A nipple piercing is located at the base of the nipple, where the nipple meets the areola on the breast. A professional piercer centers the mark for the piercing between the top and bottom of the nipple. The piercee's anatomy determines if rings or barbells are necessary for healing. Rings are too heavy for larger-breasted women and can cause unnecessary irritation, ripping or migration. Barbells are suitable jewelry for men and women.
Consultation
Consult a professional body piercer that has an educational background in anatomy before obtaining nipple piercings. The consultation consists of the piercer asking the client questions to rule out possibilities of the piercee's anatomy being inappropriate for nipple piercing.
The first question is to determine if the piercee has inverted nipples. Inverted nipples produce pressure on jewelry in nipple piercing--because inverted nipples retract instead of becoming erect-- and the piercing cannot heal. Women or men with inverted nipples or chest or breast implants are not candidates for nipple piercings. If a nipple piercing becomes infected, implant removal may be necessary to heal the infection, which most piercers consider too high of a risk for a nipple piercing. The last question involves breastfeeding. To obtain a nipple piercing, a woman must not be in the process of breastfeeding and she must not have breastfed an infant in at least three months.
Following the questions, a visual exam takes place. During the visual exam, a professional piercer observes the placement of the nipples on the breast and notes the size of the nipples. Some nipples are too small for nipple piercing--resulting in migration---and cannot be pierced. The piercer also looks for any abnormalities in skin and tissue.
Time Frame
The nipple piercing procedure takes from thirty minutes to an hour or sometimes longer depending on the pierce. After a consultation, the piercee fills out a release form. This form requires the piercee to inform the piercer of medical history, explains the risks of nipple piercing and requires the piercee to agree to the piercing. The nipple piercing procedure is then performed, and the piercer explains the aftercare process. Some piercees feel lightheaded, dizzy or nauseous after the nipple piercing and may need additional time in the piercing room before exiting. Do not plan on a nipple piercing unless you can be flexible in your day's schedule; the body reacts differently for each piercee.
The average healing period of a nipple piercing is six to nine months. The piercee's immune system, attention to aftercare guidelines and overall health determine the length of the healing period.
Procedure
After donning gloves, the body piercer cleans the piercee's nipples with two pieces of sterile gauze and antimicrobial soap. The placement for the nipple piercing is determined after the piercer sees the piercee standing up and laying down. A sterile marker marks the placement of the nipple piercing while the piercee is standing. Once the piercee is in a reclined position, the piercer clamps the nipple in sterile forceps, lining up the marks. The piercer pushes a sterile needle through the nipple with jewelry following behind. The body piercer cleans any blood present off the nipples and surrounding skin and explains the aftercare guidelines.
Misconceptions
Breast feeding is possible in the future for women with nipple piercings. Considered a choking hazard, jewelry in nipple piercings should be removed when feeding. The jewelry also may be laden with bacteria and could introduce an infection to a child.
Nipple piercings do not cause constant arousal and permanent erect nipples. The nipples are tender and sensitive during the healing process, but once healed the nipples return to a normal state. Nipple piercings--when housing appropriate jewelry from a piercing shop--will not set off a metal detector at an airport.
Warning
Receiving a nipple piercing from an unprofessional piercer or attempting the piercing yourself results in infection, disease transmission, scarring or mastitis. Disregarding aftercare guidelines leaves a piercee prone to risks of disease or infection. If a professional piercer refuses to pierce your nipples because of anatomy reasons, do not attempt to find a piercer that will perform the procedure. In most cases, professional piercers agree on anatomy that is inappropriate for a nipple piercing, and only someone who is not a professional will agree to perform the piercing, not understanding the risks involved.
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