Nipple piercing is among the common choice of body modifications today. They’re extremely popular, especially to the younger generation, because famous celebrities and social media influencers have them as well. However, as trendy as they may be, you have to take note that they’re also highly prone to infections and complications if proper care wasn’t observed. Therefore, a high level of diligence is required in order for the body modification to be successful. But if you’re still seriously considering getting a nipple piercing, then I have prepared some of the points you have to consider before the procedure and what to expect during the healing process. So with that out of the way, let’s begin today’s topic…
Nipple piercing is simply a type of body modification that involves puncturing the nipples and putting jewelry into the pierced area. Unlike other forms of piercing, the pain level in nipple piercings is much more intense than procedures conducted to the nose, lips, or ears. And this is the case because the skin in these sections of the body is very sensitive and more prone to infections.
With this being said, you have to contemplate a few matters before getting your nipples pierced. First and foremost, you need to consider proper care and potential complications after the procedure until it has completely recovered and then its maintenance after the healing period. Next is would you want to get both of your nipples pierced or just one of them. Whatever your decision may be, it is important that you are fully aware of the potential health risks and responsibilities it entails.
The first order of agenda is to seek a credible and professional piercer. And I say credible because the development of infections from getting nipples pierced is high if the procedure was poorly conducted or the facility and equipment used are unsanitary. Once you have found the right piercer, visit their area beforehand if possible and ask how the procedure would progress. By doing so, it allows you to get a good grasp of what to expect and at least put your mind at ease before the procedure.
The next step is you also have to select the jewelry that would be used to pierce into your nipples. You have to bear in mind that aesthetics will no longer matter if your health is at risk. Be aware of whether you have any skin allergies, such as hand dermatitis that’s specifically triggered upon direct contact with metal compounds. For example, nickel, cobalt, chromium, zinc, brass, and copper are known to be the most common causes of allergic reactions. Before the scheduled procedure, ask your piercer for jewelry with the base metal suitable to your skin type.
On the day of the procedure, the professional piercer will escort you to the private room. The exact duration of the procedure may take 15 to 20 minutes which also depends on whether the piercing is conducted on only one nipple or both. First, the piercer prepares and sterilizes the tools. And then, they will clean and mark the area where the intended piercing would take place. They’ll let you know when it’s about to begin and instructs you to take a deep breath and relax. After the procedure, the piercer provides sets of a nipple piercing cleaner and other essential guidelines during the recovery period.
Aside from the level of pain involved during the procedure, a common query that everybody has is proper care and how long do nipple piercings take to heal? As I mentioned in the early parts of the article, the discomfort and soreness should only last for a few days or weeks. However, the actual nipple piercing healing would take about six months to recuperate completely. Until such time, constant care is needed from the individual to prevent the development of bacterial growth and boost the recovery process.
How the procedure was performed has a huge role in preventing the development of nipple piercing infections. However, you have a bigger part in the healing nipple piercings process since it’s you that’s going to maintain it all throughout the recovery process. Bear in mind that the first days and weeks are the most crucial parts of the process. This is because it is during these periods that the punctured sites are most sensitive and prone to bacterial complications. The following are the best nipple piercing aftercare practices to help you prevent any infections—
List of Do’s and Don’ts
The do’s in nipple piercing care:
·Refrain from touching or poking the pierced area
·Get some proper sleep and eat right to boost your immune system
·Be selective in your dress code. For men, wear cotton undershirts night and day to protect your nipple piercing. As for the women, wear sports bras as an extra layer of protection.
The don’ts in nipple piercing care:
·Never change your nipple piercing jewelry without prior notice or consultation from your piercer
·Do not apply creams or oil balms that aren’t included in your piercers’ guidelines. Such compounds may entrap bacteria and promote infections.
·Avoid swimming pools or any communal baths because it might infect the piercing
·Never touch the piercing with your hands or mouth because it might transmit germs or bacteria to the fresh punctured sites
·Don’t play with the jewelry ring because it would cause bleedings
Clean Nipple Piercing Regularly
The most important part of the recovery process is to keep the piercing hygienic and clean them at least twice daily. The recommended cleaning agent for this task is a sterile saline spray. When we hear the term saline, it simply refers to a solution of salt and water. Fortunately, there are available related spray products in many online shops. And most likely, your piercer will recommend a product that would be best suitable for your condition. Lastly, never use harsh soaps that contain compounds that could aggravate the complication. Again, it’s advisable to ask your piercer for their suggested mild soaps for this purpose.
Seek Medical Attention Whenever Necessary
It is also highly important that you consult your piercer or seek professional medical advice from a doctor as soon as you start to feel that the soreness still lingers after a month or so, or if you begin to observe any symptoms starting to show up. Some of the symptoms of nipple piercing infection to look out for include—
·Tenderness
·Rashes and irritation
·Sharp pain or burning sensation in the pierced area
·Fever
·Unusual feelings of tiredness or fatigue
·An irregular yellowish, greenish, or brownish discharge that emits an unpleasant odor
The nipple piercing price depends on the service fee relayed by the practitioner. To give you a good overview of its potential cost, prepare at least $30 to $70 for the piercing alone. In addition, the cost of the jewelry may depend on the type and metal core of the accessory. The ring or piercing jewelry may be a little expensive, but it is important not to hold back on quality. Always remember to account for your wellbeing first because potential health risks may occur if you fail to acknowledge this important concern.
Potential side effects that may occur if the individual was unable to observe best practices for nipple piercing aftercare—
Nipple Piercing Infections
An infection and complication is the result of harmful bacteria thriving in the punctured site. Some of the possible reasons are the result of a poor piercing procedure or improper care by the individual. Refer to the symptoms mentioned in the previous sections, and seek medical attention as much as possible if they start to develop.
Keloids
The formation of keloids or scarring that grows larger than the original injury is another possible side effect. Such a condition is commonly caused by bacterial growth from wounds, punctured skin, or cuts.
Bleeding
Bleeding from the pierced area is normal from time to time. The individual has to properly clean them every time it occurs. However, you may need the assistance of a medical practitioner once the bleeding persists or aggravates and becomes painfully intolerable.
Breastfeeding Interference
Nipple piercing will definitely have a huge impact on pregnant and nursing mothers. Potential health risks may not only occur with the mother but to the infant as well if the piercing wasn’t properly managed. Be sure to disclose such an issue with your piercer to help you address the matter. However, a much better solution here is to hold off your plans of nipple piercing, especially if you’re nursing or expecting mothers.
In regards to changing nipple piercings, it is important to do so under the supervision of the piercer during the recovery period. After such time, you can now have fun changing nipple rings to your preferred ones. Like in any piercing, the punctured area may close within 24 hours if you are unable to put the jewelry piece immediately. If you’re inexperienced and your first time changing nipple rings, you may ask for assistance from your piercer.
There are basically two types of nipple jewelry pieces—
·Captive bead ring – as the term suggests, it is a circular metal accessory that hangs on your nipples. Such type of jewelry may not be advisable during the recuperation because its likelihood of being move around is high
·Barbell – it is a horizontal jewelry accessory with two beads on each side. It is a more advisable piece because it may not likely complicate the nipple piercing during recovery
Here are some of the commonly asked questions about nipple piercing:
The answer is no. However, it would make your nipples more pronounced.
Although the procedure may only take only a few minutes, nipple piercing is more painful when you compare them to ear or nose piercing. Also, you’ll experience soreness and tenderness within the first weeks after the procedure. But it is completely, and it may go away after a few days or weeks.
In general, it doesn’t increase sensitivity for males. However, this may not be the case for females because they have more complex biology in the breast area.
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