Before you even purchase the rings, check that they are made from a reliable material that won’t irritate your skin. Just because the piercing site appears healed and healthy, doesn’t mean you are immune to germs and infection. The best materials for belly button rings are 316L surgical steel (a form of stainless steel), titanium, Bioplast or Bioflex, 24K plated gold and 14K real gold. Jewelry made from these products are strong and sturdy and won’t break.

Before inserting the belly button ring, sterilize each product with warm soapy water to remove any dirt and oil.  When you prepare to change the belly ring, clean your hands with soap and water as you would any other time you touch the ring.

Twist and remove the top ball from the new belly ring and put it off to the side. Hold the bottom ball of the belly button ring you are wearing between two fingers. Gently twist the top ball of the navel ring you are wearing to remove it from the barbell. Slowly pull the belly button ring down and out of your navel piercing.

Immediate grab the replacement belly ring and position the ball-less part of the barbell near the inside of your belly button (where the piercing hole is). Slowly and gently apply pressure and continue until the barbell pokes through the top hole of your piercing.

Grab the top ball of your new ring and gently screw it on while holding the barbell still with your thumb and forefinger. After that is complete, immediately wash your hands, as well as the old belly button ring

But what’s a person to do if her problem is not inadequate design but rather inadequate sizes? Never fear!  Options are beginning to surface for those with not-your-average piercings who need not-your-average body jewelry.  For example, several manufacturers offer a “pregnancy belly button ring” that is made of a flexible material that can be cut to size, and then self-threads.  This type of belly button ring can be used other places as well.  Say, a super wide industrial or a super short belly piercing.

The same can be said for a style of post earring designed initially for labret and monroe piercings.  This ring has a similar advantage in that it can be cut to any size.  It’d be idea for a conch piercing or someone who wants a very short lip ring.

It’s available here and it’s only $8.99!  Plus this site has the option for free shipping if you spend a certain amount of money.  And you can also sign up for their e-mail newsletter to get coupons.

I recommend this belly button ring to anyone.  To look professional at work and school, I usually don’t like to wear any crazy dangling belly button rings.  This one is great because it’s not plain or boring but it still looks classy.  Just wanted to share!

To pierce your tongue, the piercer will generally use a titanium or stainless steel tongue ring.  Unfortunately, these are not clear or tongue colored, which makes them more difficult to hide.  After it heals, however, you can change your tongue ring to one that is less noticeable.  Tongue rings come in varying lengths too.  Wearers report that a shorter barbell is easier to hide, but also keep in mind that dentists say that this kind will cause more enamel damage because it is to easy to hold between your teeth.

One other option to hide tongue rings is to get the piercing as far back as possible in the tongue.  This is not always the best technique because the placement of the ring depends largely on the location of veins in your tongue.  Your professional piercer can help you determine where the tongue ring can go.

The swelling will begin to subside within a few days and your tongue should return to normal in about a week.

T.C. Kuster

Wherever the tradition began, navel rings are very popular today, especially among young women.  The ability to easily hide or conceal the belly button ring, especially during the healing process, has really led to the piercing’s popularity.

The name “navel piercing” is not exactly accurate, however.  Actually, the rim above the navel is where the piercing is located.  Of course, a person can pierce the skin on the bottom and sides of the navel as well.

A belly button or navel is usually pierced with a barbell because they allow for the easiest healing process.  Navel piercings have their own special kind of barbells, though.  Because of their slightly curved design, they are often called “bananabells” or “bananabars.”

Body jewelry is measured by “gauges.” Navel piercings are usually done with a 14 Gauge barbell which is the same as 1/16’.  The Association of Professional Piercers (APP) states that no greater than 14 GA body jewelry may be used in piercings below the neck.  This is to prevent the risk of a negative reaction or skin tearing.

A standard belly button ring is 3/8” long, but people sometimes use a longer barbell at the time of piercing to allow room for the area to swell slightly. The balls on a standard navel ring are usually two different sizes; the top ball is 5 mm in diameter while the bottom ball is 8 mm in diameter.

There are, of course, risks involved in having one’s belly button pierced.  The most common risks include pain at the piercing site, swelling, scarring and infection.  To minimize your risk, make certain that the piercer uses sterilized tools in a sterilized environment.

Healing can take anywhere from four months to one year.  There are many things that affect the healing process of a navel ring:  sweat, shirt fabric, overall health, care and quality of jewelry.  Only 316L and 316LVM surgical steel are approved as “implant grade” materials by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM).

Belly button rings are becoming more and more popular and it’s important to people take great care of these piercings.  They are considered beautiful and a great way to add to one’s personal style. If you’re interested in getting this type of piercing, make sure you know all the risks and benefits before doing so.