About two years ago, little more, I had nipple piercings put in. I am a 38C, and thought that rings would look really cool. I did research on what gauges were typical, how long it took to heal, what questions to ask about sanitation and what was the norm. I also had a lot of friends that had had nipple rings for years, and they were able to answer some questions that I had, too. So I felt confident when I went in and was pierced in a 14 gauge normal stainless steel captive ring. Of course, (foreshadowing) being a 38C is NOT THE NORM and so all of that research wasn't specifically geared towards me. Back to the story--Being large chested, I could not believe in the first week or two the number of times I touched my breasts against things-leaning over to tie my shoes, drying in shower, etc. It was insane. Eventually, with saline washes and good cleanliness, the swelling and such goes down...
At A Glance Author cupcake_vegas IAM cupcake_vegas When Two years ago Studio body tech Location florida Now think 6 months later, and I STILL have to be careful. I'd been told it takes up to a year, so no sweat. I've moved from a ring to barbells, however, at the standard 1/2 inch barbell. The holes with the rings were...not closed, but gapping a little, though at the time, I didn't see any rejections. With the barbells, Things were better--I'd had problems sleeping, since if I slept on anything BUT my back, the rings got pushed (boobs big enough that they actual REST on the bed). And besides, most rings tended to pinch a little since I had larger nipples, even though I was repeatedly told that the ring I used was within the standard size ratio. Every once in a while I still do sea salt baths—I learned, and I know it sounds funny, to mix up a small amount in a teacup and then to rest my nipple in the top of the cup—as if my nipple was sipping! It looks really silly, but I swear it works.
After a year, I am frustrated. I have been VERY diligent, I am VERY clean, I even sleep on my back now, but I still can't call them healed. They still easily tear if given all but the most delicate touch, and daily crusties are still abound. Now I'm living with someone and having absolutely no touchy-feely in my whole chest area sucks like you wouldn't believe. This, it turns out, is NOT fun. Not only that, but I notice that one of my barbells has started to migrate down--just a mm, but enough that I'm not happy, and they are not even.
So I go to Piercing Experience in Atlanta on a trip after seeing their website and ask what is going on. They tell me a few things. A) my breasts are a bit big, and my nipples even bigger, and nipple piercings are possible, but much harder than with (ahem) flatter girls who don't jiggle and have friction with their clothes. B) I really shouldn't be using a 14, since its too thin for my larger nipples, and should go to a 10 gauge, AND the reason I hadn't healed properly was that I was having a mild reaction to stainless steel!
They gave me titanium barbells, and within 2 weeks, I was healed and painless! NO tenderness, NO tearing and NO crusties. I could finally sleep like a normal person, consider possibly swimming in the pool the next summer, all thanks to the amount of time I was given in Atlanta. The jewelry was a bit expensive since it was titanium, but they took me in a back room and helped me put it in since I had still been tender, and gave me a couple of other suggestions and tips. They are EXTREMELY knowledgeable in Atlanta. I suggest them highly. As for the nipples, after struggling for a year and a half, once they healed, I just took them out. Sounds silly after all the pain, but it just proved to me once and for all that I am really a tattoo girl. Besides, a year and a half of struggling with my breasts, I was tired of looking at them as the enemy.
The good thing is that since I waited until they healed with the titanium barbells, I didn't scar. I have to actively search to find where the entrance and exit holes are. AND, even though I took them out, I gained extra nerve sensitivity in the whole area. I'm not a wus, but I don't need rings to prove that. If I want the jewelry, I'm sure I can find some peircelss jewelry out there. I would have been happy if I'd just healed normally, but after all the trouble, I was just ready to be done.