Finding a Piercer

• It's important to do some research before getting a navel piercing. You must ensure that the piercer you choose is trained in prevention of cross-contamination, proper piercing procedure and correct jewelry selection and insertion. Visit several piercing shops, speak to the piercers and ask to see their portfolios. Look at the photos of navel piercings they have performed. The jewelry should be straight up and down and not too snug. The piercer's shop should be immaculately clean and he or she should be certified by the Association of Professional Piercers.
  
  

Sterile Piercing Procedures

• A piercer trained in preventing cross-contamination will lay out the piercing tools on a disinfected stainless steel tray covered with a fresh dental bib. The tools will be in autoclave bags, which have paper backs and clear plastic fronts. An autoclave is a machine that uses high-pressure, high-temperature steam to kill all contaminants on reusable tools, such as piercing clamps. Piercing needles, which are single-use, should also be in autoclave bags, as should other disposable supplies like cotton swabs, toothpicks, rubber bands and gauze. Any tool that touches your skin should be placed back on the dental bib after use, and piercing needles should be disposed of in a medical sharps container. It's perfectly acceptable to ask to see a piercer's autoclave room or to ask to see the indicator dots on the backs of the autoclave bags, which turn brown during sterilization. If the dots are blue, the bag has not been through the autoclave.
  
  

Contraindications

• If your immune system is compromised in any way, you should not have your navel pierced. If you have a cold or infection, wait until you are well before getting pierced. Your body needs to be healthy to heal a puncture wound. Those with bleeding disorders such as hemophilia should not be pierced. Reputable piercers will not pierce a woman who is pregnant or breastfeeding, as any infection incurred can be passed on to the baby.
  
  

Healing and Aftercare

• Because navel piercings are located on a part of the body that moves a lot and comes into contact with clothing, it's important to follow very diligent aftercare procedures to ensure that your piercing heals properly. Soak your navel in saline solution twice a day to remove any dried blood and plasma, then wash it immediately afterward with liquid antimicrobial or antibacterial soap. Some piercing shops sell saline solution spray, but you can also make your own by mixing 1/8 tsp. of non-iodized sea salt with 1 cup of warm water. For the six to nine months it takes for your piercing to heal, you should never touch it unless you have just washed your hands.