Is Bellybutton Piercing Safe?

Posting Date: 04/01/1999

E-mail Question: I want to pierce my bellybutton for my 16th birthday. My father is a big fan of yours, and respects your opinion. He won't let me do it unless you say it's okay.

If I go to a professional for the piercing, and if I take care of it, what is the risk of infection?

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Dr. Dean: I hate being on that spot. I cannot tell you that there definitely will not be any problems. If I give you the go ahead and you end up with a problem, then your dad is going to be mad at me. If it doesn't cause any problems, he will still be mad at me. But here some facts.

Bellybutton piercings have a higher rate of infection than those from earlobe piercings.

Bellybutton piercings take the longest of all the types of piercings to heal, because piercing is done in soft, fatty tissue. They require care for a long time.

So, bellybutton piercings can get infected, and they can also be done successfully without problems.