A new client reached out to me recently stating they were experiencing some irritation with a troubled navel piercing that was performed elsewhere and inquired about a potential swap to a longer length curved barbell - hoping it would alleviate their piercing woes. Upon further examination, we discovered that what they had been given was unfortunately not a navel piercing, but, rather, (technically) a surface piercing on their stomach.
These poorly performed piercings come as a result of improperly trained piercers who lack anatomical understanding. Often, when this is the case, I see these incorrectly performed on individuals who possess anatomy that is suited more for a "floating navel" type placement - or those who may not have anatomy suited for a viable navel piercing at all. No piercing should be viewed in a "one size fits all" mentality - and when navels are done incorrectly, they present a huge risk to leave behind massive scarring in their wake. Generally, when folks possess a navel that closes or collapses on itself when they bend or sit, they are unable to use a "traditional" double-gem piece of jewelry (at least, initially). A successful alternative style would lean more towards a curved barbell with a disc as a bottom end that would allow the person to move freely without a large bottom gem constantly being crushed with consistent pressure and accompanying irritation when they are not in a standing position.
However, in this instance, this particular client was not only given an inappropriate style (and length) of jewelry, but a substandard placement as well; they had been pierced far above the navel ridge into the tissue of the stomach - effectively becoming a surface piercing. While when standing (not photographed) the jewelry may have "mimicked" a navel piercing from afar (which still does not constitute a proper navel piercing), as soon as my client laid down, the true distance from the jewelry being placed in their actual navel lip was evident.
Unlike "standard" piercings that have a defined ridge, or "front and back" like a lip, nostril, or lobe, surface piercings traverse through a single plane of tissue. These piercings are considered to be "long-term temporary" - as most individuals will see migration or total rejection of surface piercings (which include surface bars or surface anchors) in a matter of 1-5 or so years, generally. Surface piercings are less stable and prone to migration or rejection as the body treats the jewelry (a foreign object) as a splinter -- and attempts to push it out of the body. This is harder for the body to accomplish when done through a defined ridge. When surface piercings are performed on low-movement, flat areas, with proper jewelry, (such as the forehead, side of the eye, or nape) they may have a slightly increased success rate for overall wear, but it is in the nature of surface piercings to be temperamental and semi-permanent. Piercings in the navel are subject to excessive movement...when you combine this concept with a surface piercing, you have a recipe for eventual disaster.
Surface piercings should also NEVER be performed using a curved barbell - this style causes constant pressure on the pierced area (of which it does not conform to - thus distorting the tissue). Below is an infographic depicting the projected outcome for different styles of barbells in surface piercings.
As an end result for this client, whose externally threaded, poorly polished jewelry was already partially embedded, we pulled the piercing to allow the area to begin to heal and prevent irreparable damage to the area. While my client’s poor experience was no fault of their own, it’s important to note that researching your prospective piercer is an important part of the piercing journey. Piercers who are proud of their work and what they have to offer will have portfolios for you to view; if those portfolios do not show consistency, (or they show things like this), ya best skedaddle. 🏃♀️ 💨
*Photos shared with client's gracious consent.
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