Dear Alley is our weekly advice column for pierced, inked, and amazing individuals (and everyone else too!) who might need a nudge in the right direction. Relationships, mods, or whatever, Alley's got you covered :).

Do you have a question for Alley, submit it to DearAlley@bodycandy.com for your chance to get featured!

Disclaimer: Body Candy is only here to give you fun and helpful advice and information when it comes to getting pierced. Always consult a professional piercer to make sure a new piercing is right for you!

Dear Alley,

I had appendicitis surgery when I was 13 which was done microscopically, and I now have a scar in my belly button.

I’m almost 20 years old now and was wondering if my scar would affect my chances of getting a belly button piercing?

~ Natasha

Alley: Hey Natasha!

Glad to hear your surgery went well :).

Since your appendectomy was almost 7 years ago and everything should be completely healed scar-wise, whether or not you can get pierced depends on a few different factors: the type of scar you have, where the actual scarring is located, and the severity of the scar tissue.

I can't see your scar - so I'm not sure exactly which piercing to prescribe here (and I'm certainly not a medical expert, so I'm not qualified to give you an actual medical opinion)... But speaking in general, if your scar is below your belly button, a typical belly piercing (through the top of your navel) should be just fine. If the scar is on top, you could try an inverse navel ring (through your lower navel). If you're trying to get a belly ring to hide or distract from some of the scarring, cool - it's a great way to feel better about a body part you're a bit self-conscious about. Try something dangly!

If your scarring is more intense, yes, it is certainly possible to pierce through scar tissue - but it's not always a good idea. I am 100% recommending an in-person consult from a professional piercer in this situation (preferrably someone with experience with scar tissue). They are qualified to give you advice on what will/won't work in your unique situation.

Love,

- Alley

Dear Alley:

Hope U R fine during this crazy time...

My name's Yessica and I used to have a belly piercing for a long time.

Unfortunately, recently, while I was having fun at the pool with some friends, I got my pierced ripped off 😭 and the skin got ripped too.

Now, I miss my piercing so bad... and I was wondering, how long does it need for my belly to heal or if there's another way/place to get my belly pierced again?

XOXO,

- Yessica

Alley: Hi Yessica!

I'm doing just fine, thank you for asking :).

OUCH! Sorry to hear about your belly mishap. First and foremost, before you try to get pierced again, it's important to let your wound heal up completely. I would absolutely consult with a doctor and piercer about the specifics, but plan for at least 6 months of solid healing before you try to get anything re-pierced.

This one reminds me of Natasha's scarring situation above; I think you definitely could get re-pierced, but HOW you get re-pierced will depend on the severity of your rip. Did your piercing rip just a little bit? Or did you rip the belly ring completely out through the skin?

If it was a small rip, you might be able to get the exact same piercing, just a little behind the previous scar. If it was a larger rip and you're significantly scarred, you could consider a different type of belly piercing - they're less common, but inverse belly rings or horizontal belly rings could be a unique solution here. There is also a chance you could get pierced through your scar tissue, but that's up to a professional piercer to decide.

Either way, just like Natasha, make sure you're cleared by a medical professional before you head back in to get pierced. While you're there in the piercing shop, be completely honest with your piercer about what happened at the pool. Then, be sure to follow their advice - they are the most qualified to give you the best possible info!

Love,

- Alley

Alley,

This question is coming from an older gal. My nipples have been pierced for more than a few years. I'm fond of hoop style jewelry. Some of these have a tendency to snag on clothing. My fistulas have sustained their share of damage.

I've removed my jewelry with the hope that the fistulas with completely close and can then be re-pierced. Do you think this is a reasonable hope?

-Beth

Alley: Hey Beth!

I love hearing from our "older gals!" Looking forward to also being a pierced and fierce older gal myself someday (I am, of course, assuming you're older than me here) :).

Your skin is remarkably resilient, even "older" skin (up to a certain age, at least). I do think its a reasonable hope to think that your fistulas will close up over time!

Then again, it depends on how damaged they were in the first place. Keep in mind that even fresh nipple piercings take a while to heal, so to give your body enough time to heal up, I'd wait a solid 6 months to a year before making any call... Once that half-year mark rolls around, examine your anatomy - have the fistulas tightened up or closed completely? If so, it's time for a trip to the parlor!

Once you're there, be open and honest with your piercer about your concerns. Let them know how long you had the piercings and why you took them out in the first place. Even if your fistulas never completely close, my guess is you'll be pierced & proud again in no time.

P.S. Although hoop-style nipple jewelry looks amazing, it might be a good idea to get pierced with & heal up using barbells until the time is right to switch out.