For my birthday I decided that I should follow tradition and get myself a new piercing. I'd previously stuck to ear piercings (I have 15 ear piercings), apart from my tongue and my navel. I had wanted to repierce my lower navel, as I'd had problems with two of the three piercings and was forced to take them out. But the more I thought about it, the more I thought I should leave my navel alone. But I was still desperate to get pierced. So I decided on a nipple piercing. I read a lot of experiences on BME, and asked some of my friends on IAM who have their nipples pierced, about what kind of things I could expect during the piercing procedure and the healing process. Most people agreed that it doesn't hurt as much as people say it does, but I am not put off by pain. I am more interested in how the piercing will look when it's finished healing.
At A Glance Author Sarah Contact sassie@hippychick.co.uk IAM Sassie When A month ago Artist Squib Studio Hedonism Location Hanley, Staffordshire, UK Anyway, three days after my birthday I took the afternoon off college and dragged my mum to Hedonism in Hanley, Staffordshire. I trust this place implicitly; they always make a good job and are very professional.
I walked in and was greeted by Squib. Even though I don't go there very often, he recognised me. He was having a cigarette outside, so I walked over to the desk and spoke to the receptionist-cum-apprentice about the piercing. He smiled, and handed me the appropriate forms to fill in, and also a sheet on nipple piercings, explaining the procedure, and aftercare techniques. I received a similar one when I had my navel pierced, and it proved very useful.
I went upstairs to the piercing room and sat in the waiting room until Squib was ready to see my. My mum looked really nervous, she hates coming with me to things like this, but I think she'd prefer to come with me than to not know about my piercings at all. Squib came up and I followed him into the piercing room. There was no waiting list, like there normally is on a Saturday. He told me to lie down on the dentist chair, and take off my shirt and undo my bra. He said I didn't need to take off my bra if I didn't want to. I felt completely comfortable; it was like going to see the doctor. My old piercer was a little sleazy and I didn't feel completely comfortable, which detracted from what should be a pleasurable experience.
He talked me through exactly what he was doing. He wiped the area with an antibacterial swipe, and got out the clamps, needle and jewellery. I'd already told the apprentice that I'd like to wear a BCR. He took the ball out of the BCR and we were ready to go. He marked my nipple, then clamped it. This was uncomfortable but nowhere near as painful as I'd been expecting. It was bearable. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly as I felt the needle go through. There was some resistance in the middle of my nipple, and I grabbed the arms of the chair as my eyes started to water. It was all over in thirty seconds, and the ring went in smoothly. I was impressed with how little it had hurt. I carefully got dressed. My nipple didn't hurt at all, but it was super sensitive.
Squib went over the aftercare, then commented, "I bet you know all that already though", as I handed him the money. I walked out, and went back to the car. Luckily, my seat belt didn't rub on my nipple!
For the rest of the week, my nipple was so sensitive. I've never been so horny in all my life! My best friend found this very amusing. I'd tried to keep the piercing secret, but word soon got around. Not many people in my area are pierced, but they find my piercings fascinating. A couple of my friends dragged me into the loos at college and demanded to see. They even commented on how pretty it looks!
I've used absolute minimal aftercare on this piercing. I wash it well in the shower, but there has been very little in the way of "crusties" etc, and I've been pierced for about a month now. There was an incident in the common room at college where I was pushed into, and the piercing was torn ever so slightly. It's now a little lower on the right side than it is on the left, but it doesn't look too bad, and the piercing seems to have recovered well. There are no signs of migration, touch wood.
The piercing has been one of the easiest to heal so far. It's discreet and easy to hide (but not when wearing tight tops!). I wear a plaster over it when I'm playing sports. For the first week, I wore a plaster over it while I was at work, because I work on a till in a supermarket and I thought it would have gotten bashed around a lot more than it did.
I wore a bra the whole time... I hate not wearing a bra. I don't think that this had any impact on the piercing, it's just whatever suits the individual.
I'd definitely recommend this piercing, although I think that it might have been better for me to wear a barbell during the initial healing period, rather than a BCR. However, I'm really pleased with the piercing, and I can't wait to get my other nipple pierced!
If you have any questions feel free to email me :)