Did I mention that the navel piercing (redux) didn’t work out? Well, it didn’t. See, the first time I had it done in 2000, it never healed properly and eventually got infected. I took it out and it left a little funny scar. A few months ago I had it pierced again, in the hopes that it would cover up the former damage. This one didn’t get infected, and in fact, I thought it was healing quite well. A few weeks ago I was drying off from a shower and noticed something odd: the little bit of flesh that the ring goes through was getting thinner. I could actually see the ring through it. It’s like my body was rejecting the metal and just pushing it right out. Eventually it got so thin I just pulled out the ring. I don’t get it. I suppose I might have rolled on my stomach in my sleep and somehow pulled on it, thus causing it to stretch out, but nobody ever warned me about that. I guess my body just doesn’t want to be pierced.
brigita
May 25, 2002 — 3:40 am
yeesh—totally bizarre! i assume your jewelery was of the usual [and typically non-reactive] titanium, right? funny you mention your navel piercing, i’m still thinking about switching out my ring for something a little more “sophisticated.” of course i’d have to figure out how to get this one out, first.
Kris
May 25, 2002 — 10:24 am
Yeah, it was “implant-grade titanium”, which isn’t supposed to give any problems at all. And I didn’t have any. It didn’t hurt, it didn’t really ooze, it was fine. It just decided to pop out.
Oooh, and very flashy ring there!
Tricia
May 25, 2002 — 11:44 am
I can’t believe they sell navel rings at Nordstoms. What is the world coming to?
(I just had to correct my spelling, although with Brigita’s lifestyle, maybe she should buy a “naval” ring..)
Just make the bad puns stop!
P.T.
May 25, 2002 — 2:40 pm
I recently had my ear cartilage pierced and did a lot of reading before going for it (wasn’t going to take any risks). What you described is ‘piercing migration’ and it is pretty much impossible to prevent from happening. Apparently if you have a shallow navel you can be prone to migration. Also – a stressful lifestyle, diet and illness can cause it.
P.T.
May 25, 2002 — 2:42 pm
Not that I’m implying that you lead a stressful lifestyle, have poor eating habits or illness. That’s just some info I’ve read about migration. 🙂
Kris
May 25, 2002 — 4:07 pm
Huh! Wow, P.T., thanks for the info. I’d never heard of “piercing migration” before. I had my ear cartilage done a few years ago, and that one healed just fine. I guess maybe I just have a shallow navel or something. 🙂
jen
May 27, 2002 — 7:55 pm
it does happen but not usaually to the belly, only very flat areas eyebrows will do it and places like wrists and that will only last a month or so before ‘growing out’
Kris
May 28, 2002 — 12:43 am
Wrists? How the heck do you get your wrists pierced?? 🙂
P.S. Thanks for commenting, Jen! I’ll be checking out your blog in the future.
Kay
November 29, 2002 — 7:02 am
HI all! i would really like my naval pierced! I wondered if any of u could give me some good advice? e.g What type of jewllery is best? (bar or ring or barbell!) Thanks 4 ur help!
Kris
November 29, 2002 — 9:24 am
Hi Kay. You might be better off asking on a piercing site. We don’t suually go back and discuss posts from ten months ago… 🙂
mel
August 17, 2003 — 12:22 am
i’ve jus pierced my navel as well..ugh..now wondering on how to clean it since my piercer asked me to use Dettol and im reading at certain forums tht using Dettol is a boo boo. And also are we supposed to move the piercings a lil so tht the flesh isnt stuck there? 🙁
Kris
August 17, 2003 — 12:27 am
Mel, my piercing was well over a year ago and – as indicated above – it didn’t go well. But maybe there have been piercing innovations since then. I dunno. At any rate, my guy said NOT to move your jewelry. You’ll just end up twisting the gunk and bacteria into the wound. Leave it alone!
mel
August 17, 2003 — 4:18 am
ahh really? hehe thanks..
mm..my piercer didnt say anythin except ask me to use same baby oil b4 bathin and dettol.which i found out frm the net tht its not very good.ugh..
Anonymous
December 22, 2004 — 3:51 pm
I have had my belly button pierced for about 5 years now, it is just starting to grow out now, what im worrying about is will I be able to pierce it again and how long do you think it will take to heal? I have never had any complications just that it is growing out now.
Anonymous
January 21, 2005 — 10:40 am
I had my navel pierced over a year ago. last summer I noticed it was getting smaller and smaller and one day it just fell out. I got it pierced again, same thing started happening, so I took it out this time. Some have told me it was the material the rings were made of. The said try titanium or gold. I’m gona try it one more time.
Carmen
March 25, 2005 — 2:02 am
I had mine pierced only about 3 months ago. It’s healed properly, but mine is growing out too. I couldn’t think of anything worse. It’s inevitable that it grows out, some just happen sooner than others. Worth it? No. Theyre goodlooking but so is natural skin.
Jessica Bartlette
May 1, 2005 — 3:39 am
Hi I’m Jessica, I really want to get my belly button pierced and im almost 15. My mom said I could, and I’ve worked hard for my parents to say yes. My 2 friends have theirs, they both say it didn’t hurt like at all…but thats them and I’m just furious of my belly button rejecting the metal!!! is there anyway possible to prevent this from happpening besides, not getting it done at all!!??
Kirstie O'connor
May 17, 2005 — 2:46 am
My Belly Piercing Rejected after about 7 Months. I taken it out, but now i really really want it re-pierced again however im scared in case it will do the same thing and leave a bigger scar. what should i do?
WIleen
May 28, 2005 — 6:01 am
urgh…!! mine too! when i got my first piercing… i experience migration, as the skin thins even more… it got completely rejected out of my body and the skin where it’s pierced… it dried out…
and i’m now on my second piercing… and argh!! it’s thinning again! i hope it doesn’t end up in rejection… AGAIN!
Court
May 29, 2005 — 4:58 pm
how do you really know that your ring is going to migrate? I am getting really scared reading all of this stuff because i just got mine done about 8 days ago…it doesn’t hurt anymore….ahh will it make your belly look ugly once it comes out? email me, let me know please!
kayli
June 19, 2005 — 4:53 pm
hey… i want to get my bellybutton pierced SO BAD! but yet, i’m a little scared about the procedure of getting it done. but i’m also scared of it “rejecting”?? OoOoh, also is it better to wear a bar-bell or a ring when first pierced?? PLEASE respond!!! (my e-mail is kinda messin up)
Meg
July 11, 2005 — 11:52 am
Yeah..I’m sort of worried about problems with my peircing which my friend and I are planning to get the first of Aug. I do wonder if there is anything that can stop migration and rejection…and if these people do have migration, are they alergic to different types of metals or anything? Is there any reason at all? I’d like to know, if anyone could tell me!
Anonymous
September 14, 2005 — 3:01 pm
Mine is migrating, too and I don’t know what to do to stop it.
James
September 17, 2005 — 5:21 am
Migration is just where your body is rejecting the pierecing because your body reconises it as a foreign object and not actually meant to be there. Some bodies auotmatically reject them. Others just literally grow out if you put on too much weight, grow taller or just even grow. If you were to get your belly button pierced before u finished growing, it is likely for it to literally grow out, its the same for nipples and any other growing body part apart from ears! Its not guaranteed to happen but its the chance you take! I got six piercings now and their fine… well apart from my belly button which ive had done for 6 months and it looks as if its getting thinner but it actually isnt! If your willing to take the risk then go for it! To those that adivse piercing it again i wudnt, the scar is still going to be there and for those who think their belly button is growing out, take it out, let it heal up and get it pierced again if there is not a scar!
CoCa-CoLa
October 19, 2005 — 9:30 pm
Sh*t! LoL..Im 15 in a few days..and im getting a belly ring for my bithday…my belly button is really tiny..and its sorta half in n half out…from a metre away it looks like an innie..but its not that deep..im really worried about migrating piercings…because the skin on the top of my belly button is really quite thin…so im guessing my piercing isnt going to last long..if you get it re-pierced if it grows out..will u have ugly scars? If anyone can help..please let me know..im bloody sh*t scared and i dont want my piercing to fall out afer a few months =( *sigh* thanks guys x0x
Clarissa
November 16, 2005 — 10:40 am
my the skin on my navel is thinning out, for the 2nd time..i dont have a dangler on, but it’s dangling now…i have real gold in, cuz i know im allergic to anything else…should i repierce it again? i really want this 2 work! y is it thinning out on me? y is my body rejecting it? my friend’s is just fine!! is my skin not strechy enough for it? what should i do? could sex play a role in this?
Kris
November 16, 2005 — 1:52 pm
Oh dear god. This is not a teenage piercing forum. I’m closing the thread.