Everything You Need To Know About Nipple Piercings

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Since the middle of the 1890s, nipple piercing has been worn to enhance sexual arousal and provide constant stimulation, thus enlarging the size and attractiveness of the nipples. While pierced nipples have fallen in and out of fashion since the Victorian era, they've never gone away. Today, nipple piercings are considered one of the most erotic and sexy forms of body piercings. It's a relatively quick and easy piercing procedure. Several different jewelry styles can be worn to change the piercing type and appearance once it is fully healed, thus increasing the versatility and attractiveness of this body modification.

Thinking about getting your nipple pierced? Below, you'll find helpful tips for getting your piercing and how to care for it afterward. Keep scrolling for everything you need to know about nipple piercings.

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Aftercare: Wash once or twice per day with saline solution or soap and water, avoid touching or wearing fabric that can easily snag

A nipple piercing is a piercing that goes through the skin of the nipple. Like all forms of body piercing, it is pertinent that you go to a professional body piercer for your nipple piercing, especially if you have special conditions such as flat or inverted nipples. These conditions may make a nipple piercing unfit for your anatomy. If for any reason, a nipple piercing cannot be performed, a professional and experienced piercer will be able to suggest a solution or alternative body placement before you experience a botched or misplaced piercing.

Officer at Body Electric Tattoo in Los Angeles, CA. Some people think a nipple piercing is the worst thing they've ever experienced, and that's a very small demographic. Most the times what I hear right afterward [...] is, 'wow, that's it?'

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Once your nipples are pierced, you can expect a six- to eight-week healing period at a minimum. It will take approximately 12 months for your piercing to heal completely, notes board-certified dermatologist Blair Murphy-Rose MD, FAAD, Clinical Assistant Professor at New York-Presbyterian Hospital – Weill Cornell Medical Center. Depending on how active you are, your nipples may take longer to heal from accidental touching or rubbing during daily activity. Larger breasts may experience a longer healing period since they're more likely to bump or experience friction during normal activity. Likewise, those with smaller breasts may find they have a much faster healing time. As always, you should seek professional medical treatment if you run into any serious issues with your piercing.

As with other types of piercings, the procedure itself will likely cost less than the jewelry you select. Nipple piercings are typically in the $30-$70 range, depending on where you go. The jewelry will have a broader spectrum, but it's important not to skimp on quality. Choosing the right style and material is instrumental in healing your new piercing properly, so don't shoot for a bargain. Do your research, call a few studios, ask what they're using. Look at their Instagrams. Look at their websites. If a piercer doesn't have their work showcased online, that's a red flag, says Thompson.

Piercings are easy to get but are very difficult to heal sometimes, and they can take a long time, says Thompson. To successfully heal a nipple piercing, you must commit to caring for it long after you leave the salon chair. New piercings should be washed at least twice daily with a saline solution. Soaking the area in a lukewarm sea salt solution (approximately ¼ teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt in eight ounces of distilled water) helps to prevent infection and promotes healing, says Murphy-Rose. She suggests you fill a small container with the mixture and soak the piercing for five to 10 minutes.

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You'll want to avoid creating excessive friction on the pierced area by keeping the site free of bandages, not touching the jewelry too often, and wearing loose-fitting clothing. Avoid potential irritants including fragrant body washes and lotions. Avoid soaking in pools, bathtubs, or other bodies of water until the piercing has healed completely, says Murphy-Rose. And do not touch the piercing too much. Every time you pull that new piercing, every time you accidentally snag it, your healing progress is regressing, says Thompson.

Be careful not to wear fabrics that could catch your jewelry and to keep the piercing covered when sleeping to avoid a snag, says Murphy-Rose.

Once your nipples are fully healed, you can have fun changing your body jewelry styles. Remember, a piercing can close quickly, within 24 hours, so reinsert your jewelry quickly or be prepared to re-pierce, this time through scar tissue, which may provide a bit more of a challenge. The longer you let that jewelry stay, the better off you're going to be, so definitely wear it for at least 10 weeks, says Thompson.Pam and Tommy are on Hulu. Bennifer is back together. “Friends” have reunited, and they’re rebooting “The Fresh Prince.” You know what that means… the 90s are back, baby!

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So, frost those tips, dust off those JNCOs, and get ready to express yourself with every badass millennial’s favorite accessory — the nipple piercing! Here’s everything you need to know.

Getting your nipples pierced can be a scary proposition. What if it looks weird? Will it hurt? Will I be too sexy? Don’t worry. The entire appointment takes anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes, but the piercing part only lasts a few seconds.

The short answer is yes, getting your nipples pierced hurts. But the level of discomfort can vary from nip to nip. Some peeps say it’s just a slight sting while others say it feels like a fire ant bit their breast. But that’s a small price to pay for having permanent nipple erections, right?

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On average, it takes 6 to 12 months for a nipple piercing to heal. In the meantime, here’s how to give your nips the TLC they deserve.

TBH, we don’t have a ton of research to show how nipple piercings can affect breastfeeding. But according to a 2021 study, nipple piercings should not interfere with lactation in most cases. But there are still some concerns to keep in mind.

Nipple piercings can make latching a bit harder for your bébé. There’s also a chance part of the piercing can fall off and go into your baby’s mouth which can be a choking hazard. So it’s def a good idea to remove your jewelry before you nurse.

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There’s always a risk of blood-borne infections when getting pierced. That’s why it’s 10/10 important you go to someone who’s legit. Also, do not DIY your own nipple piercing. Trust us.

: It’s OK to ask questions! Even though you might feel silly for asking a lot of questions, it’s your body. You shouldn’t feel bad about advocating for it. So, if a provider doesn’t have time to respond to your concerns, find one who does.

Body jewelry is worn inside of a wound. That means only certain types of metals or materials are safe to use. According to the Association of Professional Piercers, this includes:

Getting Nipple Piercing: Everything You Need To Know

The average nipple piercing runs about $50 to $100 per nip. The exact cost will depend on your location and the type of jewelry you use.

Jewelry starts at around $30 and can run into the hundreds, depending on whether you fancy or not. The good news is that aftercare is generally cheap because you should only wash the area with pure saline solution.

Nipple piercings are hot and cool at the same time. You have loads of styles and varieties to match your unique vibe. Plus, they might increase nipple sensitivity. Woot!

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While your piercing appointment prob won’t be pleasant, the actual pain part only lasts a few seconds. Just be sure to go to a high quality provider who works in a very sterile setting. You also need to follow aftercare instructions to a T. This can reduce your risk of infection and can speed up the healing process.