I have never in my life had a piercing experience equal to that of the nipple piercing. When I was at high school, a friend of mine (hi Jason!) got his nipple pierced. I begged him to show me and, when he finally did, I fell in love with it. It would take me some months to decide to go and get one for myself.
At A Glance Author Dev Belial Contact Dev Belial@bme.anon When A year ago Artist John Studio Nirvana, Glasgow Location Scotland UK Anyway, fast forward a few years. I had had both nipples pierced but, sadly, had removed all my piercings due to a nasty, yet thankfully relatively brief period of depression (hey, it messes with your mind as anyone who has this horrible condition will tell you!) I longed for my piercings back. I craved that feeling once again as I began to snap out of my 'funk'. So I decided to treat my nipples to some cold steel once again.
I called Nirvana and made the appointment. Previously, I had my left one done while I was still at school then, years later, the right one done while I was at college. This time, I wanted both done together, as I couldn't live with only one (again, anyone who has both will agree that this is the case!)
The day came. I had taken a holiday from work, so I got up, had a decent breakfast, and drove into town to make my appointment.
Now, my first nipple piercing was a disaster (strictly on my behalf though. The piercing was as perfect a piercing as I have ever seen!) I was ultra nervous and got the spins as soon as the needle was in. This in turn made me freak out and, basically, I had to subject my long-suffering piercer, John, to a hysterical "What's wrong with me?! What's happening?! I'm dying!!!" freak-out. It lasted 2mins, if that. Felt like a tit afterwards.
Anyway, back to the point (pun intended). John inspected my previously pierced nipples and was satisfied there was nothing to hinder new jewellery (no scar tissue or even signs of the old bars which I had in place). He cleaned me up and marked where the needle was to go while we talked. I remember him asking me: "Are you sure you're going to be ok with both of these after what happened before?" I think I laughed (I still cringe when I think about my distinct lack of calm and composure on the day of my first nipple piercing experience!) I told him I was fine and relaxed and he seemed to buy it! : )
Finally, it came time to lie down. Now, that's the exciting part for me. You KNOW you're about to feel a needle penetrating your flesh and there's NO dignified escape! I suppose that's part of the attraction (not to mention the effect of the finished piercing). I'm one of those men with super-sensitive nipples. Did I say sensitive? I meant SENSITIVE. One of my mates showed me his nipple piercing when we were trading piercing stories and he said it was the easiest, most painless thing he had ever experienced. My account was 100% contrary to that,let me tell you!
John started to pierce my right nipple first. I did the breathing exercises, concentrating on enjoying the experience and not tensing up (which just makes the pain far worse than it actually is!) I felt the needle go in on my exhale. God, did it sting?!! But anyway, that was one down, one to go.
John moved around to my left side which, for some reason, ALWAYS bleeds (if I get something pierced on the right side of my body, I rarely bleed... go figure!) He made a joke about me having a dodgy blood supply to my right side which I would have laughed at if I hadn't felt a sharp needle pop through my left nipple! Now, the right one stung, but the left one REALLY sucked!!! I could feel myself tensing up and biting my lip, my eyes all screwed up tight while I lay there, helpless.
Lo and behold, I bled for a minute from my left nipple. Just a trickle or two, but blood nonetheless. John cleaned me up and prepared to put the titanium bars in place. This also is unpleasant, but not altogether as painful as the actual piercing itself.
Please remember when reading this account that everyone is different. I happen to have large, sensitive nipples. I found the piercing experience particularly uncomfortable, but wouldn't in a million years NOT have my nipple bars now! You might be like my mate with the easy, soft-as-butter nipples which pierce without much of a sensation (as lots of people, I later found out, are like anyway!)
Anyway, the bars went in and John patched me up beautifully. He gave me some protective patches, as I informed him I had band rehearsal that night (as a guitar player, I have often tasted the sorrow of catching my guitar strap behind my nipple jewellery but, thankfully, not during a healing period...) The patches prevent any accidents of that sort during that crucial time.
Which brings up bang up to date, 12 months after the piercing. The left one healed in a couple of months, as did the right one, although I noticed I was getting some unattractive lymph still from the right. Then one night I accidentally whacked it with the top of my car door. I thought I was going to die from the pain! It turns out I ALREADY had a minor infection and then, adding the mother of all insults to injury, I go and spank it a good one with sharp-ish top ridge of my car door. That little setback cost me a few months, but with a little TLC, Provon wash and twice daily charcoal soap cleansing, it's finally settled down.
As for me, I adore the nipple piercing on men and, especially, women. The sensation when someone plays with it, in any way, is incredible and it doesn't take much more to 'get you going' : )
So please brave the pain, take the plunge and let someone qualified stick sharp needles into your tits. You won't regret it.