Nipple piercings are an exciting way to express oneself, add personal style and visual interest to your outfit, experience an intense psychological ritual, or enjoy the perks of such intimate piercings. But there are also drawbacks, so they may or may not appeal to you. Here are the pros and cons of nipple piercings you’ll want to know to help you make that choice.
Pros and Cons of Nipple Piercings
Nipple piercings are unique because of where they are on the body, how they would affect you, how they may affect the way others around you perceive you, and other factors such as cost and care.
It is good to consider the pros and cons of nipple piercings carefully and weigh them against each other so you can decide whether nipple piercings will rock your world or be an impulse buy you’ll end up retiring.
Pros of Nipple Piercings
- Popularity: Nipple piercings are fairly popular. They are a close contender that comes in third after earlobe, belly button, nose, and tongue piercings and before eyebrow, lip, and genital piercings for women. But for men, nipple piercings are the most popular after earlobe piercings.
- Aesthetic appeal: Are nipple piercings sexy? Yes, nipple piercings are very sexy in the bedroom, any BDSM scene, and any light or sheer outfit you want to show off to someone. Their outline shows through shirts, too. They look great and can easily boost your self-confidence.
- Increased sexual sensitivity: Nipple piercings are reported to enhance sexual arousal created by nipple stimulation. They are especially a good choice for people whose nipples lack sensitivity. Unlike other parts of the body where nerves are bundled in one place and can be severed by being pierced, the nerves in the nipples are spread out.
- Various jewelry options: There are a variety of options for nipple jewelry including barbells, rings, dangles, and nipple shields.
Cons of Nipple Piercings
- Discomfort: Nipple piercings are uncomfortable at first due to swelling and sensitivity. You may want to wear clothing made out of more comfortable fabrics to avoid chafing. At work, nipple piercings should be covered by a bra or an undershirt.
- Breastfeeding concerns: If you are a mother considering nipple piercings, you should wait until they fully heal before breastfeeding. It is also necessary to remove all nipple jewelry during the entire time you plan to breastfeed, although the piercings themselves won’t affect milk production.
- Stereotypes: It used to be more common to encounter negative stereotypes of people with nipple piercings being trashy. But with more body acceptance these days, nipple piercings are likely to signal open-mindedness and being a little on the wild side.
- Cost: The average cost of nipple piercings is $50 to $100 per nipple. It’s basically the cost of a pricey meal for two or a very expensive meal for one.
- Pain: From a slight sting to a fire ant biting their nipple, the pain intensity of nipple piercings can vary from person to person. It’s a fleeting pain that is over in less than three seconds. But for people for whom it is very painful, it is second only to genital piercings.
- Long healing time: Nipple piercings take a long time to fully heal, an average of 9 to 12 months.
- Risks: Whether you get your nipple or aureola pierced, infections can happen even long after piecing. Unsterilized equipment can put you at risk of infection with bloodborne diseases. Other risks include scars, bumps, pus, blood, and rejection.
- Maintenance requirements: How well you take care of your nipple piercings will affect how well they heal. They require daily maintenance the whole time they are healing.
Source: Surfs Chicks.
How to Make the Most Out of Nipple Piercings?
Taking care of nipple piercings requires a certain amount of dedication to really enjoy as much as possible.
- First, it is absolutely necessary for you to regularly rinse and soak the piercings. Gently clean the piercing with a piercing aftercare spray or your homemade saline solution or a mild soap and warm water twice a day.
- It is also best to choose safe piercing materials, like gold, implant-grade titanium, and surgical steel. Don’t be afraid to ask your piercer questions!
- Wear loose, breathable clothing: For best results, you should change the fabric your nipple piercings will encounter while they are healing so they can avoid irritation and infection. That’s why you should wear loose cotton clothing for the first few months. You’ll also want to wear thick clothes or bras while doing physical activity or at night to avoid discomfort and disruption of the piercing wound.
- Avoid swimming and hot tubs: Avoid swimming and soaking in hot tubs until the piercing has fully healed, as these environments can harbor bacteria and increase the risk of infection.
Should You Get a Nipple Piercing?
Perhaps the first question you should ask yourself is what your motive for getting nipple piercings is. What do they mean to you? For some people, they are for sexual reasons; others enjoy them for the aesthetic or interpret the piercing process as a form of release.
Also, you must consider whether you want one or both nipples pierced. Lastly, consider the pros and cons of nipple piercings carefully and weigh them against each other so you can decide if they are a good choice.
Final Thoughts on the Pros and Cons of Nipple Piercings
Nipple piercings always have benefits and drawbacks. Even if you go to the best piercer around, you should still make sure this type of piercing is right for you. And if you are seriously considering nipple piercings, knowing as much as possible about the pros and cons of nipple piercings before heading to your local piercer will make for a more comfortable and enjoyable experience. Best of all, you’ll be able to boast it as one of your body modifications.
