I started my nipple piercing experience as a lark. I thought it would be cool to get it pierced so what the heck. After all I had waited long enough. I initially got it pierced in Oct 2002 on a World Series bet I was hoping to lose to my girlfriend. As it turns out, I lost but won a piercing. The piercing experience was wonderful. I got there totally ready for this. It was pierced at 14 gauge at the time and I really liked it. It didn't hurt very badly in fact I just went WOW then started laughing. I guess it was a relief to get it done.
At A Glance Author Jeff Contact Jeff@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Jimi Woo Studio ??? Location Rhode Island As a result of looking at your site and the fact that I thought it would look better, I decided on stretching it. The stretch from 14 gauge to 12 was no big deal. The healing time was only about 2 weeks in total and my girlfriend was able to play with it again in no time. So was the stretch from 12 to 10 and from 10 to 8 gauge. I should state that I think it's important to wait until each subsequent step heals sufficiently before deciding to stretch to the next. My initial stretch was 4 months after the piercings. The stretches that followed took place about 2 months apart afterwards.
My girlfriend really liked it at 8 gauge. I had put a straight stainless steel barbell in it and she got off on sucking on it and pulling it. I told her of my decision to stretch it one last time(which she usually supports) and she said to go for it.
What I'm really getting at is that the final stretch I got from 8 gauge to 6 gauge was incredibly different from the others. I got to the piercing studio with jewelry in hand and told him of my decision to go to a 6 gauge stainless steel circular barbell. He said that this was the final stretch he would recommend for me. As it turns out I now know why.
First of all I have to say he was incredibly helpful since this stretch DID hurt. He slowly inserted the taper and when it was finally at the point where the new 6 gauge jewelry was to be inserted he stopped and I felt HOT all over. My girlfriend and I were planning on going to the beach afterwards and I had my swimsuit on under a pair of cargo shorts. I asked if I could take off the shorts as I felt a bit faint. He said OK so I cooled off a bit before the jewelry went in. Then he quickly put in the jewelry and let me sit for a while. I've got to admit that the stretching hurt far more than the original piercing. The other reason that I'm sure he recommends stretching it beyond 6 gauge is that the initial piercing wasn't that far back. Don't get me wrong, it looks great but I think by stretching to 6 gauge, my nipple thinned just a bit in the front. If he were to try to stretch it any further, it could run the possibility of tearing. I'm quite happy with how a 6 g auge looks and that's where I'm going to stop. Actually, 6 gauge is larger than I had originally envisioned. I do like the way jewelry in larger gauges looks and my nipple has enlarged greatly as a result of the piercing. It kind of stands out and is much larger but doesn't sag and the sensitivity level has also increased immensely.
It did burn for quite some time after having it stretched two months ago. I was recommended to dab tea tree oil on it by one piercer and proceeded to do that for a week with no good results. It still burned. When I told that to another piercer, he said to use sea salt mixed with diluted water. I've been soaking it in sea salt water and now it feels much better two months after the S T R E T C H. My only disappointment with the stretch to 6 gauge is the healing time it has taken. My girlfriend and I both enjoy nipple play and not that it's stopped us I'd just have to say that it's slowed down our usually aggressive activity on my right nipple. Fortunately my left nipple (as yet unpierced) has been available for her.
I'm now looking for a 14 karat piece of jewelry in 6 gauge now but have been having a tough time finding it. It seems like that must be a specialty item and quite pricey. Well, good luck to all who want to stretch what they've got, it's worth the pain in the long run.