After a good experience getting my first 'real' body piercing - a VCH last September - I have been humming and hawing about having something else done, and getting my nipples pierced was my first choice. That previous piercing was a personal gift to myself after having given up smoking for a month, and I decided that as long as I didn't regress, I would 'let' myself get another piercing, and probably another tattoo before the summer. When it came down to it, though, I really couldn't decide on the precise design I want for my next tattoo, but I certainly knew what piercing I wanted. There was also the issue of being able to cover up anything that I had done, as I intend to be a teacher and I don't think the education board would welcome visible body art, sadly. So that's what I went for - although it's not exactly cheap either!. I decided that I would be willing to fork over the cash as long as I did my usual amount of research, and was still certain that I wanted to do it after reading the horror stories...migration? Infection? Breast-feeding scare stories, anyone? Ugh!
At A Glance Author G When It just happened Artist Deus Studio Exposed Temptations Location Manassas, VA I finally decided now or never, so three days ago I drove by myself to Manassas to see the piercer who had been so good last time, Deus. He was out front when I arrived, and once I explained what I wanted - both, horizontal, straight barbells, surgical steel - he said that was fine, and he would just go and set up right then. No time for mind-changing! I swear, I had barely finished filling in the paperwork, paying and forking over my ID before he was back to get me. Then we walked back to the room he works in, and it was too late to bolt.
I was understandably a bit fidgety when he was marking me up for the placement of my piercings. Come on, between the residual embarassment and the adrenaline it's hardly surprising, is it? But he was finally satisfied and it was time to get up on the table. He didn't use clamps, just free-handed first the left (breathe, one, two - Jesus - done), and then the right. He very kindly asked if I wanted to take a break once he had done the first one, but I was afraid that I would bunk out of it, so I said no. I am pleased to say that although I had been anticipating pain at a 7 or 8 (on a scale of 1-10), it was actually a 2.5, thank the gods. It was still a good thing that I was lying down, though, as I could feel the blood rush to my head after the first piercing, and I was still very flushed once we were done and I was getting dressed. He actually did them at slightly more of a diagonal, explaining that he allowed for/expected a little migration, and by piercing at that depth and angle, by the time they were healed, they would be horizontal. This was reassuring, particularly as the issue of migration had been bothering me, as I'm an E cup and the weight assures that there is no way that my clothes aren't going to rub, at least a little. He also explained that's why he would never have given me captive bead rings, which is good to know. Evidently I can expect the increased sensation to continue, so yay!
Done and dusted in a total of maybe ten or fifteen minutes, from walk in to walk out. They are doing fine so far (12 gauge 5/8"), I'm using the Technicare like last time, and they look beeaauuutiful. The price may seem high to some people - $130 including jewelry - but I feel safer going to Deus than finding someone closer to home/cheaper, that I don't have any previous experience with. I felt a bit of a twit for freaking myself out about the pain factor beforehand, but frankly I'd rather it was surprisingly not-so-painful than the reverse! I'm sooo pleased, and would definitely recommend Deus if anyone is in the area; they take walk-ins, so don't worry about calling to make an appointment. Don't worry about the pain, truly, I swear getting my nose pierced hurt worse than this did, and yes, the second one hurt a little more than the first, but I think that's just because I had relaxed a bit by then, so the adrenaline high wore off slightly. The VCH was way worse, but at least I didn't swear or try to kick him, I just squeeked. If you want your nipples done, go for it! It's well worth it, and looks so pretty. I can't wait for them to heal up enough so that I can get decorative with my jewelry...look out, beach!