I'd been reading and looking at the content on BME for several months when I decided to go ahead and get my first other-than-ear piercing. Facial piercing was out because I'd probably run into problems with my job over it and I really don't think it's something I want to do anyway. I didn't want a surface, genital or navel piercing so I narrowed myself down to doing something with the nipples. I liked the fact that the piercing would only be visible if I wanted it to be and had read several experiences wherein an increase of sensitivity in the area was reported after the piercing, so nipples looked like a win-win situation to me. I was a bit apprehensive about having a sharp object put through such a sensitive area but I didn't have any real doubts about my ability to deal with the pain.
At A Glance Author Cannabinos Contact Cannabinos@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Jody Studio Modern Primitives Location Shreveport, LA I chose to have the piercing done at Modern Primitives because they are the only shop in my area (that I know of) that has piercing as their main focus – they don't even do tattoos. I called to find out some details about pricing then I drove on over. The two people working were busy with other customers so I checked out the jewelry selection while I waited. I also checked out the piercings they had and noted they were all placed well and looked good. After a short wait one of the guys (Jody) came over and asked me what he could help me with. I told him I was thinking about a nipple piercing and asked him what gauge he would recommend starting with. He told me a 14g was standard but I could get it done in whatever gauge I wanted saying, "It all depends on how much you want to grit your teeth."
After looking at the jewelry some more I decided to go ahead and get it pierced at 10g since that was what I'd want to end up with anyway and I'd rather deal with a little extra pain up front than stretching and rehealing, stretching and rehealing etc. I also remembered reading that larger gauges are less likely to reject. He agreed with that logic and after signing a form he parted a bead curtain and invited me back to the "room of doom", as he put it. Once we got in there I asked about sterilization and he showed me the autoclave I'd walked right past without noticing. He had me stand for the cleaning and marking because he said the configuration of a chest surface changes from reclining to standing and if I wanted it to be straight I needed to be standing when it was marked.
Once the area was clean and the marks were on I laid myself back in the reclining chair and waited while he got the needle and jewelry ready. When he brought out the clamps I wasn't too worried. Even though I'd read on BME about the clamping sometimes being more painful than the piercing I didn't really think it would hurt that bad. Wrong! The damn thing hurt like hell. He grinned when I said that and told me that now I knew what nipple clamps were like if I hadn't worn them before. So now I have an area of sexual experimentation I can mark off the "fun" list without even trying. It took a little while to get my nipple in the clamp right and he told me he was making sure the skin was all lined up correctly. I told him to do whatever he needed since I'd rather have a bit more initial discomfort and a straight piercing than do it quick and end up with something I didn't like.
After the clamp was on properly he picked up the needle and it looked pretty damn big to me. I thought, "Fuck it, it's on now..." clenched my jaw and waited for the stick, which I was now hoping would hurt less than the clamping. It didn't quite turn out that way. I was expecting a "popping" sensation like when I pierced my own earlobe 18 years ago, just a little more dramatic. What I experienced was a definite slicing feeling as the needle slid through, accompanied by a few seconds of intense pain that made my eyes open wide and my right leg kick slightly. The peak pain passed quickly but the pierced area remained very sore throughout the insertion of the jewelry.
I bled very little, just a few drops. Jody used something white, can't remember if it was gauze or tissue, to dab up the blood and told me to just relax and it would be OK to get up in a few minutes. After the bleeding stopped I stood up and felt fine other than the continuing soreness in the nipple, no lightheadedness or anything like that. I thanked, paid and tipped him, listened to his instructions on aftercare (wash twice a day with antibac soap, no alcohol, peroxide, neosporin etc., use sea salt soaks if it becomes irritated and don't mess with it unless you're washing it) and took off.
Later that evening I washed it for the first time. I'd read an experience where the person recommended getting in the shower, cupping your hand under the nipple and letting the water flow over it without directing the spray onto the piercing itself and that sounded like a good idea so I tried it and it worked well. I've had it for two days now and it's still tender and hurts slightly when I turn the ring but I've had no crusties to speak of, no redness, hardly any swelling and it seems to be healing up fine. It's too early to confirm or deny the "increased sensitivity" claims so many people make but even if there isn't any heightened physical pleasure it's still a nice decoration and overall I'm quite happy with it. If this one heals up well I may get the other one done also.