Expert: Brian Skellie - 3/26/2007

Question
I had a tummy tuck done and I pierced my belly button a few years later. It did not heal and started to push its way forward. It almost ripped through the skin. Of course I took it out before that happened. I am interested in getting it done again if it will work this time. Is there a specific way that it should be pierced in order for it to heal correctly?

Answer
http://www.piercing.org/faq/rejection.html explains this in detail:

In regards to the problem of rejection and migration, we have researched and developed our techniques and continue to improve upon them to rule out negative side effects clients have experienced. An ethical movement forward in what we do benefits everyone who wears jewelry in his or her skin. We do a lot less high risk piercing, practically none at all, because we only want the best for our clients.

A mixture of simplifications, precautions, and better judgment based on the proven clinical and laboratory science make the resulting piercings much more comfortable, infection free, and faster to heal.

The problems most people have had seemed typical of the basic things we are trying to avoid these days by not using rings or loose jewelry at all in new piercings.

We found that the friction, contamination, and chemical irritation greatly impede the comfort and successful healing of your piercing.

The public perception that a ring or loose bar works in a navel piercing remains based on the great number of people with incredibly tolerant immune systems and above average circulation who healed piercings successfully, or who are willing to put up with prolonged healing and thicker scars. Based on observing clients in all states of recovery, we narrow down the possible negative effects and their root causes to eliminate problems that people experience during healing and in daily wear. From anatomically proportionate jewelry size to tested and proven materials, from advanced measures to maintain asepsis to state of the art sterilization technology, science forms the foundation of all we do. We constantly work towards a simpler, safer and gentler piercing experience.

We base our suggestions to remove and to reinstall jewelry on our observations and experiences, and the proportion and texture of the tissue. Your tissue may change dramatically someday, so we could never rule out the future possibility to try again. Just drop in sometime later on and let us assess how you bounce back. In the meantime, gentle rolling tissue massage can help soften and smooth the scar tissue as physical therapy to improve the odds in your favor.

Our standards and jewelry quality can make this more likely to work next time. http://www.piercing.org/pexy/standards/standards.html
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