My Nipple Piercing Experience

September '99 - Well, I've been planning to do it for a long time, and I finally did - I got my nipples pierced. (No, guys, there will be no pictures in this article..sorry) I was actually pretty nervous going into the studio. It had been over a year since my last piercing, and that was my eyebrow. But I was pretty apprehensive about the pain involved in getting my nipples done. Of course, I've heard lots of horror stories, and it seems that the majority of my friends were totally against the whole idea. I knew it was something I wanted, though, and I finally got up the guts to do it.

I walked into the studio, and yes, I was stone-cold sober. I know that alcohol can thin the blood and increase bleeding, and I didn't need that along with the pain. I went to Taboo Tattoo in Deep Ellum (Dallas) Texas, filled out my paperwork, and nervously waited for the piercer to be ready. Steve (the piercer) walked by and said, "You ready?" I took a deep breath, and thought, "Ready as I'll ever be!"

I walked into his little room, and it reminded me of a doctor's room. The same kind of table/bed type thing, covered with that same crinkly paper. There were jars of piercing supplies on the shelves, and sterilized clamps and needles in little sterilizing pouches, and of course...latex gloves. Steve donned the gloves, and had me stand up to mark where the piercings would go. Then he had me lay down on the table. This is when I started getting really nervous. I felt the cold clamp squeezing around one nipple, and he said, "Ready?" "I guess so!" was all I could say, and then pop! in the needle went. I felt it go in, it hurt, I winced, and then it was over. Next nipple..same thing. Over in less than a second. I was shocked.

Immediately following the piercing, of course they were pretty sore. It's been 4 days now since I had them done, and they're still a little sore. Other than that, cleaning them is no big deal. Sleeping is a little difficult. I don't want to roll over on them. All in all, though, it hasn't been that bad. I wonder what I should get pierced next? (ha-ha!)

Taboo Tattoo is located in Deep Ellum in Dallas, Texas. Their piercers there are Joey and, of course, Steve.

February, 2000 - It has now been 5 months since I got my nipples pierced. They have undergone severe torture tests, including my one year old trying to rip one out! (Ouch!) That put my healing back about a month, and I did have some problems with that one side. But now I can say that they are almost completely healed, and I am glad I didn't take them out the times I was so tempted. I have returned to Steve for another piercing - my nose. Maybe I'll write an experience on that one soon.

January, 2002 - I can't believe I've had these piercings so long now. Most of the time I forget they are even there. They did take a while to heal, but I've been very happy with them. They've kind of become a part of me. Since my last update, I've moved to Indiana, where I have another wonderful piercer, Billy. See pictures of my tragus piercing and my friend's tongue piercing with Billy at http://tattoo.about.com/library/weekly/aa041501a.htm

January, 2005 - I just realized how long it had been since I updated this page. I am sad to report that early last year I had to make the decision to remove my piercings. As with almost all of my piercings, after 4 years they started to migrate. It became very painful and I could see that there was really no way to save them, so I removed them before they caused any serious damage to my nipples. They are now fully healed and I have not considered piercing them again. It was fun while it lasted. *smile*

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Nipple Piercing Q & A

In response to a previous article about embarrassing questions, I received an overwhelming response and a lot more questions! I got many questions particularly about nipple piercings, so below are some detailed answers to the most commonly asked questions.

Combatting Shyness
If you are shy about presenting your nipple to a stranger, this is perfectly normal! Remember that your piercer is a professional and this is not a sexual thing. The less clothing you have to remove, the more comfortable you will probably be, so I would suggest wearing a button up top. This way, you only have to expose the nipple being pierced and keep everything else covered up.

The Pain Factor
I have my nipples pierced, so I am speaking from experience. Getting them pierced was a breeze. I was only going to pierce one at a time, but the first one was so easy I told him to go ahead and do the other one, too. I'll admit, tho, that by then my endorphins had run down and the second one hurt a bit.

Endorphins are wonderful little things. They race through your body, giving you the strength for the "fight or flight" response. They also help to minimize pain. It is a GOOD thing to have some fear and apprehension before getting pierced, because those little endorphins will kick in and help you fight any pain. That doesn't mean you won't feel it, but it will greatly minimize the discomfort.

Also, keep in mind that a piercing is over very quickly. Almost any of us could endure even the worst torture for one or two seconds. I promise, a piercing is nothing like torture!

Abnormal Nipple Shape
If your nipples are abnormally shaped, such as inverted or flat, it will be best to allow your piercer to determine if they can be pierced and what the effect will be. It's difficult to diagnose a condition without being able to see, so make an appointment with your piercer for a consultation.

Healing & Soreness
Now, once you are pierced, the healing process may be slow. This depends a lot on the size and weight of your breasts. Those with smaller breasts will actually have less problems than those with heavier breasts that can get caught in things through natural movement. You never realize how much pulling and squishing your nipples undergo every day until you get them pierced!

If your nipples are sore during the healing process, an ice pack can do wonders. If you don't have an ice pack, a package of small frozen vegetables like peas or corn works really well. Don't laugh! This is a highly recommended method of treatment for engorged breast-feeding mothers.

Sea salt soaks will also provide comfort to a sore nipple piercing. Most nipples will rest comfortably in a small cup of salt water, so this can be done easily while watching TV, reading a book or relaxing. Soak each pierced nipple for about 5 minutes and then rinse well.

The less aggravation your piercing undergoes, the quicker the healing time will be. It should only take about 6-8 weeks. In my case, it took 6 months because my youngest daughter was still very small when I got mine pierced. She was climbing up on my lap one day and grabbed my nipple......ouch! This set the piercing back to the beginning as far as healing goes, so be careful!

If it's been many months and your nipples still haven't healed, you may have an allergy or sensitivity to the jewelry you are wearing. You also might be doing something to aggravate it without realizing it. It's best to see your piercer (or any professional piercer) and let them look at it so they can make an informed suggestion for healing.

Jewelry Rejection
Is a nipple piercing considered a surface piercing? And can it reject like a surface piercing? Technically, no. Although the nipple is similar to a surface piercing in that it enters and exits the skin in two different areas, it's not quite the same. The nipple is fleshy enough to pierce securely behind plenty of skin to prevent rejection. But that doesn't mean a nipple piercing can't reject - especially if it's not done properly in the first place. If the jewelry gauge is too thin or the piercing isn't deep enough to begin with, you run the risk of rejection. If you have an allergy to the metal, it could cause it to reject. If you have problems with infection and/or tug and pull on it too much, it could reject. Actually, almost any piercing falls under these rules - so make sure your piercer knows what they're doing and be extra dutiful about your aftercare!

More Questions Answered on Page 2

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