Risks
Although navel piercings are fashion symbols and may make the navel and midriff look more attractive, they carry the many risks of body piercing, notably:
- Infection: A new piercing may take up to 6–9 months before it can be taken out, during which time sweat and bacteria may cause infection. Bacterial infections can result in cysts.
- Scarring: Skin tissue rarely heals to match the surrounding tissue. It heals in varying thickness, in different ways for different types of people, and forms different types of scarring for different kinds of 'damage'. It is likely that any piercing worn for a significant time (months to years) will leave a scar if removed.
A person getting a navel piercing faces additional risk if he or she is below 16. A piercer at Hot Rod Piercing Co. in Pittsburgh, Paco, has said that he will not pierce anyone younger than 16, even with parental consent. He explained, "Their bodies are changing as they're growing. For example, as a teen gets taller, her bellybutton piercing might migrate to the top of the navel. So you really should try to discourage it, even if they have their parents along."
Read more about this topic: Navel Piercing
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