Since I have been looking at the BME site for the past year or two, I decided it's time for me to add a submission...
At A Glance Author Locust Contact Locust@bme.anon When N/A Artist Eric Willis Studio Skin Images Location Hanover PA It was about the second week in February, when I decided to get my nipples pierced. Ever since I had gotten my labret pierced (June of 2002), and than got it redone New Year's Eve of 2003, I had wanted something else. The thought of having my nipples pierced had always crossed my mind, but I didn't think it was something I would actually go through. But I don't regret it at all.
I decided on my nipples because, I had wanted to get something done again. I had originally wanted to get my eyebrow, but shoved the idea aside for one reason. I'm about to graduate in about 6 months, and had to think about the professional job world. Having 1 facial piercing I might be able to get away with using a retainer, but multiple, unfortunately I don't think that thing would land me a job...yet. I dwelled on the idea of my nipples over and over, primarily because they would be something not so obvious. I talked to my roommate's one friend Sam about what it feels like and such. Sam has both of his done as well, horizontally and vertically. I also researched BME a good bit, reading experiences, and just obtaining information on it. So I got a hold of my friend Mel earlier in the week, and we decided to head out the upcoming Friday to go get my nipples done.
I met up with Mel that Friday afternoon, about 2 pm or so. I asked her to come along, because she knew where the studio was. The studio we were going to I chose specifically because I knew my friend, from high school, Eric worked there, also Mel had just gotten her nipples pierced, and got a tattoo there the week before. She decided to drive and we had a big conversation on the way over, which was relaxing as it kept my mind off of the thought of a needle being shoved through my nipple(s). We arrived at the studio and chatted with Eric for a bit while he set up his section, where he was getting ready to tattoo some guy's forearm. The studio was very professional, with good prices and very clean.
Eric came out and walked me over to a counter and showed me which barbells I would need for the procedure. I signed the waiver, and walked into the back to get pierced. He had me take off my shirt and lay down on the table while he setup all the equipment. It was nice that I was able to see everything being setup in front of me. He placed the clamp on my right nipple first, and then the needle came. It wasn't too bad really, it felt much like my labret felt, just the sensation of the needle seemed to last longer. He put the barbell in, and had me flip around to the other side.
"This is going better than everyone told me." I thought.
And with that thought the second clamp was applied, and it hurt. The only logical explanation I could come up with was an adrenaline rush had me not feel the right one as much. So needless to say, when the needle go pushed through my left nipple, I felt it, to the fullest. Overall it wasn't AS painful as I had anticipated, it just made my stomach do a 180. Than one of the worst things I could hear was said..."Awe shit..."
The barbell had caught on the clamp, so the clamp had to be removed and the barbell wriggled through, what fun.
I dealt with the pain by pretty much clenching my fists, which ended up cramping later on, and than the barbell was through. Nothing to big, it had just gotten a little caught up.
I paid Eric and left for a fun filled Friday night of, whatever.
Overall the procedure wasn't to bad, the only initial pain was after I just got pierced. I was almost a hunchback, because every time pulled my arms back, it would hurt. They healed actually very quickly, a little bleeding at first, but not too much, just a tad out of the wound, and actually it was the right one that bled, not the left. It's March/April now, and they're doing fine. Small crusties every now and than, but other than that, they healed perfectly. The only problems I have encountered, is that it takes a lot of getting used to trying to sleep without a shirt on, they seem to catch on thing, and snagging them isn't the greatest feeling in the world. having to readjust a seatbelt, so it doesn't catch is another slight problem, but all in all, they're not to bad. Like any other piercing I suppose, you just have to adapt yourself to having them in you. It's something I am very happy with.