At A Glance Author denki Contact denki@bme.anon IAM denki When Six months ago Artist Pierre Studio Black Sun Location Montreal, PQ This can be considered part two of the following experience. I know multiple piercing experiences can be submitted in one story, but I was afraid doing so might push me to forget to write about some invaluable or interesting details. I'll try to limit repetitions between the two stories, but I want both stories to be informative on their own, so bear with me and enjoy the ride.
First, a little background information. I had my tongue pierced a little more than a year and a half ago by Robert at Art en Mouvement, and had a rather average experience as the placement wasn't as perfect as it could have been, and the aftercare I was suggested wasn't suited to me. I had researched this piercing prior to getting it and was recommended the studio from a friend, but, in retrospect, I would have benefited from setting my standards higher.
I had been wanting my nipples and my navel pierced for a couple of months when April rolled in. The urge to get new holes was easily delayed by the need to make a more informed choice about my piercer this time. Throughout my research, all sources seemed to point in one direction : Black Sun Studio, in Montreal. I took an appointment to have all three piercings done at the same time, as it seemed to me they had to be done that way. I knew it would have been easier for a novice like me to care for one piercing at a time, and knew these piercings have a tendency to act up more than, say, lobe piercings, but I was confident I had enough respect for my body to care for it if things went less than smoothly.
We'll now fast-foward to the moment where the jewellery was put in my navel as to not bore you with details that have nothing to do with the nipple piercings per se any longer. Since I was afraid the navel piercing might put enough stress on my body for one day, and did not want to lose anyone's time, I had asked Pierre and his apprentice Robert to perform the navel piercing and then give me time to collect my thoughts so I could decide if the nipples were to be done in the same sitting.
My body didn't seem to mind that first CBR being put in, so I gave the nipple piercings a go. My memory is a little foggy at this point, but if I remember correctly, Pierre walked out of the piercing room, and I chose the jewellery with Robert. He seemed very concerned about putting the right jewellery in there, asking me, for example, if my nipples were to be submitted to rough play after the piercing. I wanted an horizontal placement. I didn't want to do the initial healing with barbells, because I was concerned about ease of cleaning and also for the simple reason that I wanted to see how my nipples would look with a ring going through them. I hesitated a little between getting CBBs or CBRs, but as there was a high probability I'd switch to BBs when my nipples would stop crusting, I took the more cost-effective CBR (stainless steel, 316LVM) route.
We decided on having the piercing done at 12ga. Once again, Robert was to do the placement, and Pierre (and of course, I) would approve it afterwards. It is a little surreal to have two guys discuss placement when you're sitting half-naked on the piercing chair, but it was not threatening. I've encountered less professional doctors (both in their 'bedside manner' and in their sterility procedures).
Pierre was, once again, to do the piercing. We decided on not doing both nipples 'in one go', that is, without giving me time to think between the piercings. He asked me what nipple was to go at it first, and I decided on the right one, as it is a little more sensitive than the left one. He had me sit up straight, then asked me to take deep breaths. He clamped the nipple, pierced and put the CBR in with a very swift and precise move. I could barely feel the clamp, and the piercing burned a little, but a paper cut feels worse in comparison. Then on came a Tegaderm, that I was told to keep on my piercing for 12 hours. I need to emphasise that I've learned to control my pain responses, and that I normally have VERY sensitive nipples. I'm sure it hurts if you don't prepare yourself mentally if, like me, you're blessed with sensitive nipples.
He then waited for me to give him the go for the left nipple. I didn't feel pressured at all, and that was great. When my concentration was soaring high again, I told him I was ready, and it went just as swiftly as before, but it felt as though closing the CBR hurt a little more this time. That was probably because my concentration was waning, though. I watched both nipples during the piercing and jewellery insertion (not with all my attention though, more like an afterthought), and from that point of view, Pierre's technique was impressive.
A couple of minutes after the piercing, I tried to put my bra back on (I'm a C-cup, and choosing pressure over jiggling sounded right), but my nipples were just too sensitive. I went bra-less for 2 days, after which wearing a bra felt just as it felt before. That's not entirely true, it felt a little better than it felt before, as the piercings have enhanced sensations in my nipples. I've read a lot of experiences where women feel better with no bra or a light support bra, but for some reason these options seem to irritate my nipples. The firmer the support, the happier my piercings, it seems. Padded bras are also a great protection against my clumsy boyfriend whom I love dearly but who had a tendency to forget my nipples were tender.
I've followed a simple aftercare routine : salt soaks 2 times a day for the first 2 months, then only once a day and Trisan antibacterial soap in the shower. I tried to keep the jewellery rotating to a minimum while making sure everything is rinsed out well, and did an extra water soak after the salt water soak to make sure there is no salt crystallising inside the piercings.
After 4 months, my nipples had stopped crusting significantly, but I kept on with the salt soaks. But they had started to get very irritated every time I did sports : red, tender nipples that would have crusties the morning after a good workout, no matter what kind of support I'd give them. I guess this is a signal I need to switch to barbells, a switch that should happen very soon. I've opted for titanium this time, as my body has been giving me signs it doesn't appreciate even the highest quality stainless steel in my navel piercing, and I don't want the same kind of ordeal in my nipples.
If you're in the Montreal area and are interested in getting a new piercing, I really, really recommend you go to Black Sun. They've been very informative and supportive whenever I had questions or problems. Even though I paid for them, these piercings feel like a gift. If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a line.