I feel such pressure to write something fabulous here! I've been browsing bme for the better part of 8 months reading other people's experiences of nipple piercing, and now here's my chance to be the informer!
At A Glance Author lise Contact lise@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Mitch Studio Four Roses Location Adelaide, Australia I got both of my nipples pierced horizontally the day before yesterday. Today they are fine – no crusties, not sore (just ultra sensitive!!). Last night I went to sleep on my side but woke up on my front – no pain/problems. Yesterday I went to work (I work as a dental nurse part time) and had no hassles, with just a bit blood stained crust. The first night after my piercing I slept on my front just because I was scared of potential pain, and the evening after my piercing I was again, pain free.
So far it's been an easy ride!!
Three weeks prior to getting pierced, I went into four roses to check it out. This is one thing I would DEFINITELY recommend doing. I got a chance to meet Mitch, check out their range of jewellery, and just get a general feel for the place. So impressed was I that despite a trip interstate (in between first going in and now) with friends, I came back without extra piercings!
I took a while to psyche myself up for the experience – I don't have particularly sensitive nipples, but I knew it wouldn't be a walk in the park ;) – and in the end it took a friend to say "we're going to get this done on Friday" for me to make a date! We decided on the Monday, and were pierced on the following Friday.
Unfortunately for me, I was designated driver. Which I suppose in one respect was good, because I had driving to (vaguely!!) concentrate on, but driving home was a little difficult. Again, not painful, but I was convinced any movement would make it hurt so I was driving with my elbows out at 90 angles!!
By the time we got to the store I was REALLY nervous. I chose jewellery (barbells), paid, and went to the bathroom. Mitch took me into the a little consulting room off the side of the hall, and asked me to take my top off and have a seat. As I was doing this, she set about collecting various things still in their sterilized bags. (I wasn't so nervous as to not pay attention to the important stuff!!) I sat with my arms resting on my lap as Mitch measured me up, swabbed with what I think was alcohol, and marked with gentian violet. She was chatting the whole time about aftercare to calm me down. I suspect I looked a little tense! I asked what the chances were of me completely freaking out – I didn't want to ask the "will it hurt?" question, because a) obviously it would, and b) I don't know how a piercer is supposed to answer that when they have a needle fast approaching your nipple! Mitch said no, that I should worry more about my friend, who would be in more pain than me (because he's a guy)!! Again, more chat while the last few things were set up.
For all of you who skim read and just want to know about the actual piercing here it is!!
THE ACTUAL PIERCING:
I wasn't instructed to breathe, and from what I remember Mitch didn't really tell me what was going on. I preferred it that way. She told me to rest my head back (I was sitting), close my eyes and try to relax.
Just briefly: I consider myself to be the ultimate wuss. Honestly, I can't handle shaping my eyebrows with tweezers. When I got my navel pierced (circa 1997) I told the piercer to get the clamp off me and stop because I couldn't handle it. (Incidentally he didn't because by the time I had gotten the sentence out it was finished!!)
The best indicator of how painful it was then, is probably my response to it. Which was not much. First needle went through super-quick (after the painless, just a little uncomfortable clamp) and was met with a whispered expletive ;) Literally less than 5 seconds later the second nipple was clamped and pierced, and this time was met with teeth gritting. Insertion of the jewellery for me was probably about 75% as painful as the piercing itself...but it was so quick as well that I wasn't that bothered by it.
Immediately after they both felt sort of hot. Not painful as such. It's a difficult feeling to describe. I was dripping with sweat. I obviously did freak out a little!! But to be perfectly honest I think it was the anticipation of the pain that got me so worked up. Apparently I looked a little white, but after checking in the mirror I knew it was just my normal pasty colour ;)
So all in all – it was fun. I'm so proud of myself for actually doing it. If you've done your research, and the only thing holding you back is the pain, do it. You can definitely handle it. Be brave!! Oh, and if you are in Adelaide, Four Roses was really good. I'll be back there in two weeks for my check-up!