http://www.bodypiercinginfo.biz/index.html

As for a shop in LA; shop around and find a piercer you are comfortable with. Considering their are shops on every corner, you should go to at least 3 in your near area and talk/look at the portfolios of the piercers. They should be able to answer all your questions above...

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and

and

G.S. -- Thanks for the useful information!

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Body piercing has been somewhat a trend in the gay world for some time - the str8s are copying gay fashion again, minus attribution, as usual (we were doing it long before the pierced punkers) - so my negative reaction isn't for lack of exposure. All I can say is that when I encounter piercing - in porn or in real life - I attempt to concentrate on other things. Where piercing is the center of attention, I bail.

The only advice I can give is that, especially as she has already expressed a negative reaction to the concept, be darned sure your wife is supportive if you go through with the deed.

~ GaySatyr

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When I see a woman with nipple piercings (or genital piercings, for that matter), the private, symbolic meaning for me (of course, this is a uniquely personal projection -- but that's beside the point) is something like her making the statement, "I'm a fundamentally sexual being and I give myself wholly over to sexual pleasure, so much so that I'll do something a little wild and out-of-the-ordinary, something very personal and intimate, to achieve heightened erotic sensation." A secondary but related private, symbolic meaning for me is that she is making the statement (also projected) to her (imaginary, projected by me) sexual partner(s), "I trust you to have special access to this sensitive and vulnerable part of me, to take me to the edge of pain/pleasure and into the explosion of pure pleasure, without harming me." Those are among the symbolic meanings that I apply to these kinds of piercings in regard to myself, as well.

As for my wife's support, I'm not going to get it beforehand (she has very different erotic associations from mine), although -- if I decide to do it -- I definitely won't spring it on her as a surprise. Whether she deals with it in a way that works for me once I've done it (if I decide to) will have a huge bearing on the direction in which our marriage goes. After years of trying unsuccessfully to work out "the sex of things" with Ms. Bob, I've decided that, just as her body is hers, mine is mine and I'll do what I please with it for the time being. And that's a piece of the symbolism in the act, too.

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Edited by - Bob on 7/9/2003 5:34:10 PM

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http://www.skinworks-rifraf.com/

And as to what su2sexi said - I think it must vary because I had mine done in February and it healed up completely after just two months. I don't even keep jewelry in it all the time because my last one fell out (I need to stop playing with it) and it hasn't closed up.

Doesn't Britney Spears have nipple rings?

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http://www.tribalectic.com/Home.asp

They have pics, a very active forum, a store, interesting articles & healing & aftercare info.

The healing time for all piercing can vary for every individual.

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Thanks to all the other posters for their responses, too. Everyone's sincere "2 cents" is welcome ( to you, su2sexi).

Let the info and the good times roll. Pour it on!

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http://www.bmezine.com/index.html

Have a field day!

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I think there is a difference between what you see and its association to the visual side of sex and the anticipation of the physical things the piercing might bring.

The Look

The girls in the films look fab, which is mostly why they are in them. If you like the metal work then you will think they look even more fab. However, what looks fab on the girls in the films does not necessarily translate well to others. Although you do not want your piercing on display (but leave room for the thought that you might change your mind later), you will still see it each day. You need to be happy when you see it on you that it makes you feel good and suits you, just like any other kind of decoration or clothing.

The web sites that have been mentioned will repay viewing. There are hundreds of photos which is a bit daunting but I recommend that you think seriously about trooping through a good deal of them. This will give a better impression of what you are really looking at and how the job can go rather than looking at a naked DVD babe and feeling horny.

Once you are sure it’s still what you want, note that the work on the girls in the films is usually good. But the piercing can be horizontal, angled etc or it can be ‘sort of horizontal but a bit skew’ which is fine it that is what you want but it is often where the piercer was a bit bug eyed. Spend time to decide precisely how deep and where the entry and exit are to be. Have a definite view point about exactly how you want it to go (you will once you have spent time on the photos) and make it known to the piercer. Don’t just let the piercer get on with it. This will mean you will be much more satisfied with the visual result.

The physical effect

Just because the look on the girls in the films, or yourself if you get it done, makes you feel horny it does not mean you will find getting your own nip rings tugged will do much for you.

From what I have heard, with piercing, the effect varies so much from person to person that, other than to say overall you are not going to come to great harm, there is very little other meaningful guide as to what you can expect. The second site listed above has got personal comments. Again, I recommend taking the time to go through as many of those as possible to reach your own conclusions as best you can. I only had a quick look at those messages, but some say it feels wicked when it is done but seem to have little to say after that. If you like to get your nips bitten and yanked around a bit then I think the piercing will affect this (the question is whether for better or worse). My tummy button ring feels quite nice if you flick it about or tug it very gently, but I would not want to yank or twist it 'quite roughly, because I am certain it will affect the underlying wound and unsettle the healing.

Look carefully at the messages and see what you can learn but the key, in my opinion, is not to take just one view as gospel.

Where to get it done

It is correct to say that it is worth travelling a bit if someone has got a good recommendation.

Regards,

Z.

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Ms Christine & JC, the first couple of adult review.

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Thanks for all of the great information and feedback! I sincerely appreciate it.

ziniaraya,

Thanks in particular for your very detailed, thoughtful, and thought-provoking response. I'll definitely do my homework beforehand, and I'm certainly willing to travel anywhere in California to get the best job done, should I decide to go ahead with it.

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Some things to consider:

1) Be sure to choose a reputable piercer. Someone who practices good aseptic technique and someone who has good quality jewelry. Look for a piercer with an autoclave that is tested weekly. No tools, including the marker used to locate the piercing holes, should be used on more than one client.

2) Look for implant-grade stainless steel or titanium that has been finished to FDA specifications. My preference is for titanium because it is lighter than steel and non-magnetic. Poor quality jewelry causes issues, especially jewelry with nickel.

3) Start with straight barbells, not captive bead rings or curved barbells. This allows the piercing to heal (no rings to flip) and tends to avoid snags, which can be painful. Snags can cause permanent damage or cause the body to reject the piercing jewelry. I wore my straight barbells for almost two years before switching to rings.

4) Aftercare is a very contentious subject. Lots of people recommend sea salt soaks and other stuff. I treated my piercings like any other puncture wound. I wore Tegaderm bandages for a month, changed and cleaned weekly. Total healing time was about six months although I had no discomfort after a week.

5) There is some discomfort during the actual piercing, but it is not too bad. I had both of mine done simultaneously as opposed to sequentially, and I am glad. The nipple tissue is very springy, and it takes some force to drive a needle through it. As a result, there is some discomfort.

Good luck and have fun.

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Welcome to the forum!

Thanks for the detailed and helpful information!

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Thanks for the kind welcome.

I noticed I did not answer your question about when you can remove the jewelry. As far as I know, there is no set time. While the piercing is healing, you should not remove the jewelry. If the piercing does get infected, do not remove the jewelry because it could trap the infection inside your body, causing more harm.

After it is healed, you can remove the jewelry; however, the piercing could begin to close very quickly. Some people cannot go an hour without the holes beginning to close and others can go for days. I have never taken my jewelry out for more than a few minutes, so I cannot elaborate.

The jewelry is fairly easy to insert and remove; the only issue might be the captive balls. Those can be a pain, and I really prefer jewelry with screw-on balls. Speaking of threads, quality jewelry will be internally threaded so as to not damage the skin during insertion and removal.

Scott

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BTW I agree about the issue you point out with rings. I pierced my own scrotum a few years ago and attached a small steel ring (I never visit scrappies so I'm OK) and I ended up having to tape it down for some weeks as, like you say, the movement clearly impeded the healing process.

SNP.

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ROTFLAMO!

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Clearing airport security is hard enough without having to explain why your nipples (and other body parts) cause the hand-held wand to beep. :) That actually happened to me when the nails in my boots caused me to be "selected" for a more thorough screening. The screener clearly was taken aback by my explanation.

Scott

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