How long before I can change my belly button ring?

Belly Rings > Body Jewelry FAQ > How long before I can change my belly button ring?
by All Piercings Staff Writer

A) This seems to be the question on the lips of everyone who has ever had a belly ring, along with “How long can I keep out my belly ring?” You can change your belly button ring as frequently as you wish once the piercing has healed completely. You could even keep your belly button piercing free of jewelry after the healing process is over. What is difficult to say though is the exact amount of time it takes for the piercing to heal as this period differs from one person to the next.

The healing process:

When the piercing has healed it comprises an ongoing tube throughout the length of the piercing. The time that it takes to establish this “tube” varies from person to person. It could be 6 months or 2 years or anything in between. It is not advisable to change your belly button ring before 6 months and during this period you should wear your belly ring at all times to prevent the piercing from closing.

Usually when you are looking to change your belly button ring, there are 2 important things that should be taken into consideration. Firstly, the initial healing period, and secondly, the full healing period. During the initial healing period, your body will form a proper cover of skin between you and the starter jewelry. The full healing period constitutes the time taken to heal the piercing completely.

The waiting game:

Nowadays the belly button is fast becoming the preferred area for people to get a piercing. A belly ring is being considered both erotic and exotic. People want to be able to change their belly rings in order to achieve a desired look. BUT you have to remember that with a belly button piercing you have to wait before changing your belly ring. When you decide to change your belly ring, the most important thing to keep in mind is that you do not want to damage the piercing or in any way reopen the wound. If this happens then your healing will receive a setback and you might also have to take considerably more care in order to minimize chances of infection. This in turn will delay the time when it would have otherwise been alright to change your belly ring.

No matter how much care you take, you are bound to irritate your piercing when you change your belly button ring. So it is better to wait till your belly button piercing is absolutely fine, and you can play with it without feeling even the slightest bit of pain, before you change your belly ring.

And my final bit of advice – If you are still unsure in any way, go see a professional piercer and have him change your belly ring, especially if it is the first time you are doing so.

Disclaimer: The materials on the AllPiercings.com web site are presented for informational purposes only, and are not intended as a substitute for professional dental / medical advice, and accordingly you should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider.