At A Glance
Author	Dominic
Contact	dom@unshed.com
When	Three months ago
Studio	Ritualistics
Location	Edmonton, Alberta

I had been thinking about getting my nipple pierced for about 2 weeks before I made the plunge. I had my eyebrow pierced for awhile and decided to expand my piercing world. I did all sorts of research online, checked out some pictures of fully healed nipple piercings and decided on a ring.

Well, I went in and sat down and they started giving me the regular spiel. Signed my papers and headed into a room with two of their employees. One of them was an apprentice, and was going to mark the nipple. It took her about half an hour of trying, over and over and over, until she had it right! This should have been the only clue I really needed but I didn't have much experience. When it finally came down to it, I was nervous. So I lay down on this bench, and the piercer (not the apprentice) puts the clamp on. That alone hurt quite a bit, but maybe I'm a wuss! :) The needle went through and I saw stars! I thought I was going to throw up or pass out, but I got over it after a couple minutes. They let me lay there a bit while I recovered, and they cleaned up the would. They threw on some gauze and tape and I was on my way. I also got my conch done at the same time, but that healed nicely and went quite well.

I had to go to work that day, and it hurt a lot. Even for a couple days it was hurting a lot, and bleeding regularly. Eventually it stopped bleeding and the piercing was finally visible. Lymph leaked for weeks, and I started getting this weird rubbery flesh at the edge of the piercing that I believe is called a fistula. It didn't go away, I was still getting lymph secretion and on all that I was getting a lump of tissue forming at the edge of one hole.

At this point, being inexperienced and impatient, I was doing a number of things wrong. I was picking at it, I was applying ointments I was specifically told NOT to use and I wait way too long to get it checked out.

I went back to Ritualistics where I different piercer took a look at it, and actually got angry when he saw how bad it was. He let me know it was way too deep and even crooked and that he would re-do it for free if I wanted. While I was definitely interested, I didn't really want that parlor to have my business anymore. I thanked him for his professional advice and opinions and was on my way. I left the piercing in at this point, hoping it might heal some more.

I kind of got used to how terrible it was after awhile and taking 'care' of it. A couple months ago I got my eyebrow and lip re-done at a new place, Eye of the Lotus. The people there are fantastic! I had one of them take a look, and he recommended taking it out, letting it heal and they could re-do it.

Well, I took it out and let it heal up, and now I have these terrible scars on my areola. It looks like I have three nipples. One of them is very pronounced and even a bit white. The other is a little bit how I expected the scarring to look, but it is also a bit erect and would make repiercing difficult (My understanding is that a good piercing artist will not go through scar tissue if it can be avoided).

I will be getting my nipple repierced, along with the other one. However, I want to get them done at the same time and I am working on getting this scar tissue broken down. I'm applying cortisone to it several times a day, with a little bit of result so far. I am told vitamin e oil works well too.

Once the scar tissue goes down and my nipples are a little more 'normal', I will be going back to Eye of the Lotus. I also plan to get a couple tattoos there. :)

I realize the risk in getting certain piercings now, and will be doing a lot more research into the piercER as well as the piercing now. I am lucky that I still have sensitivity in my nipples. I may be nervous about getting my nipples pierced now, but that's not going to stop me, and as soon as I get them redone you can bet on me posting a new (hopefully GOOD) experience and maybe some pics!

My advice to anyone new to piercings is to GO TO A PROFESSIONAL if you are concerned about anything. They won't think you're silly for being worried :)