I just flew home from Body Art in Montpelier, VT and, boy, are my arms tired! No. Really. I just rode my new (to me) motorcycle the 100 mile round-trip, after dark, in temps in the high 40s F. Kind of an endurance test, all around.
At A Glance Author Anatomist Contact Anatomist@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Jen Studio Body Art Location Montpelier, VT I had my left nipple pierced earlier this year by Jen, at Body Art, who is, simply, fantastic. That one was a 14 gauge CBR, horizontal, and I wrote about it soon after. Since the summer in New England is ending (no more skinny dipping in the lakes) I decided it was time to upgrade the left to a 12 gauge and maybe do my right nipple. Well, since my brother got married this weekend and we've gotten closer since I got my bike (we now have something in common, after 32 years), I figured I needed something to mark the occasion.
I called in to see if the curved barbell was in (Jen had ordered it for me several weeks ago) and it was. All I had to do was get there by 8:30 PM. Well, it was 6a:30, and as I went home from work, I contemplated driving my car but decided, to ride instead. What was the good of getting a new piercing if I only came home in comfort in a climate controlled cage? I mean, since I only did one nipple the first time, well, that would be cheating myself out of a LIFE EXPERIENCE.
So I hopped on my bike and chased the setting sun northwest into central Vermont. I got there around 8PM and pulled up, all cool and shit, on my ride. Jen had the barbells ready—actually she had ordered 2. My original plan was to up-size the left and have the CBR autoclaved and used on the right. I decided to stretch first and see how it went... if it hurt too much to ride the 50 miles home I'd have a bit of trouble getting to work the next day.
Anyway, she got all the stuff out and, damn did that barbell look bigger than when I'd ordered it! I took off my shirt, lay back on the exam table, and she removed the CBR. No pain. She seemed to massage the nipple first and I hardly noticed it leaving... kind of like how some dentists massage your gums as they give the novocaine shot... it really helps. The taper, however, was tougher. She's good, and quick, but it ALMOST felt like when I'd had it pierced in the first place.
It was a success. Since I wasn't about to squander the chance or another new experience, I decided to go with the 12 gauge. Jen also said that many people can hardly tell the difference between 14 and 12. She had to autoclave the barbell (she gave me the choice between autoclave and cold disinfect... I chose the heat because I give blood and want to be sure I can go back to it in a year) so I went across the street to have some much needed ginger carrot soup and some godawful organic rice/almond drink.
Came back, we chatted for a bit while waiting for the autoclave to finish. Went into the room and damn if that needle didn't look HUGE. (Oh... remember what she said about 12 vs. 14? She told me, afterward, that the needle did seem a bit bigger as she picked it up to pierce, than when she'd told me that 12 and 14 were barely different!) She cleaned my nip, marked it up– vertically– and I lay back down on the table. She clamped it and then, on my second exhale, ran the needle through. Ow. Ow. Burned, like the left nipple, only without the pain across the chest like the first time. Did I mention the stretched nipple was still sore? Yeah. It actually hurt more. When she ran the taper through, and then the jewelry, that hurt more than the piercing, though I could feel the needle entering and exiting this time, rather than one, smooth, go. It could be the way the fibers of my skin run or perhaps the tightness of the skin on my chest. Either way, afterward, I could still feel the stretched piercing more than the new one.
I paid up: $84 for the 2 new barbells, She gave me the same price as if I was going to re-use my CBR (maybe a 2nd ear.. not tonight, 2 Sore nipples and having to wear a helmet didn't seem to be the best idea,). I gave her a few bucks over as tip ($6, feeling cheap but that left me with only a few in my wallet, and 10 days till payday. At least I didn't stop off at a strip club on my way home and blow more money!).
Geared up, and was on my way. Pulling away all cool and shit and stalling at tha light because I popped the clutch with the brake on!
The ride home was great. I was afraid the cold air would cause me pin, but it wasn't too bad. I had the new one bandaged, so I think the pain I felt was mostly from the tape ! It hurt when I pulled it off. Now that I'm home, writing this and downloading pics from Suicide Girls, the left is unnoticeable and the right just a bit stingy... no throbbing. The original nipple is much larger, having grown since the 14 gauge was done 6 months ago. The right looks a little silly. It'll need some TLC and some tugging in a few weeks.