Fifteen months ago, I gave birth to a beautiful little girl. Three and a half months before that, I had to remove my nipple rings (simple 12 gauge rings). This was something that I put off until my ob/gyn finally said flat out "take them out". I had had many problems with previous piercings, and I did not want to lose out on these ones, which had stayed and healed and I had not had any problems with. But, alas, the health and safety of my unborn child came first.
At A Glance Author ammysma Contact ammysma@bme.anon IAM ammysma When Three months ago Artist Six Studio Exotix Location Toronto, ON When the time came that my daughter was no longer breast feeding, I decided that, once again, I would get my nipples redone. I had some bouts of hesitancy, but in the end decided that this was something that I had desperately wanted to have back in. The original piercings were something which marked a certain point in my life, and not one that I wanted to forget.
So, after much discussion with my daughter's dad, I decided to talk to Six about getting them done. Shawn, my daughter's dad, casually mentioned that I should get them scalpelled to a four gauge since, though I do not have large breasts, I do have large nipples, and, in his opinion, they looked wrong with the simple and small 12 gauges which I had in before. And this is what Six and I talked about.
Six immediately was very much for this, as I know he likes doing larger gauges anyways.
Two weeks later, I had an appointment, not only to get nipples done, but also to get some work done on a tattoo. So, once the tattoo session was over for the day, Six set up.
Out on the steps, grabbing a much needed smoke, I questioned the heck out of him. I am a curious being, and needed to know everything that was going to happen. Six was very decent. First making sure that I wanted to know. Then explaining a little. Then asking again if I wanted to know. Then explaining the rest. Although I was extremely nervous, I was still excited.
As I removed my top and Six began to draw, making sure that the marks he was making were properly aligned and centred, I could feel my hands going numb, partly with anticipation, partly with fear.
When I laid down, all I could hear was blood pounding in my ears. It is amazing how much more sensitive I found myself to be. The right nipple, which was the first to be done, was not overly bad. Deep breaths, just like when I was in labour. That was all I could think to do as I felt the scalpel tearing through the sensitive flesh. Before I knew it, the taper, which was being used to give it a nice tight fit and to avoid excessive cutting, was in the newly created hole. I could feel every move of the taper as it stretched the opening to its way. By far, this was the part that I felt I would not survive. I was afraid that the tissue would try to continue through the nipple, having immediately attached itself to the taper, for in my mind, it felt like an eternity had passed.
And when it was over, I was very pleased with the results. All pain had dissolved into this beautiful teflon bar. Mind you, there was still the left nipple to contend with. Internally, I debated coming back another time to get it done, however I knew that if the healing process was slow or painful, I would not be back, at least not for a long, long time.
So, I sucked it up, and went back for more.
And this time it killed. I had not taken into account the fact that all of my adrenaline had been drained on the right nipple. And, every touch, every move, every sensation, was that much more worse. I believe that at this time, many inarticulate and prehaps even vulgar words were blurted out through clenched teeth.
During a brief pause in which Six turned around for the teflon bar while I sat there with the taper in place, I distantly heard the tattooist in the next room explaining what was going on to his client, who I am sure were wondering what sort of fresh hell I was going through.
And then he was back. I closed my eyes, clench both teeth and fists, breathed deeply, and tried to imagine I was anywhere but there. Two minutes later, it was all done and over with. Five minutes after that, all colour and feeling had returned to its respective body parts, and I felt fine. I felt more than fine. I felt wonderful. As I left the shop, I called a brief apology out to the clients in the room next door, feeling foolish given that I felt so good now.
Healing was great. In fact, the tattoo caused more discomfort than the piercings. And, a few weeks later, I got my new rings.
They are well healed now, and I love them. I don't know why I didn't go bigger before.