Lots of tattoo folks on this thread. I'm a piercing sort of girl, myself. LOL
I have five piercings: one in each ear, my navel, and my nipples. My ears were pierced when I was a teenager, by a friend, with a needle. I had my navel pierced in 1999 after I had lost alot of weight. The weight is back but the piercing is still there.
I had my nipples done a year ago. I had thought about it for ages but just couldn't find the courage. Then, last year, I had to have a series of mammograms over some "worrisome" spots. When I finally got the a-okay from the radiologist in August, I decided to treat myself to my long desired nipple piercings.
Just yesterday, I went and had the jewelry switched. The original piercing had been done with a 14 ga, 1/2" diameter surgical stainless steel ring with a captive bead (very typical). For my permanent jewelry (I am not into changing rings--I wear the same earrings every day, too!) I wanted gold. I found a very cool segment ring that doesn't require a bead. I chose the same gauge but slightly larger diameter, 5/8". It is amazing what a difference 1/8" of an inch makes! And the smooth round ring--very cool. Personally, I think they look great.
Of all my piercings, my navel took the longest to heal--close to a year.
To get the jewelry switched, I did go back to the piercing shop and I am glad I did. I would have been a nervous wreck trying to do it myself! And even though they are completely healed, it still did hurt a little bit. The other thing that has been on my mind is my annual mammogram. Do I take them out for that? After yesterday I decided no. I'd be too worried that the holes would close up and that I couldn't get the jewelry back in myself. And besides that, they are part of me. If the technician has a problem with that, well then, that's her problem, right?
L