Early on this year I got my nipples pierced for the first time at Dogstar Tattoo in Durham. I loved the new sensations they provided, and loved the way they looked, but I felt that *something* could be improved. I wanted more metal in there - I wanted to get them stretched. I originally thought that a single gauge stretch to 12ga would be enough, but then I decided I wanted to go up in size one step further...to 10ga. I wanted to have more of the sensations I loved, so hey, why not get some more metal in there? Works for me. So I went back to Dogstar and proceeded to get my nipples poked, prodded, and stretched. Ah, the things we do...
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon When Three months ago Artist Chris Studio Dogstar Tattoo Company Location Durham, NC T, my original piercer, wasn't there when I went, but this guy named Chris was. He asked me what I wanted done - I replied that T had done some work for me a few months ago, that I was coming back for a stretch from 14ga to 10ga. He said that he had just used his 10ga taper on another guy before me, and that it would be several minutes to get all the jewelry and piercing equipment properly autoclaved and sterile. This is the excellent attention to detail I've come to expect any time I go to Dogstar. I'd rather wait a little and be sure of sterility than be worked on right away and not have any idea what's going on. I handed over the cash ($40, I believe, including two bright and shiny stainless captive bead rings) and sat down on the couch and listened to the good music they always seem to be playing any time I'm there :) After a while, he came back out and told me that he was ready. I followed him back to the piercing room, got up on the couch and took off my shirt. After going through with the whole ordeal (heh, not really) of getting them pierced, I wasn't expecting a lot in the way of pain - I had already gone through the worst. Or so I thought. I was about to find out that stretching a nipple piercing is a *much* different sensation than getting them done in the first place.
I couldn't even feel him go to 12ga - just some slight tugging, nothing much. However, when he inserted the 10ga taper into my right nipple, I could feel it travel all the way through, past every millimeter of nipple tissue. Getting them pierced was a quick, sharp sensation - I didn't have time to feel a lot of pain because it was all over so quick. This, however, was a dull, throbbing pain that lasted for what seemed an eternity longer than I expected. He inserted the jewelry and went to work on the left side. The taper went in - again, the same dull pain. I was glad when he inserted the left CBR and cleaned them up. I got up and looked at the result - more metal is definitely an improvement!
I walked out to the lobby, shook his hand and walked out of the shop with that new, freshly-pierced feeling that I love ;) Aftercare went as well or better than when I got them pierced, with some blood appearing the first time I cleaned them in the shower, but healing up quite nicely after that. Warm water and anti-bacterial soap really work wonders for these sorts of things. I was able to sleep on my stomach after a night or two without discomfort. As always, be careful taking off your shirt with these - having them pulled on when you're not expecting it isn't a fun experience to have. Having them pulled on gently when you *are* expecting it...mmm, well, let's just say that's quite different. As a somewhat random fact, I was in DC during the Reagan state funeral, and these would be picked up on a hand-wand metal detector - I caused more than a few puzzled looks from security guards that week.
However, this being written a few months afterwards, I currently am at 8ga, as of very recently. More metal, what can I say...this time, this will be it. I promise. No really, I do...:)
Guys/Gals - if you're thinking about getting your nipples done, DO IT! Whether they're CBRs or barbells, the extra sensations you get and the added fun your partner gets will be well worth it, not to mention how good they look ;) If you've already had that wonderful experience, I'd highly recommend getting them stretched to a larger gauge. In my opinion, it looks better, feels better, and makes them all that much more fun to play with :) So get out there, take your shirt off and get pierced...