Navel piercing
Encyclopedia
A navel
piercing (also referred to as a belly button piercing) is a type of body piercing
. It may heal very quickly and with no problems, like an ear piercing, or may heal more like a surface piercing
with the associated extended healing time. Healing usually takes less than six months, and as long as it is cleaned, it will heal nicely. Although, if it becomes infected, serious complications may result, including permanent scarring or even death. Unlike most body piercings, this is one of the few that do not normally reject, although the rejection rate is higher than non-surface piercings, such as ear piercings.
The actual navel is not pierced when a navel piercing is performed. The most common form of navel piercing is through the upper rim of the navel. A true navel
piercing requires the person being pierced to have an "outie" navel to some degree, and is getting more popular these days. This kind of piercing is popular with, but not exclusive to females.
This is one of the most common and popular body piercings today. Popular culture
has played a large role in the promotion of this piercing. The navel piercing first hit the mainstream when model Christy Turlington
showed her navel piercing at a fashion show in London
in 1993." The popularization of the piercing, however, is accredited to the 1993 Aerosmith
music video
for their song "Cryin'," wherein Alicia Silverstone
has her navel pierced by body piercer Paul King
. The easy concealment of a navel piercing with clothing, even during the healing process, has contributed to the widespread adoption of this piercing. These days belly button rings are becoming really popular with the 12-15 age group, but some get it as young as 9.
There has been a special standard established for navel barbells (also called "bananabells" or "bananabars", reference to their curved shape). The standard bananabell is 1.6 mm (1/16") thick and 9.5 mm (3/8") or 11.1 mm (7/16") long and is most commonly referred to as a 14-gauge post. The silver caps on either side of the simple barbell post usually measure 5mm in diameter for the upper and 8mm in diameter for the lower.
Although navel bananabells are different from full rings - like captive bead rings (or CBR), which can also be worn in navel piercings - internet body jewelry retailers and wholesalers tend to refer to these barbells as belly button "rings".
A new version of navel jewelry is on the market for those without pierced navels, which is based on the idea of clip-on earrings.
The above are just a few.There are many other such
risks in body piercing. Sometimes these piercings could result in serious injuries during certain accidents. In October 2007, Jessica Collins from Radyr
, Cardiff
, was almost killed when her belly button stud tore through her stomach “like a bullet” during a car accident. The seatbelt she was wearing forced the metal stud through her body almost to her spine, causing serious internal injuries.
Navel
The navel is a scar on the abdomen caused when the umbilical cord is removed from a newborn baby...
piercing (also referred to as a belly button piercing) is a type of body piercing
Body piercing
Body piercing, a form of body modification, is the practice of puncturing or cutting a part of the human body, creating an opening in which jewelry may be worn. The word piercing can refer to the act or practice of body piercing, or to an opening in the body created by this act or practice...
. It may heal very quickly and with no problems, like an ear piercing, or may heal more like a surface piercing
Surface piercing
Surface piercings are any body piercings that take place on the surface sewn into the body through areas which are not particularly concave or convex, where the piercing canal transverses a surface flap of skin, rather than running completely through a piece of body tissue from one side to another...
with the associated extended healing time. Healing usually takes less than six months, and as long as it is cleaned, it will heal nicely. Although, if it becomes infected, serious complications may result, including permanent scarring or even death. Unlike most body piercings, this is one of the few that do not normally reject, although the rejection rate is higher than non-surface piercings, such as ear piercings.
The actual navel is not pierced when a navel piercing is performed. The most common form of navel piercing is through the upper rim of the navel. A true navel
Navel
The navel is a scar on the abdomen caused when the umbilical cord is removed from a newborn baby...
piercing requires the person being pierced to have an "outie" navel to some degree, and is getting more popular these days. This kind of piercing is popular with, but not exclusive to females.
History and culture
Popular culture
Popular culture is the totality of ideas, perspectives, attitudes, memes, images and other phenomena that are deemed preferred per an informal consensus within the mainstream of a given culture, especially Western culture of the early to mid 20th century and the emerging global mainstream of the...
has played a large role in the promotion of this piercing. The navel piercing first hit the mainstream when model Christy Turlington
Christy Turlington
Christy Turlington Burns is an American model best known for representing Calvin Klein from 1987 to 2007. She has worked on dozens of modeling contracts with companies including Maybelline Cosmetics and Versace. Turlington starred in her fashion documentary Catwalk and Isaac Mizrahi's Unzipped...
showed her navel piercing at a fashion show in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1993." The popularization of the piercing, however, is accredited to the 1993 Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for their song "Cryin'," wherein Alicia Silverstone
Alicia Silverstone
Alicia Silverstone is an American actress, author, and former fashion model. She first came to widespread attention in music videos for Aerosmith, and is perhaps best known for her roles in Hollywood films such as Clueless and her portrayal of Batgirl in Batman & Robin .-Early life:Silverstone...
has her navel pierced by body piercer Paul King
Paul King
Paul King is the name of:*Paul King , British singer and guitarist with pop group Mungo Jerry*Paul King , British rugby league footballer*Paul King , singer and VJ...
. The easy concealment of a navel piercing with clothing, even during the healing process, has contributed to the widespread adoption of this piercing. These days belly button rings are becoming really popular with the 12-15 age group, but some get it as young as 9.
Jewelry
Most kinds of ring or bar jewelry can be worn in a navel piercing. Navels are most often pierced with a curved barbell, which is recommended to be worn until the piercing has fully healed. A wide variety of decorative jewelry is available for navels - simple curved barbells, barbells with dangling pendants, and captive bead rings are common examples.There has been a special standard established for navel barbells (also called "bananabells" or "bananabars", reference to their curved shape). The standard bananabell is 1.6 mm (1/16") thick and 9.5 mm (3/8") or 11.1 mm (7/16") long and is most commonly referred to as a 14-gauge post. The silver caps on either side of the simple barbell post usually measure 5mm in diameter for the upper and 8mm in diameter for the lower.
Although navel bananabells are different from full rings - like captive bead rings (or CBR), which can also be worn in navel piercings - internet body jewelry retailers and wholesalers tend to refer to these barbells as belly button "rings".
A new version of navel jewelry is on the market for those without pierced navels, which is based on the idea of clip-on earrings.
Risks
Although navel piercings are symbols of fashion and may be seen to make the navel and midriff look attractive,there are some risks involved such as:- InfectionInfectionAn infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...
if brand new it may take up to 6-9 months before you may take it out due to healing process , sweat and bacteria may cause infection. Bacterial infections can result in cysts.
- They present a risk of scarring.Skin tissue rarely heals to match the surrounding tissueTissue (biology)Tissue is a cellular organizational level intermediate between cells and a complete organism. A tissue is an ensemble of cells, not necessarily identical, but from the same origin, that together carry out a specific function. These are called tissues because of their identical functioning...
. It heals in varying thickness, in different ways for different types of people, and forms different types of scarring for different kinds of 'damage'. It is likely that any piercing worn for a significant time (months to years) will leave a scarScarScars are areas of fibrous tissue that replace normal skin after injury. A scar results from the biological process of wound repair in the skin and other tissues of the body. Thus, scarring is a natural part of the healing process. With the exception of very minor lesions, every wound results in...
if removed.
The above are just a few.There are many other such
risks in body piercing. Sometimes these piercings could result in serious injuries during certain accidents. In October 2007, Jessica Collins from Radyr
Radyr
Radyr is an outer suburb of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The suburb is situated in the west of the city, although it was originally a separate village, and is located around 5 miles north west of Cardiff city centre. According to 2009 estimates, the suburb has a population of 6,000...
, Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, was almost killed when her belly button stud tore through her stomach “like a bullet” during a car accident. The seatbelt she was wearing forced the metal stud through her body almost to her spine, causing serious internal injuries.