As many of you probably know, having an active interest and participation in the piercing/tattoo subculture is very difficult when living with your parents. Since that applies to me, it was my initial reason for thinking about nipple piercings, since there is no conceivable reason for those to be visible to my parents. I began thinking about them about four months ago.
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon When Three months ago Artist a friend of mine Studio my house Location washington, dc After a month or so of toying with this idea, I asked a friend of mine with some experience if she would pierce me. It took a little while for it to get set up, with needles, etc, but one day in the middle of the summer, we were both at my house [my parents were not home] and we decided that then would be a good time. I took off my top, which was less awkward than I expected, being that this is my best friend. We began to set up. First, she asked me whether I wanted my piercings to be vertical or horizontal. I hadn't really thought about that ahead of time, so I just chose the more traditional [relatively speaking!] horizontal, on the spur of the moment. I regret that a little now, since vertical are a little more interesting, but I find both types absolutely gorgeous. Then she applied the clamps. That was honestly the most painful part of the whole procedure for me, since it lasts longer and is just a tight metal grip on your nipple. Once the needles were ready to go, it was one, two, three, deep breath, and the needle was in. Since my friend used hollow needles, it was simple to insert the jewelery. There was barely any pain, and only slight bleeding. We only got one done that day due to time constraints, but I knew they would both happen eventually.
As for the other side, it was done about a week later, under the same circumstances. The only difference was that earlier in the day, unawares, I had taken ibuprofen, which is a blood thinner. This caused the second piercing to bleed quite a bit more than the first, but it was not any more painful. This was the biggest mistake I made. Afterwards, both breasts were slightly sore and a little more sensitive than usual, but otherwise just fine.
I was slightly worried that my piercings would be visible from the outside of my clothes, but even in a bikini, they are not noticeable, especially now that I have downsized the gauge to 18s.
I enjoy my piercings so much, and so does everyone else who sees them! All my friends want to examine them, and quite a few of them are planning on getting a set of their own. On a pain scale, my nipple piercings hurt less than gauging my ears from an 8 gauge to a 6. It is possible that I just have a higher pain tolerance than most people, but many people that I have talked who also have or have had nipple piercings, have agreed that this piercing was much, much less painful than expected.
They all agree that nipple piercings are a lot of fun. Also, many of the myths about them, ie. not being able to breastfeed, are not true. It is still completely possible for a woman with nipple piercings to breastfeed, since the milk comes out of the entire nipple, not just the point. Also, upon removal, nipple piercings should heal up within six months, so they are nearly as permanent as a tattoo, or even a medium gauged ear.
The only problems I have had with my piercings are to do with the jewelery. On many occasions, I have lost the balls from the ends, and once I also lost an entire barbell, which is the reason for my downsizing. Even after leaving the ring out for an entire day only a month and a half after piercing, there was no pain whatsoever upon replacing the ring. My other slight difficulty is due to the horseshoe barbells I wear. Since they are the only type I have ever worn, the holes have conformed to that semi circle shape. I once attempted to wear nipple shields, but I had quite a bit of difficulty inserting the straight barbells that are part of that. Plus, I find them quite unattractive and consider them overkill. I much prefer [for this particular piercing] simpler jewelery in smaller sizes. At the moment I have 18g steel horseshoe rings with small spikes on either end. I believe that if I managed to insert straight barbells and wore them for a while, the curve of the holes would straighten itself out.
Seriously, I love my nipples so much more now I've got a bit of metal in them. I do not regret piercing them one bit, and I highly recommend nipple piercings to everyone, they are so much fun, and quite sexy too. I am now considering getting vertical piercings in addition to my horizontals, which would be very exciting.