I have always wanted to get nipple piercings. I think they look hot, and since my nipples aren't particularly sensitive, the stories about increased sensitivity intrigued me. I pretty much needed really hard sucking or biting to feel anything whatsoever. I did an insane amount of research online, mostly at BMEzine. My boyfriend, Dave, and I had discussed piercings before. We had wanted to get "commitment" nipple rings, but then we had a nasty breakup and things fell through. Back together again, we decided Valentine's Day was a good day to go get holes put in us. I chose nipple piercings, and was given the choice of what to pierce on Dave! There was a strict "no below the belt rule", but anything else was open. He basically wanted to get a facial piercing but he wasn't sure what would look most flattering on him. After much discussion with him, my friends and his friends, we decided on a labret for him.
At A Glance Author Kat Contact Kat@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Stephanie Studio Sacred Heart Location Vancouver, BC I had quite a few people wanting to come with us to watch, but Dave was only comfortable with my friend Paul coming. Who happened to have a digital camera. Yay! I wanted to go to Adrenaline on Granville, as I have quite a few friends who go there. But Paul, his girlfriend Janine, and my friend Aaron all recommended Sacred Heart. So off we went, the day after Valentines Day. We went for a big sushi meal first, and then wandered around the corner to Sacred Heart on Nelson. We walked in, and I was immediately charmed by all the pretty statues and Japanese paintings. We shyly wandered up to the counter and asked about getting our piercings done. The girl was super nice, and we filled out all the forms and showed ID. While we were waiting, Dave decided to get another earring. As long as we're here, right?
So after a short wait, our piercer, a small girl with pink dreads, led us back to a little room that looked like a doctor's office but with a statue of Kwan Yin and old paintings of Japanese girls. She introduced herself, I think it was Stephanie(honestly my brain was too muddled to remember), and went over aftercare with us. I asked her about the fact that I'd just started my period that morning, and whether that would affect the piercing. The problem is, we'd been planning the piercing for almost a month, and we wanted it on or near Valentines Day. And of course, the day we decided to go, I had to start bleeding. So my breasts were swollen and a little sensitive. She cringed then grinned and said, "Yeah, I won't lie, they'll hurt more since you're on your menstrual cycle." I shrugged and said, "It's cool, as long as it won't interfere or cause problems."
"Alright", she said, "you ready?"
So I took off my shirt and stood up. She warned me she's a perfectionist when it comes to marking where the piercings will go. I didn't mind, as I'd rather have a perfectionist than someone who just jams the needle in willy-nilly. She also warned me she'd have to tweak my nipples to get them to stand up. I also didn't mind this. She swabbed me down with purple stuff on a q-tip I assume was iodine, and it was cold but kind of nice. She marked me up and asked me to check out where the dots were in the mirror. One of my breasts hangs noticeably lower than the other, but the marks were both perfectly horizontal. She did a good job. Then I laid down on the table facing the way she told me. All this time Paul was snapping pics.
Then, I started to get nervous. She told me to breathe, that I'd want to keep breathing. Dave held my ankle and petted it. She clamped the first nipple, my right. And told me it'd pinch. Then I closed my eyes and concentrated on breathing. I felt the needle go in. Then it wasn't so bad and I thought it was over. Then it "popped" out the other side of my nipple. Ouch. But it wasn't an unmanageable pain. I didn't even squeak. She popped the barbell in, which hurt a little. She screwed on the ball, and asked me if I was ok, and surprisingly, I felt fine. No lightheadedness. So I sat up and flipped around. I pointed out that I've heard the second one is way worse. Paul agreed(he has diagonal 10g barbells). I said, "Well, I guess I'll find out now."
She clamped me, put the needle in, and all I can say is ow. This one made me flinch. It hurt way worse. I honestly have no idea why, whether it was 'cause I'd heard it hurt more, or I used up all my endorphins, or whatever. But there was actual pain involved. So I concentrated on breathing and wiggling my toes. It made one eye water a little, but that was all. She popped in the barbell, screwed it on and voila! I was pierced! I asked if wearing a bra would help or hinder my walk home. Stephanie assured me that wearing a bra would probably help a lot. Then she went on to pierce Dave, but that's another story. Afterwards I bugged Dave about a tip, and since he doesn't really understand tips, he gave her a $10, I poked him until he coughed up another $5 because I felt she deserved more. I'm still not sure on tipping protocol in piercing/tattoo places. It was kind of embarrassing.
The walk home was interesting. I could feel every breeze that hardened my nipples around the metal. Every brush of fabric. There was a faint burning, but it wasn't entirely unpleasant. I went home, ate some chocolate, wandered around topless. They don't hurt at all now except when I bump them by accident. I woke up with a cough and a cold this morning, and I'm hoping my immune system can handle it and my piercings. Overall, it was a great experience, I've done one sea salt soak so far, and I'm being insanely perfect about my after care. Sacred Heart was a really great place to go, and Stephanie was really sweet and professional. I'd recommend nipple piercing to anyone, but try not to go when you're menstruating. I'm all swollen now, and very aware of the barbells. Dave told me how proud he was of me and how much he'll miss playing with my nipples. But it's not that long of a wait, and then we'll have fun with them!