Nipple Piercing Information and Aftercare Guide
Nipple piercings have become popular thanks to celebrities such as Kendall Jenner, Rihanna, Bella Hadid, Dave Navarro, and even Lenny Kravitz. There were even TikTok trends about getting your nipples pierced.
If you’ve been inspired to get your nipples pierced, read our guide covering the piercing process and proper aftercare.
Why People Get Their Nipples Pierced
In addition to being inspired because of celebrities or TikTok trends, many people get their nipples pierced because of the effects they have on the body. While it’s not guaranteed, nipple piercings may contribute to stronger sensitivity, making them more noticeable erogenous zones during sexual activity and play.
While the potential for increased sensitivity is a common reason people seek out nipple piercings, it’s also true that they can enhance self-image and boost confidence. If you’re not satisfied with your breasts or chest area, a nipple piercing can draw attention to the area and help you take control of your body. This creates a new appreciation for something that once made you self-conscious.
Can You Pierce Inverted Nipples?
Yes! In fact, in some cases, nipple piercings can actually fix this, which is another reason someone may opt for these piercings. When you’re pierced, it creates a tube of scar tissue in your nipple. This scar tissue keeps the nipple out even if you removed the jewelry.
While most piercings are extremely anatomy dependent, virtually all pliable adult nipples can be pierced.
Nipple Piercing Placement
The proper placement for nipple piercings is through the nipple's base, where it meets the areola. If it is pierced too deep where it descends into the areola, it will take much longer to heal and may not even heal at all. If it is pierced too shallowly toward the tip of the nipple, it increases the risk of migration and rejection.
Your gender shouldn’t affect the placement of your nipple piercings. They’re the same regardless of your gender.
While you can’t decide the depth of the nipple piercing, you can determine the orientation of the jewelry. You can pick from:
- Horizontal nipple piercings
- Vertical nipple piercings
- Diagonal or angled nipple piercings
You can even mix and match and get one vertical and one horizontal nipple piercing if you want.
Can You Have More Than One Piercing Per Nipple?
Yes! However, a nipple can only be pierced once per session. Once you’ve successfully healed one piercing, you can return to your piercer and get the second one doing. This being said, it’s rare that nipples are large enough to suit more than two piercings.
If you do want to get multiple nipple piercings, they can be arranged:
- In the shape of an X, with the jewelry positioned at 45-degree angles
- Two horizontally through the nipple
- Two vertically through the nipple
- In the shape of a cross, with one vertical and one horizontal
Is It Better to Get Them Done at the Same Time or Separately?
This depends on your personal preference. Just like you can decide whether you want a singular nipple piercing both of them pierced, you can decide whether you want to get both of them pierced at the same time or not.
However, there are benefits to getting both at the same time. When you get both nipples pierced at the same time, it may be cheaper than getting one, letting it heal, and getting the other done. This is because many shops offer a discounted rate for getting both nipples pierced at the same time.
In fact, some studios even offer tandem nipple piercings. This is where two experienced piercers each pierce one nipple at the same time, so you only feel the pain of getting pierced once the entire session.
Additionally, it is just as easy to heal nipple piercings done in the same session as it is to heal them done in separate sessions. Plus, if you plan to get both done anyway, it is easier to get them symmetrical in one session than doing multiple session.
However, the reason some people get them done in different sessions is so there’s at least one nipple that’s okay to play with while the other heals. If you’d prefer this to be the case, there’s no problem with getting them done in different sessions.
Nipple Piercing Initial Jewelry
One thing that is worth noting is that women and those who are assigned female at birth (AFAB) are generally pierced at a larger gauge than men are. The thinnest jewelry used for initial nipple piercing jewelry if you’re female is 12-gauge. If you have larger nipples or are into heavy play, it may suit you better to be pierced at a 10-gauge
The reason for the thicker nipple jewelry is because women's nipples tend to be larger and experience more abuse from tighter clothing, bras, chest binders, and more.
Men or those who are assigned male at birth (AMAB) generally have their nipples pierced at a 14-gauge. However, if they are into heavier play, then a 12-gauge (or thicker) is needed.
When it comes to the jewelry for the initial piercing, the only suitable option is a straight barbell. While rings used to be considered the standard initial jewelry, piercers soon realized that they’re easier to catch or snag on clothing or towels. Additionally, bras and chest binders put too much pressure on the healing piercings and cause complications. For this reason, straight barbells, which have only the ends showing, are a much safer option for initial jewelry.
However, it’s not just any type of barbell. Any quality professional piercer will ensure that you get body-safe material for your initial jewelry. This means that it will either be implant grade steel, implant grade titanium, 14k gold, or niobium. This also ensures the jewelry is hypoallergenic and free from common allergens, like nickel.
Learn more about choosing the right nipple piercing jewelry on our blog.
How to Prepare for Nipple Piercing Pain
A lot of people expect nipple piercings to hurt quite a bit. After all, the tissue is thicker and the area is full of nerve endings. However, much to their surprise, it doesn’t hurt half as bad as most people expect. Granted, everyone has a different pain tolerance. But most people say it feels more like a hard pinch or quick bite.
The Nipple Piercing Process
The two most important parts of getting a piercing are the piercer and the initial jewelry. We already discussed the suitable initial jewelry, and you can learn more about picking nipple jewelry on our blog. You also want to go to a piercer that has experience with nipple piercings, so be sure to look through portfolios and talk to the piercer during your consultation before the actual piercing process.
Once your jewelry is picked out and you’ve signed all the necessary paperwork, you’ll be moved to a private studio room. The jewelry is sterilized with an autoclave, and your piercer will clean your nipples with a surgical scrub and mark your nipples.
One thing that’s important to remember is that you should have erect nipples when your piercer marks you. This is because your nipples twist when they become erect, which can make the piercing look crooked if they were not marked properly.
That being said, it is inappropriate for a piercer to suggest that they will make your nipples errect. Do not consent to any touching you are not comfortable with.
Once you’re marked and agree on the placement, your piercer will clamp the nipple (though some piercers prefer to do the piercing freehand and without a clamp – it just depends on preference) and insert the needle. Once the needle is through, the jewelry will be fed into the fresh fistula and your piercer will clean the area. Then, you’ll be able to look at your new piercing(s) in the mirror.
How Much Does a Nipple Piercing Cost?
The total price for a nipple piercing will depend on what shop you go to and the prices the piercer or shop manager sets. It will also depend on whether you are just getting one or double nipple piercings. In general, the cost of the piercing, also known as the needle fee, is around $40 and up. You will also have to pay for the jewelry, which varies in price depending on the manufacturer and materials. Finally, consider tipping your piercer; 20% is customary.
Nipple Piercing Healing and Aftercare
Nipple piercings take quite a long time to heal, and the healing time varies from person to person. On average, it can take between 3 to 6 months for a nipple piercing to heal. However, it can take as long as 9 to 12 months.
How to Clean Nipple Piercings
It is crucial to keep your piercings clean and comfortable during the healing process. In the first few weeks, you may want to wear a loose-fitting cotton shirt, which allows the piercing to breathe better.
You’ll also want to clean your piercing twice a day using saline piercing aftercare spray, such as the one NeilMed makes. Spray directly on each end of the piercing and pat dry with a paper towel. If you have stubborn crusties, you can use a plastic toothpick to try chipping away at them.
Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly with antimicrobial soap before you touch your piercing, but there’s no need to twist or rotate the jewelry.
FAQ
Do Nipple Piercings Make the Nipple More or Less Sensitive?
There is no guarantee or scientific evidence that proves that nipple piercings cause increased sensitivity, but people have experienced it after getting their nipples pierced. This is because the nipple is an erogenous zone, with tons of nerve endings in one area.
You can learn more about nipple piercings increasing sensitivity on our blog.
Can You Breastfeed With Nipple Piercings?
The topic of whether or not you can breastfeed with nipple piercings is a tricky one. Technically, a nipple piercing wouldn’t interfere with lactation. The nipple has up to 20 milk ducts, so a standard gauge nipple piercing wouldn’t be able to block them all.
However, leaving your jewelry out while breastfeeding is the safest choice for your newborn or infant. This will prevent any choking hazards that could occur should your jewelry become loose at any moment. It also helps reduce any chances of other nursing problems, like issues with your child latching or damage to the soft tissue at the roof of your baby’s mouth.
It’s important to note that should you remove your jewelry, there is a strong likelihood that your piercings will shrink or close by the time you’ve finished weaning your baby. Should you need to get them repierced, it’s best to wait at least three months after you’ve stopped breastfeeding completely.
How Do You Know If Your Nipple Piercing Is Rejecting?
The best way to know if your nipple piercing is rejecting is to go see your local professional piercer and let them take a look. If you don’t have access to a reputable shop in your area, then the signs should be pretty obvious.
First, can you see the bar through the middle of the piercing? If yes, then take it out.
Is there a lot more bar showing than when you first got pierced? If yes, then it could be rejecting, or maybe it just migrated slightly.
Is the nipple swelling over the ends of the barbell? If yes, then this might not be a rejection issue. Instead, this is caused by your jewelry being too short.
Can You Wear a Bra After Getting a Nipple Piercing?
Yes, you can wear a bra. However, it’s a good idea to put a folded paper towel in each cup to help protect the fresh piercing from movement and prevent the jewelry from getting caught on the material or a loose thread.
Will Nipple Piercings Show Through Clothing?
This depends entirely on the clothing you’re wearing and the type of jewelry you wear. Barbells with smaller ends tend to be less noticeable than rings, but if you’re wearing tight, form-fitting clothing, they may still be slightly noticeable.
Bras, especially padded bras, hide most jewelry, but if you want them to be visible opt for slightly larger ends and consider stretching to thicker jewelry when the piercing(s) fully heal(s).
Can You Still Get Pierced If You’ve Had Breast Surgery?
It’s best to talk to your doctor first. If you’ve had breast augmentation and have fully healed, getting pierced is not an issue. However, if you’ve gotten a breast reduction, nipple piercing is not recommended as the vascularity of the tissue can be compromised, which can lead to healing complications.
When Can You Change Your Nipple Jewelry?
When you’re initially pierced, the jewelry will be much longer to account for any swelling or over-swelling that occurs. It will also be longer to allow for any discharge to drain properly.
Once the piercing has fully healed, you can switch to either a shorter barbell (known as downsizing) or you can opt for a ring or nipple shield.