of the person to be pierced.
Definitely avoid doing any sit-ups until after your piercing has healed, as the movement will irritate the piercing and prolong the healing process. Additionally, if you sleep on your stomach, try to sleep in the fetal position on your side while the piercing heals.
If you're really concerned about pain, you can ask your piercer to apply a topical anesthetic beforehand. You'll need to wait 20 to 30 minutes after application to experience the full benefits of a topical anesthetic, but once you're numb, you'll experience more pressure than pain during the navel piercing process.
You should avoid swimming for at least 24 hours after having a piercing, and ideally until it has healed properly. While it's still healing, it's important to keep the piercing dry as there's a risk of infection.
Belly Piercing:
Belly button piercings can take up to a year to heal completely. It's best to wait at least two weeks before swimming and avoid submerging the piercing in water for an extended period.
Nostril Piercings
These piercings are slightly more painful than earlobe, lip, and navel piercings.
It is not recommended that you work out immediately after you get your belly button pierced. You should wait for at least a few days, and perhaps much longer before you resume any of your usual workout routines.
In general, tattoos tend to hurt more than piercings because the needles used for tattoos are larger and go deeper into the skin than the needles used for piercings. However, everyone experiences pain differently, so there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to how much pain you'll feel from a tattoo or piercing.
Rook piercings are located in the cartilage at the uppermost part of the inner ear. The location does go through a thick bit of cartilage so it can be more painful and harder to heal than many other spots on the ear. The Rook is more in line with the Snug when it comes to pain and healing.
The most attractive spot for a piercing is the belly button. The least attractive is a tie between the nose and the nether regions.
Along with the nostrils and belly button, the earlobes are the safest and most common body part to be pierced. The flesh of the earlobe heals well when the area is cleaned regularly and the piercing is done at the proper angle.
Helix Piercing
Because the cartilage is thinner on the upper ear, helix piercings tend to be the least painful cartilage piercing. They measure around a 4-5/10 on the pain scale and take around 3-6 months to fully heal.
Sleep on your back or side for the first few weeks after your piercing. If you're usually a stomach sleeper, do your best to avoid laying on your stomach in your sleep. Sleeping on your stomach could irritate and harm your piercing site, causing unnecessary pressure that could hinder the healing process.
When you lose or gain weight, the skin around where the piercing is will move, and movement is a contributing factor to piercing rejection. Furthermore, your piercing's placement will depend on how your stomach sits when you move around, and if you lose or gain a lot of weight, this will change.
The cost of your belly button piercing will vary depending on the studio you go to, your geographic location, your piercer's experience, and how complicated your piercing is. On average, however, you can expect a belly button piercing to run between $30 and $75.
Other piercings: if you're under 18, you must get your parent's permission before you get a piercing anywhere other than your ears.
Tattoos: legal issues
In Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Queensland, it's a criminal offence for a tattooist to do tattoos for someone under 18 years. In the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales, teenagers under 18 years need to get their parents' permission for tattoos.