My first experience with nipple piercing happened about 3 years ago. I got my right nipple done by an incompetent piercer, I didn't like the placement as it was pierced through the actual nipple instead of at the base of it, and it was crooked on both planes. That piercing lasted 4 days or so.
At A Glance Author Destroyed Contact Destroyed@bme.anon When A year ago Artist Nathan Bauer Studio Blackwater Tattoo Location Central WI My second experience, and the one that makes this one significant, happened a year ago, as mentioned above. I got both nipples done, though not at the same time, by a more skilled piercer and they looked great. They never actually felt great though...well, for a little while I suppose they did.
See, I came down with mono a month or so after the second piercing was done and they both flared up BIGTIME, as in they were excruciatingly painful to even the slightest touch. Cleaning them burned like fire, and I was much too sick to even want to bother. I tried to stick it out, and I lasted about three weeks. My doctor told me it can take anywhere from 6 months to a year to get totally rid of mono, and 3 weeks of hell was quite enough. I removed the jewelry and the piercings closed.
I had the left done for about 2 months when this happened, and that one was relatively healed. I enjoyed it, even though it would get a little painful around the time of my period, it was never too bad.
I was not intimate with anyone at the time, but I still enjoyed playing with it on those occasions when I spent a quality moment with myself. I had always wondered what it would be like to have someone else to play with it, but unfortunately I never got that opportunity.
Then I met someone, and we dated briefly. I showed him the scars where the original piercings were, and while he wasn't disgusted by the idea, he said he didn't find pierced nipples a turn on. I had mentioned I was thinking about getting them redone, and he didn't really ever love the idea. At that time, neither did I...I greatly enjoy nipple play as part of sex, and healing piercings would definitely put an end to that for a while. He asked me once why I would want to do something that he found unattractive anyway. Then I really couldn't come up with an answer, since I am one that always tends to think of the other more in relationships, but then it occurred to me that if he REALLY wanted something done that I didn't find attractive, I wouldn't have a problem with him doing it because it made HIM happy.
As our relationship slowly coasted off into oblivion, I made mention of the fact a few more times. When he finally said in a not so pleasant tone of voice "well, get it done already, it's YOUR body and you must have mentioned it like a dozen times", I knew two things immediately. One, that he really did not have MY best interests at heart and didn't put my wants and desires as a priority, and two, that he was right...it WAS my body.
We broke up shortly after that discussion for reasons very similar...apparently he defined "relationship" as that person you hang out with when you're not doing anything else, and I defined it as "not your entire life, but one of the top priorities in it".
Skip forward a few weeks, and I did the typical thing. Whenever I am depressed or angry, I usually end up pierced. I suppose I belong to the "pain of the body relieves pain of the spirit" camp, and it usually works. So I went and got my conch pierced (experience for another time). I loved it, and it did elevate my mood. I thought it looked great on me, and it made me feel more attractive and better about myself.
The eyebrow was next (also to be written). That one wasn't really out of depression, but more just wondering what I'd look like with it done. My ex was also against facial piercings as well. People have always told me, as I myself have thought, that I have very pretty eyes, and I thought the piercing would bring them out more. I was right, it did, and I love it too.
I knew I was totally over the breakup when I got the piercing bug again, and decided to go for the nipple. I am celibate right now and plan to remain so for a while; anything along those lines just seems like far more trouble than it's worth, so play is not an issue. I think it was more an act of reclamation of my body and my happiness than anything else...symbolizing my body is mine and mine alone, and I make the decisions regarding it.
I drove to my trusted studio, Blackwater, which I would recommend to anyone in the Central WI area, filled out the necessary forms and requested the piercing. I chose the left nipple this time, since that one has never seemed to be as sensitive as the right, and I figured a piercing would enhance that.
I chose a ring over a barbell because I am relatively small breasted (a small B cup), so the extra "dangly bit" of a ring wouldn't be an issue, nor would any pressure from my bra as there isn't a lot of weight there to support. :)
I layed down on the table, was cleaned with surgical scrub which did a well enough job of making the nipple erect. I was marked with a toothpick dipped in ink, and both the toothpick and the ink were then disposed of. He marked slightly higher than where I had been pierced before to avoid the scar tissue.
Nathan removed the ring from the jar of Wavacide, changing gloves after everything he touched while wearing a surgical mask. He told me to relax, no easy task when you've had this done before and you remember how badly it hurts. He did not use clamps as he said they seem to cause unecessary pain for the piercee and he felt more than comfortable doing it freehand.
The usual breathing technique took place...a deep breathe in and hold it, then all the way out as the needle went through. There was pain, but surprisingly little for a nipple. It hurt nowhere near as bad as the first time, though it was still considerable. As with the previous times, I felt the pain even that night in my ribs and upper back, but the actual pain of the piercing wasn't bad at all.
I've been following my usual cleaning method, Provon or Satin, whichever I happen to have on hand, twice a day (I find sea salt doesn't do much for me), and it's been healing up fine. I don't recommend this aftercare regimen to everyone, but I've found through trial and error it's what works best for me personally. Our bodies are all individual and unique, and what works for me may not work for anyone else, and what works for most other people may not work for me. I suggest you go to a reputable and trusted piercer, and start out with the aftercare regimen they give you if you are not an experienced piercee, and see how your body and your skin reacts to it, then make necessary alterations.
I was pierced two weeks ago this go 'round, and wouldn't you know it, I caught a dandy head cold last Tuesday. Probably the most painful thing in the world is to have a fresh, emphasis on the fresh, nipple, emphasis on the nipple piercing act up because you're sick. I always get sick in the summer it seems. I toughed it out and took extra special care to keep the piercing clean and sanitary, and I, and it, are getting better.
I don't think a nipple piercing is for everyone. For whatever reason you get it done, be it for asthetics, sensation, or a deeper reason like me, you must be comfortable with your body and your sexuality to do it...and you must be able to take pain. My nipples have invariably been my most painful piercings, both during and after, and I've heard both males AND females go through hormone cycles which can sometimes make the piercing painful. It is an enjoyable one, and worth it to me, but make sure it's something you're ready for before you do it.
Happy piercing and thanks for reading!!