I first go the notion to get my nipples pierced after my friend freshman year of college got hers done. I thought that they looked beautiful and was fascinated by the procedure. Though it would be two years, and three piercings later when I would finally get them done. After I got my labret pierced I felt that I could handle all the after-care and pain of a nipple piercing. If women in a repressed Victorian society could get their nipples pierced, using (I am assuming) "primitive" tools to get the job done, then I could sure as hell go through with it. Plus the secrecy of the piercing really appealed to me. I could control who saw it and who did not, thus making it truly mine.
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon When A month ago Artist Kris Studio Steve's Tattoo Location Oshkosh, Wisconsin
I wanted to get it pierced by someone that I knew would do a good job. I previously had a wonderful tattoo experience at Steve's Tattoo, and knew that it was a very clean and professional establishment. Additionally, one of my friends got his nipple done by the person that I was going to and it healed in tip-top shape.
I was very excited the day that I got it done. I restocked all my after-care needs, and I mean everything. I bought medical grade lavender oil, zinc and B vitamins, mild anti-bacterial soap, and sea salts. I am prone to fainting so I made extra sure to eat and drink enough before the procedure. Yes, I definitely thought that I was on the ball; no infection was going to get near my breasts.
When I got to the shop I was nervous, but what fun would piercing be void of pain and excitement? My guy friends who got their nips pierced warned me extensively about the pain, but I was up to it. Kris was very nice to me from the outset. I was taken back in a private room, where she went over all of the after-care that I was going to inherit with these piercings. My regime included daily sea-salt soaks, where one dilutes 1/8 of a teaspoon of sea-salt in enough water to fill a coffee cup, and, of course washing the piercings twice daily in mild anti-bacterial soap. Kris made sure that I knew to rotate the jewelry, but to take extra care to get all of the crusties off the jewelry before doing such, or else the dried plasma could tear the healing tissue and cause infection. And above all do not touch it, nor let anyone else do so either.
I really cannot complain about any aspect of the procedure. She cleaned the area very well and marked the placement perfectly. I was prepared for the clamp to be an extremely unpleasant experience, i.e. one of my guy friends said it hurt worse than the actual metal going through his nipple. Conversely, the clamp was uncomfortable at its worst. I was told to take deep breaths in and out...slowly. The sensation was unique. The pain was acute, but it was not excruciating. I was expecting a lot worse. I have to admit that I was feeling a wee bit faint after my first nipple was run through, so she waited a little while until I was up to it. I read in other's experiences that when their second nipple was pierced the pain was more concentrated. I, however, did not notice a difference.
Afterwards, Kris was nice enough to look at my labret piercing, which was giving me trouble. Sadly, I had to retire it that day, because the guy who pierced me got the placement wring and it was starting to form keloid around the area. She was cool enough to give me a coupon to get it re-pierced even though no one from their organization pierced me there. After that, she gave me a package of sea salts to use (by this time I now have enough sea-salts to last me a long time) and an after-care sheet. I paid and tipped her, and was on my merry way.
Of course the first night is the worst. My nipples were throbbing. I made sure that I wore my most comfortable bra, complete with lots of padding, and tried not to sleep on my sore girls. The next day, the bled a little, and cleaning them was a bit awkward. They bled on and off for the next couple of days, but not enough to warrant much annoyance. The sea salt soaks felt so good. I must say that after that initial week I have experienced no problems with them. They were healing beautifully.
This is where the story takes an interesting turn, about a week later, at a family function my aunt commented on my noticeably absent labret piercing. I told her that I went to Steve's Tattoo in Oshkosh to have it looked at, purposely leaving out the fact that I got my nipples pierced. Call me old-fashioned, but I think that this kind of piercing is extremely private (hence some of its appeal). My family is very conservative, it took everyone a while to get used to my labret, thus, if they found out it would be a very stressful situation for me to explain my reasons. Especially since there is a sexual component to the piercing. To my utter horror, my aunt said that she was friends with Kris; knowing my aunt I was sure that she would bring my visit up in a conversation. So I was anxious that Kris would mention to my aunt my nipple extravaganza.
I wrote Kris a letter, thanking her for giving me the coupon for the labret piercing, and asking her if she could please keep the piercing I underwent with her confidential. I was really appreciative to her for the coupon and the good quality job that she preformed on such a delicate area of my body. I did not have a phone at my apartment at this time, and I also live in Madison, two hours away from Oshkosh, so I thought a thank-you card would be a good option. I could cover all my bases, and thank the piercer.
Well, I later got a frantic phone call from my mother asking if I got my nipples pierced. She found out about it from my aunt. My aunt even told her about the card that I wrote. I really felt betrayed. My mother, as noted earlier, is pretty conservative, she was told that I will never be able to nurse a baby, and loose sensation. I tried to tell her otherwise. I am now left with the choice of perpetuating familial distention or taking out my piercing. I spent $80 and went through a lot to keep my girls healthy, it is ridiculous that I have to make this decision, particularly because of a breech of confidence. I went to her fully trusting that because I was her customer my wishes would be respected. Such is life I guess. I am debating whether or not to request a refund; I will take them out in order to relieve tension that I do not need at this point in my life. I have enough pressure trying to get into graduate school.
My advice would be this. 1. The pain is really minimal and if I can do it with no problem, then really anyone can. It really is a beautiful piercing. 2. Make sure that your piercer is a not friend with your family. 3.Really do your research; don't just go anywhere to have such a special place pierced. Steve's Tattoo is a very reputable place.