11/09/99 12:11 PM "The Nipple Piercing"
This past summer, the summer of '99, I was on vacation at Myrtle Beach in South Carolina and noticed that bleached hair and piercings were the rage amongst young people. I guess since I'm approaching 30, I started thinking about bleached blond hair and piercings. I bleached my hair not too long after returning from vacation. But that just didn't seem to be enough. When I saw some nipple piercings in a video (I won't say what kind, hee hee), I started thinking how pierced nipples would appear on me. And I thought about it and thought about it, then mentioned it to some older co-workers at work. Surprise, surprise, they encouraged me and one even recommended a couple of places to go. I thought about it some more, visited the web sites of the recommended spots, and left it at that for about a month or more. At one point I read the piercing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the Internet and continued to think about it. About a month later, I visited the web site of BME, and after revisiting the professional web site of Abraxas BodyArt in Raleigh, NC, I decided I would go there and get it done. Not only was the web site professional, but the shop was described as looking like a dentist office.A week later, on Thursday October 21, I walked into Abraxas, but didn't have enough cash on me! I told myself I'd go back the next day, thinking the entire time I would probably chicken out and not do it. But the next day after work, I headed east on the Interstate instead of west and went right back to Abraxas. The shop was just like a dentist office, no smoking allowed, very clean, looked just like a normal office.
The piercer, David, was very professional and had 5 years of experience. He explained everything as he was doing it, picked out the jewelry, etc. I sat down in the dentist chair (that's kind of what it looked like), took off my shirt, and David carefully marked where the needle points would enter and exit. He decided to do the left nipple first. He put this clamp on it that had holes on each side for the needle to go through, aligned it with the marks, and then counted to three and stuck in the needle. Ouch, did it hurt! But it was over with in just a moment. And I didn't watch either, just looked up at the ceiling from the chair I was sitting in. Then he did the same for the right, and ouch, it hurt even more! That's when he said the second one often hurt more than the first. Then he threaded the jewelry through. There was no blood at all. I was sweating at this point, but it was over with! Since I was sweating, David must have thought I was gonna pass out, so he made me put my head between my legs for a minute. I tell you, the clamps hurt more than the piercing. And stubbing your toe is an even more painful experience, in my opinion. I bought some Satin antibacterial soap while there, received my cleaning instructions, and then was off, on my way home. Never had I been so conscious of my seat belt! I had to hold it away from my chest the entire drive home. My nipples stung the whole evening, then were just sore for the next few days. Never once did they swell or get crusty or ooze. During one or two of the cleanings over the next few days, there was a little blood but just a few drops. The right nipple stayed sore for over a week, and both were very sensitive to the rubbing of my shirts. I saw a posting on the web that recommended wearing whitey tighty t-shirts, also known as "wife beater" t-shirts, so I went out and bought some small Hanes athletic t-shirts, and lo and behold if that didn't make the biggest difference in the world. Now I wear them all the time, especially when I'm working out at the gym.
It's now a few weeks later, and I'm very pleased with my nipple piercings and I'm even considering getting both ear lobes pierced. The only other body modification I am considering is a small tattoo on my upper right shoulder blade, but not sure what I'll get yet, or when.
Stay tuned! See ya later..
