I got my first piercing – left nipple – in June 2004 by Fredrik (667) at BodyAdornments Borås Sweden; more about it in my first written experience. It was done with a 1.6mm (14 ga) straight barbell. However, right from the beginning it was clear to me that I wanted it stretched; I wanted that the jewellery would be more of a permanent kind, that it wouldn't have such tendency to migrate, or be torn so easily. I just had to let the hole heal up first, and then it was only to do it!
At A Glance Author paivimarkus Contact paivimarkus@bme.anon IAM paivimarkus When A week ago Artist myself Studio at home Location Huskvarna Sweden Under the healing process after the piercing itself, I had none problems what so ever. Thus, a little over three months gone I thought that now it would be the right time. I bought the things I needed, and waited for a suitable day off (I assumed the nipple would become sore afterwards again, did not want to work right after stretching it).
First stretching, from 1.6 to 2.0 mm (from 14 to 12ga)
September tenth it was, the first stretching. I did it myself. I showered, washed my hands, and carefully cleaned up the piercing with Provon®. I had chosen to use a lead stick (of steel) both to guide the new barbell in and to stretch the channel. I also used a lot of smear named Helosan to help it glide in.
Have to admit though that it was not quite as easy as I had thought it would be. It did hurt!!! Not the stretching itself, but getting the lead stick in. It was a bit too sharp-pointed, it wasn't easy to follow the barbell as I drew it outwards. I scratched and damaged the channel inside. Nevertheless, I got it done, finally the lead stick was in, and little by little through the hole. The new barbell matched a nick in the end of the lead stick, therefore getting the barbell itself in was not difficult at all.
Afterwards, as I had assumed, the whole breast became sore and tense again. Not quite as much as right after the piercing itself but enough, anyway; I was happy to have a few days off. The new barbell felt great, anyhow, I really liked the feeling of a thicker pin through the nipple. I also noticed that (unexpectedly) the new one had bigger balls on both ends – I had not thought about it beforehand, when post ordering it. But it looked simply great!
What I definitely should have done is to sterilize the lead stick and the new barbell before using them. I had not done that, so I guess I really was lucky not to develop an infection. I was slightly concerned about the fact that the nipple was warm, clearly warmer than the other one. It turned out fine, though.
I had chosen to use a steel barbell instead of titan, and that was a mistake too. I had had no problems at all with the original titan barbell, but after stretching and changing to steel the hole was slightly irritated most of the time. I didn't get any infections or mastitis, but I did get a lot of scab, every day, in spite of careful afterward (showering twice a day, and rinsing thoroughly with Provon®). Thus I was more or less forced to take the next step rather soon – to stretch the nipple to 2.4mm, and at the same time get rid of the steel barbell and change back to titan.
Second stretching, from 2.0 to 2.4mm (from 12 to ca 10 ga)
In the beginning of November I post ordered a new, thicker lead stick and a barbell again, and a new bottle of Provon®. I chose a BlackLine® -barbell now, as my sister (Asurfael) said that BlackLine in principle is same thing as titan, and that it would be a safe material. I kind of wanted to get some variation in the looks of jewellery, too.
This time I sterilized the equipment properly by keeping them in boiling water for ten minutes, and letting cool. I showered, rinsed the piercing and washed my hands as before, and used smear to help gliding in. It was much easier this time to get the lead stick through the hole, really, as the hole was bigger already. On the other side, stretching itself hurt more, probably because I did it too soon after the first one – it was less than two months between.
Just one day after stretching the nipple it already seemed to heal up nicely, even this time. Of course it was a bit sore for a day or two, but not severely. In fact, the BlackLine -barbell seemed to suit me significantly better than steel. Slight irritation I had had in the piercing channel (due to the steel) went over in just a few days. There was no scab at all, which was surprising too – with the steel barbell there was no such thing as a scab free day!
I loved my 2.4mm barbell. I still do.
What now on?
Actually, I don't know. I really like the feeling of a thick barbell in me, and would like to go on stretching, as soon as the piercing has healed up. 3.2mm (8ga) seems like a nice goal right now. On the other hand, all the cool looking jewellery is 2.4 mm or smaller... There is not much choice when the nipple is so large that I have to use a 2 cm long barbell, haven't even found a ring big enough.
I guess I'll just let the nipple heal up, properly this time, and wait and see how it feels. (And to let pierce my tongue while waiting...)