Changing Belly Button Rings for the First time Requires Patience and Care

After you’ve waited the recommended 6 to 12 months for your new piercing to heal, you’re probably ready to shop for some new belly button rings. They are available online, in piercing and tattoo salons, and at mall kiosks. Sometimes belly button rings are available at department store jewelry counters or even discount stores like Wal-Mart and Target. It doesn’t matter where they came from, follow the same rules and precautions for sterilizing and switching belly button rings.

Before buying the jewelry, be certain they they are made from an approved material. Just because the piercing site appears healed and healthy, doesn’t mean you are immune to germs and infection. The best materials for belly button rings are 316L surgical steel (a form of stainless steel), titanium, Bioplast or Bioflex, 24K plated gold and 14K real gold. Jewelry made from these products are strong and sturdy and won’t break.

The first thing you shall do is completely clean each of the belly button rings you purchase.  Warm water and antibacterial soap is recommended. You may also autoclave your belly button rings, which is a sterilization process that uses extreme heat to rid things of any germs that can cause pain and infection. Generally, you will have to visit a tattoo or piercing salon if you want your navel rings autoclaved.

When you prepare to change the belly ring, clean your hands with soap and water as you would any other time you touch the ring. If you have medical gloves available, you could wear those for added protection. Be sure to set your new belly button ring close to where you are working so you can spend as little time as possible without anything in the piercing.

Unscrew the top ball from the new belly button ring that you want to insert and set it aside. On some belly button rings, only the top ball is removable, on some only the bottom ball is removable and on some both balls are removable. For ease and comfort, it is recommended that you remove the top ball.

Gently grasp the bottom ball of the belly button ring you are wearing firmly between your thumb and forefinger. Gently twist the top ball of the navel ring you are wearing to remove it from the barbell. Slowly pull the belly button ring down and out of your navel piercing.

Immediate grab the replacement belly ring and position the ball-less part of the barbell near the inside of your belly button (where the piercing hole is). Slowly and gently apply pressure and continue until the barbell pokes through the top hole of your piercing. If this is your first time changing belly button rings, it may take a couple of tries to push it all the way through.

Grab the top ball of your new ring and gently screw it on while holding the barbell still with your thumb and forefinger. After that is complete, immediately wash your hands, as well as the old belly button ring.

If you follow these steps carefully, you’ll be able to change belly button rings frequently and easily.