At A Glance Author Sass Contact Sass@bme.anon When A week ago Studio D.I. So, I decided to get my nipples pierced. This was a completely random, spur of the moment thing for me as I've never really considered getting them pierced before. I've always thought that nipple rings looked good on men and girls with large breasts. I have never considered myself to have large enough breasts to handle the metal rings, and I've always thought of my nipples as being too small. My biggest fear was that the rings would look overbearing on me and that it would take away the femininity of my body. I couldn't have been more wrong.
This is my first year away at college and since I have my own piercer at home that I'm very comfortable with, I was especially nervous venturing off to a shop that I knew little about. I did what I think everyone should do before getting any modifications done: I looked at all the shops in towns, talked to the piercers, saw portfolios, discussed the cleaning procedures, etc. I found one uptown that I was really impressed by, much more than the others, and instantly felt comfortable with the lady piercer. (As a side note, although it did not play a part in my decision, a lady piercer may make a female more comfortable, and thus make it a better experience). I talked to her about my fear of the large rings on my small breasts, and she reassured me that she would measure my nipples and find the smallest ring possible. Oh, and to add, I went with the rings because they are, I think, easier to clean and easier to heal. Additionally, she said she would pierce them at a 16g. (I had once heard that they should not be pierced under a 14g due to a higher rejection chance; however, I'm hoping to beat the odds) I made an appointment and was set to go later that week.
When I came in the shop, I was relatively nervous. I've had other previous modifications done such as my common earlobes, my septum, and a triple navel, but I knew this was going to be a little different. I got into the shop, signed all the necessary papers, and she took me into the area where she sterilized everything in front of me. She had me remove my shirt and then she measured my nipples. She dipped a toothpick in ink and marked the entrance/exit dots on both nipples and told me to look in the mirror. I did and although I was nervous, I loved the way they looked. I became so incredibly anxious to have them done.
She had me lay down on a covered chair which she reclined back into a comfortable position. She discussed the procedure with me and the basic mechanics of inhaling and exhaling. She started with my right nipple. I took a deep breath, exhaled, and I felt the nipple go through. It did hurt, but of course it will... you have foreign metal piercing through your skin. My exhale was very breathy, as I was surprised at the intense pinch. I looked at my nipple and the ring stuck straight into the air. There was a small amount of blood that trickled but it was nothing severe. She then moved to the other nipple. This one was definitely more painful, as I had already lost most of my adrenaline rush. Also, my second nipple seemed to be more tough and she had a harder time getting the needle through. This one didn't bleed as much but felt more tender.
She then described the after-care procedure and what-not. She gave me a cleaner to use twice a day on my nipples and some instructions. She told me I had to "train" my nipple rings to hang down so that they weren't constantly pointed into the air. She said the best way to do this was when I wore a bra, to be sure that the rings were hanging down. So far, this has worked. It has been three days and the rings hang downward most of the time, except occasionally during a cleaning. There is still a small amount of blood but it's usually during cleaning where I must move the jewelry and so far, it is nothing that I've been worried about. There is no swelling or redness and I only feel slight pain or tenderness when I'm cleaning them.
As for the clothing I wear, I sometimes wear a lightly padded, cotton bra during the day. Most people think that it would be more comfortable to go without a bra; however, the slight bounce of your breast (yes, they move more than you realize!) against your shirt is very annoying and can make them tender. Sometimes I'll wear a sports bra, but they seem to be a little more snug than most so I only wear them for a brief amount of time as I don't want to put unnecessary pressure on the rings. I find it comfortable to sleep in a relatively tight tank top so that the rings stay down, yet they're not as constrained. Once again, I go with cotton because it lets them breathe more.
I think the rings look simply beautiful and I think instead of overbearing my breasts, they help showcase them. They're small, they're feminine, and I'm absolutely in love with them. Additionally, I think they've made my nipples look better (as they've made them a bit more erect) and I feel less self-conscious because I am so fond of them.
If you're considering the pain factor, I'd say... yes, expect some uncomfortable pain, but don't let that discourage you. It was very much worth it and if I had to, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
[Warning: I'm afraid to recommend going with the 16g for nipples, as I'm not far enough into the healing stage to see whether or not they are showing signs of rejection. They just seemed most suitable for me and the high rejection rate was a risk I was willing to take. You may not be willing to do so, as 14g is usually a safer bet.]