I found BME about a year ago when I was looking for tattoo ideas. My 19th birthday is coming up, and since I still hadn't decided on a tattoo design I began thinking about getting a piercing. I wanted something inconspicuous, so that left out any facial piercings. I wanted to get a vertical hood piercing, but after I was unable to find a studio I was comfortable with for this sort of piercing, I was back to square one.
At A Glance Author Marie Contact Marie@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Connie Studio Nemesis Tattoo and Body Piercing Location Iowa City, IA Then I came across the nipple piercing experiences. I had done a lot of experimenting with different nipple clamps, so this seemed like the next logical step. One of my friends had recently gotten her tongue pierced at Nemesis, so I figured I would just go over there one day to check it out.
About two weeks passed, and I still hadn't gotten up the courage to head over there. I kept making excuses, I had homework, I was busy, or I was too tired. Then last week I had some free time between classes so I made myself go check the place out. My original intention was just to check the place out and see how much it cost. The woman behind the counter said it was $50 including jewelry. Then she asked me if I wanted to get it done right then. I had no intention of getting pierced right away when I walked in, but I figured that if I didn't do it right away I would chicken out. So I said yes before I could think about it anymore.
She gave me a choice between 14 gauge captive ball rings or 14 gauge curved barbells. I chose the barbells because I think the barbells look more centered and much more attractive. She led me back to the piercing room where she washed her hands, put on gloves, and laid out everything she would be using, already sterilized. She showed me that everything was new and would only be used once because it would turn brown after being used. Then she changed her gloves again and had me take off my top and bra.
She marked where the piercings would go in and come out, then made me check to make sure they were even. They were, so then she used some surgical scrub to sterilize my nipples. She told me I wouldn't need to use anything nearly as strong when I was cleaning my piercings. Then I sat in the chair, and she tilted it back so I was lying down. I was told to concentrate on my breathing the whole time.
She did the right nipple first. When she went to put the clamp on, she told me it would be cold and slightly uncomfortable. It wasn't but maybe that's because I'm used to having my nipples clamped and enjoy it. Then she picked up the needle and told me to breathe deeply in and out. When I breathed out she put the needle through. I have read experiences where people say they screamed or kicked out from the pain, but in my experience it was nothing that bad. Sure it hurt, there was a 14 gauge needle sticking through my nipple, but it was completely tolerable. On a scale from 1 to 10, 1 being tweezing my eyebrows and 10 being my menstrual cramps, it was about a four, cutting myself shaving.
Then she told me she was going to put the jewelry in and it would probably be uncomfortable. I breathed in and out. I could feel her hand on my breast, but that was all. I had no idea the jewelry was in until she told me she was done. When I read experiences where people said they didn't feel anything, I always thought it was an exaggeration. But I literally didn't feel a thing. The left nipple would be nothing to worry about.
But as she switched sides to pierce the other nipple, I started to get nervous. Surely I had underestimated the pain. She told me that the second piercing usually hurts more. I had read experiences where some people said the second piercing hurt more and some where people said they hurt the same, so I wasn't really sure what to expect.
I have to say the second piercing did hurt more. Still tolerable, but there was a definite difference. Also, she was trying to time the piercing with my breathing, so it took a little while before she actually did it, giving me time to become even more nervous. When she put the jewelry in, there was a sensation like she had to punch through the skin. Not pain, but a lot of pressure.
That was it. I had gotten my nipples pierced and I couldn't believe it had been so easy. She used Q-tips to clean up the little bit of blood there was, but it wasn't more than a drop. She had me turn around so I could watch her dispose of the needles, assuring me they wouldn't be used again. I put my bra and shirt back on, and she gave me some paper towel to put in my bra in case they started bleeding.
I was told to wash them at least twice a day starting the following day using an anti-bacterial soap like Lever 2000. She also told me to use a sterile saline solution, preferably aerosol so it stayed sterile. If the skin around the piercings became red and dry, it was a sign I needed to wash less, not more.
I left the shop with a big smile on my face. I still had two classes to sit through that day, but I can't remember what we did in them, I was so happy. I wanted to show them to everyone, but I restricted myself to showing my one friend who could truly appreciate what I had done.
I had been told to avoid wearing a bra if possible, but as I was getting ready for bed that night I realized that that just wasn't an option. Being bra less was an incredibly painful experience, especially when laying on my back. Needless to say, I wouldn't be able to sleep like this on my stomach like usual. I tried to wear a sports bra, but that was way too tight. Finally, I went back to wearing my everyday under wire bra, and that helped a lot. After some careful maneuvering I was even able to sleep on my stomach, but the slightest movement would wake me up.
The first 24 hours were definitely the most painful, actually more painful than the piercing itself. After that the soreness got progressively less each day. It has been about a week now and the soreness is almost gone. I'm definitely looking forward to when they are healed enough that I can enjoy them, and I'm really looking forward to when they are fully healed, about 8 months from now, so I can put some really awesome jewelry in them.
I have always had really flat nipples, but since I got them pierced it seems like they are always hard, which I love. If you are seriously considering getting this done, I say go for it. I won't lie, there have been times in the past week when the soreness has caused me to have second thoughts, but now that the soreness has pretty much abated I know the final result will definitely be worth it.