I can only speak for myself, but mine didn't. It was pretty quick and hurt for only a split second. No local anesthetic applied, just a straight up piercing. Any piercing comes with a risk of infection. Keep it clean and follow the aftercare instructions you are given and you should be just fine. I washed the area every day with anti-bacterial soap and applied an antibacterial ointment afterwards for the first 30 days. I had no infection or even mild discomfort. As has been said though, you must keep the area clean and care for the piercing properly. If you seem to be developing any redness or irritation afterwards, see your physician ASAP. I have had mine pierced for almost 10 years trouble free. Always go to a reputable establishment for piercings. I insist that this goes a long way towards lessening the potential for infections of new piercings. I loved the guy who did mine. He was careful, clean, showed me each item as he opened it so I could see it was new. The most important part is, he explained the procedure and aftercare thoroughly and the establishment would not pierce unless you ponied up for the aftercare kit (it was included in the cost). They also provided a detailed booklet for aftercare for those who were apt to forget the instructions.

I've had my belly button pierced for 3 years and honestly, I would say it does hurt for around 10 seconds. When the needle initially enters and breaks the skin and when it exits through the other side, is when it hurts the most. Once the piecer removes the needle, the pain immediatley stops. You can choose to have a local anesthetic which will completely take the pain away and you wont feel a thing, but this is not really worth the money and the aftermath (possible vomitting etc.). As for infection? It has been said that belly button piercings are one of the top three places that are prone to infection. When I got mine done, the piercer gave me some antibacterial spray which I used until it wasted. After this I used salty water (the one that is usually used for contact lenses). This was very good as I didn't develop an infection. On the bad side, I read about this one girl that died from a belly button piercing infection. This was due to not caring for it and not applying any lotions, so it is highly unlikely this would happen to you. I have also heard about people that had to go to hospital to have their belly button ring surgically removed because it was so infected it had become stuck. Their stomach then had to be pumped of internal puss. These are the worst case scenarios and are from not caring from them. My advice, clean it twice a day for the first six months.

In my opinion belly button piercings hurt as much or more than tatoos. But every person is different. If you want honesty though I'm telling you it hurts. I was also told infection is very common in belly button piercings and mine did get infected. I don't know medically speaking what the exact risk is.

from my experience, it didnt hurt at all.. it was like pinch that lasts for 20 or less seconds.. just clean it everyday.. take good care of it then theres no risk =D

from my experience, it didnt hurt at all.. it was like pinch that lasts for 20 or less seconds.. just clean it everyday.. take good care of it then theres no risk =D

Well I have mine done and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Although I cant really tell you if it hurt or not, because people have different pain tollarence.

I did my belly button myself and I numbed it with 2 ice cubes and it didn't hurt at all....it just felt like rubbing a finger of a sliver in ur skin. thats all for me...didn't hurt that much!!!

You're having a piece of metal shoved through your body...so yes, it's going to hurt...as to how much...how long is a piece of string? Each person is different. The only way to find out how much it will hurt is to do it. Good luck!!!!

how do you take care of belly button peircings? do yooh need to put anticeptic on it after its peirced??? or can yooh just use soap or something etc etc :)

Nah it doesn't hurt at all. Quite enjoyable if I'm honest with you. My ears hurt one hell of a lot more. It shouldn't get infected if you look after it properly. I used warm water with salt in it to clean mine.

most belly button piercings experience a tini bit of infection.. dont remove it though unless told other wise.. work with it and make sure you clean it well and dont aggrivate it.. make sure ur bar doesnt sink.... best you can do.. work through it... as for the pain. i got mine done a few years ago but i wass so scared b4 having it but i was sooooo shocked and how little pain there was. i Seriously compare it to normal lobe piercings but just through more flesh.. but its over with soooo fast too! hope this helps n e one!! :)

there is also the risk of not being able to have kids...

i was so exited that i forgot about the pain when i was gettin it done but i was startin to feel the pain the next day but it wasnt a big pain just like a pinch. i got my piercin to surprise my boyfriend because he thought i was too chicken to do it but i did it. the day i was gonna show it to him before i could show him he poked me on my piercin not knowin i had it. now tht hurt alot!after tht it started to get infected because i didnt use the medicine enough. it was very itchy n couldnt help but scratch it. luckly i researched n disinfected n it heald now my piercin is beautiful i love it

I speak for me but I naval piercing and I very little pain and I got not infection. But sure they wash all equipment in front of you.