I have always loved and been interested in body modification. I had a few piercings on my ears including stretched lobes. I decided I wanted to be tattooed for my 18th birthday. I talked to Sean Philips (IAM: LexTalonis). He suggested that an artist that rents out space in his shop might be what I was looking for in terms of an artist. I got down to booking my time and when I found out I could not get my tattoos done until almost a full month after my birthday, I decided to get pierced. It took me quite some time to figure out what I wanted pierced. I could not get any facial piercings due to my attendance of private school and due to my parents. I could not get my bellybutton pierced at the time because my school uniform rubbed right where my bellybutton was. So, I needed a piercing I could get, keep hidden, and keep as my little secret. I decided that I would have my nipples pierced, vertically.
At A Glance Author Kat Contact kathleen.mcnutt@gmail.com IAM PhenoBarbiDoll When Six months ago Artist Sean Philips (IAM:LexTalonis) Studio Marlowe Ink Location Farifax City, Virginia I read experience after experience, going back and forth about whether or not I should get pierced or not. I was nervous, scared, curious, worried. I was sincerely scared or the entire experience, so much so that I almost decided not to go through with it. In the end, after many discussions with friends, confidants, and people who I rely on and trust completely, I decided to go through with the piercings as soon as was possible. I turned 18 in February and decided to wait until the weekend following my birthday to go through with things.
Five days after my birthday, February 20th, I decided would be the day I got my nipples pierced. I met up with a friend of mine, MJ (IAM: SisterDisco), and we took my car out to Marlowe Ink in Fairfax, Virginia. During the trip there, I munched on random crackers, food, water, and soda. I had never been professionally pierced before and I wanted to make sure I wouldn't become lightheaded, or feel like passing out afterwards.
When we walked in, I began to get a little bit nervous, but I was all right. Sean gave me the necessary paperwork to fill out, I gave him my money and followed him into the piercing room. I removed my top and he made the proper markings for my new, vertical nipple piercings. By this time, I was pretty nervous and a little jittery. I laid down on the piercing table and he disinfected my nipples. I had always heard clamps were the worst part of the experience and was happy when I realized that he would be performing the piercings freehand. If you can, I definitely recommend finding an artist that will perform the piercings freehand.
First came the right one. I clenched MJ's hand and squeezed my eyes shut as I prepared myself for the needle. I did not want to even see the needle, as it was 12 gauge. Before I knew it, I felt the needle going through. I'm not going to lie and say it did not hurt at all, but it was a lot less painful than I had anticipated. I opened my eyes and I was surprised to see that he had even put the barbell in already; I hadn't even felt it. Next, the left side. I prepared myself the same way but this side was mildly worse. When I felt the needle go through, my whole left side seized up but I tried to remain still. Again, before I knew it, the barbell was in.
I could not have been happier. They were even, not very painful, pretty, and just a little bit swollen. I talked to Sean for a brief few minutes following the piercing and then left with MJ. On the way home, the worst side effect was slight tingling and occasionally stinging. I used the sea salt soak and LITHA (Leave It The Hell Alone) methods for healing and things worked out splendidly. Over the healing process, I had very few problems but I did change the barbells from the 12 gauge 3/4" steel original barbells to 12 gauge ½" titanium oilslick barbells after having them for about 4 weeks. I had been slightly worried about the right piercing rejecting, as it was slightly off center after the swelling went down. But, after I made the switch, they healed drastically better and more quickly.
Overall, I'm 100 percent happy with the way my experience went. Sean Philips is an amazing piercer and a hilarious person and the whole atmosphere of the shop is absolutely wonderful. I had a great time and the whole time was much better than I ever could have imagined.
If anyone reading this is on the fence about getting their nipples pierced, just go for it, it is completely worth it!