Examine your piercing. Check for redness and irritation, or raised areas of skin around the entrance and exit of the piercing. Redness is a sign of an unhealed or irritated piercing.
Check the jewelry. If the jewelry has crusted lymph or secretions attached to it, this is a sign that the fistula of the piercing may not be entirely healed. This can occur even if the piercing looks fine on the exterior—the fistula is delicate and takes longer to heal. Continue your aftercare if your piercing is still secreting lymph.
Observe the piercing over a period of several days. A belly button ring may appear fine and fully healed one day, but become irritated or secrete lymph on another. When the piercing exhibits a consistent pattern and goes several days without lymph or irritation, it is likely to be healed.