As this week marks both my 35th birthday and my wife's 39th, I thought it might be a nice way to celebrate by getting pierced. We had attended the Ohio Leatherfest in August, and one of the seminars we enjoyed dealt with body mods. Now, my wife has pierced ears, and used to have her tounge pierced, and while we were there, she was very interested in getting a rook or tragus. I've promised her for about a year that if I get in shape, I'll get my nipples pierced. I haven't gotten in shape, but that's really no reason to keep putting it off.
At A Glance Author Rick S Contact Rick S@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Jeff Studio Skincraft Location Cincinnati, OH After some research on the web, I stumbled on this site and decided on Skincraft after reading several people's experience. I took my wife out to dinner Saturday night, and while we were finishing, I just casually tossed out "So, do you want to get pierced tonight?" The answer was yes, so we headed to Clifton and made our way to Skincraft.
The gentleman behind the counter was very helpful, answering our questions about various piercings. I knew what I wanted - both nipples pierced with 12 ga rings. (I will probably stretch them up a few sizes after they heal, but that's for later). My wife, however, had to decide between three ear locations, her nose, and a labret. Finally, after much consideration and numerous changes of mind, she settled on the labret. So we started the paperwork and waited for Jeff to finish with his current client.
When Jeff came out, he also went over any questions we had, including healing times, choice of jewelry, long term options like stretching, and the question of if dramatic weight change would affect the placement of my piercings. He struck the perfect balance between professional and personable, so that I felt extremely confident in his abilities, but also felt completely at ease with discussing any topic.
We made our way into the piercing studio, and it was, as I had read on these forums, was extremely clean and set up like a doctor's office, with the exception of the excellent choice of music. I went first, and sat on the paper covered table while Jeff marked off my nipples using a sharpie and a caliper. Let me address the sterility issue - I was extremely impressed with the cleanliness, hand washing, gloves, sealed equipment, and even to the extent of wiping down the sharpie itself with antimicrobial disenfectant with each use. We continued to discuss the piercings and things I had researched while Jeff prepared everything. Finally, the time had come. He asked if I wanted to lay down or sit up, and I chose to sit, although I did scoot back so that I was sitting against the wall. He got the clamp in placed, starting with the left nipple, and told me to take a deep breath, and he would pierce on the exhale. He did. The pain was probably a little more than I anticipated - I did let out a groan as I finished my exhale, but it was quick and then gone. As he place the ball in place on the ring, I asked about the concept that I had read about the second piercing hurting more than the first when you have multiples done. He concurred, and we briefly discussed possible theories as to why this may be as he turned his attention to my right nipple. He asked if I wanted a break in between, and I figured, might as well do it now, so away we went. If you're wondering, it is true that the second piercing was a bit more intense, but still quite manageable. He finished me up, and I hopped down so that he could do my wife's piercing.
As she got ready, he changed the paper on the table, disposed of all of my materials as well as his gloves, rewashed his hands, got new gloves, etc. - all very clean and very sterile. I'll leave her piercing story for her to tell if she so desires, but once we were both done, he discussed aftercare, checked to see if we had any more questions, and we went up front to pay, where he provided me with sea salt for soaking, which, by the way, is kind of interesting for nipples in that I fill two shot glasses with the soak and then affix them to my chest for 15 minutes. It looks particularly humerous when I use the hot pink plastic shot glasses we have. I made sure to give Jeff a tip, as I am very pleased with my new rings. It's now Monday, and if I hit the rings too hard, or generaly get my nipple area pinched, I'll get a sharp twinge, but otherwise I've got almost no discomfort.
I would highly recommend Skincraft and Jeff for any future piercings.