In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about nipple piercings, including nipple piercing anatomy, breastfeeding with nipple piercings and answering common questions like, 'do nipple piercings close?' and much more!
Jump To:
A nipple piercing involves inserting jewelry through the nipple, creating a bold and popular look for both men and women. While it's a sexy and empowering piercing, the healing process can be long and difficult. Though there are different variations of a nipple piercing, there's not a specific type of men's nipple piercing or a female nipple piercing. Everyone has nipples and whether you can get pierced there depends on your anatomy.
Get ready to dive deep into the details, as there's a lot to cover on this topic.
One of the most common questions before getting pierced is, will my anatomy support a nipple piercing? Unfortunately, it’s not a simple yes or no answer. It depends on several factors that can only be properly evaluated by a professional piercer in person.
Specifically, a piercer will check how much the nipple naturally protrudes and whether there’s enough tissue to safely hold jewelry. If your nipples are flat, very small, or inverted, the piercing may still be possible, but it requires a more advanced approach and a piercer with the right experience.
During your appointment, your piercer will assess a few important details. They’ll check how the nipple protrudes when stimulated, since that gives a more accurate idea of how it will sit with jewelry. They’ll also measure the diameter of the nipple to determine the appropriate gauge and jewelry length for healing. Tissue density plays a role as well, along with whether your anatomy is better suited for a straight barbell or a ring. Barbells are usually used for better healing, but rings may also be used if properly sized and they fit your anatomy. The jewelry needs to leave enough room for swelling and for the nipple tissue to relax without pinching the area.
What about inverted nipples? Or can flat nipples be pierced? It’s possible to pierce flat or inverted nipples, and in some cases, the piercing can help pull inverted nipples outward. However, these piercings are more complex, tend to heal more slowly, and carry a higher chance of migration or rejection. Because of this, it’s especially important to choose a piercer who has hands-on experience with different nipple shapes. They’ll assess your anatomy and let you know if the piercing can be done.
Can you get nipple piercings after chest surgery? Procedures like breast augmentation, breast reduction, reconstruction or top surgery can affect your nipples. Scar tissue may make it difficult to get your nipples pierced and sometimes it might not be possible. If your anatomy still allows for nipple piercings, then the healing process may be even more difficult and take longer. You should wait a couple of years after surgery before getting your nipples pierced. During your consultation appointment, let your piercer know about any surgeries you’ve had.
So if you’re asking yourself, “can I get my nipples pierced?”,the only way to know is to have a piercer take a look at your anatomy in person. Sending photos or trying to get an online opinion or evaluation isn’t reliable enough when it comes to this type of anatomy-specific piercing.
At the end of the day, anatomy varies from person to person. A knowledgeable piercer will be able to assess your situation and walk you through what’s possible and what’s safest for your body.
This is an exciting piercing to get, but it is definitely not an easy one to care for and should be taken seriously. You’ll want to do research beforehand to not only find a reputable and experienced piercer but a piercer who you trust and feel comfortable with. If you wish to do so, you may ask a friend or family member to go with you for support.
As you get ready for your appointment, think of the clothes that you'll be wearing. Your nipples will be sensitive afterwards, so you don't want to wear anything that could snag on the jewelry. Wearing a loose fitting shirt that can possibly get stained with blood or other bodily fluids is helpful.
Depending on your anatomy, horizontal, vertical, and even diagonal piercings are options. The piercer will use a hollow needle to pierce through the nipple.
So, what's the average nipple piercing size? The gauge typically varies between 16g through 12g, but your piercer will assess your anatomy and recommend the best way to pierce them, and the gauge and the length of jewelry that will be used during the healing process.
The initial jewelry used is usually a straight barbell with a longer post to accommodate for swelling. Since this is a sensitive piercing, it's important to choose high-quality initial jewelry.
Whether you want to pierce a single or both nipples at the same time will be entirely up to you. Some people choose to only pierce a single nipple and to leave one for play while other people like a more symmetrical look. You can choose to pierce one nipple at a time, but keep in mind that you’ll have to go through the healing process separately for each.
Nipples have a lot of nerve endings, so as you can imagine, the actual piercing will hurt. Just remember that it’s over in a few seconds. Afterwards, you can expect some swelling and sensitivity in the piercing area.
If you are menstruating and usually experience sensitive breasts, you should avoid getting pierced during this time. Wait until your menstruation is over for a better experience.
Nipple piercing pain scale: 7/10
The total cost of a nipple piercing can vary depending on whether you’re piercing one or both nipples, your location, the piercer’s experience, and the type of initial jewelry you choose. On average, the nipple piercing price is about $50 to $100 per nipple, not including the cost of jewelry.
The price of your jewelry will depend on the material, style, and design you select. While it may be tempting to choose a cheaper option, quality is especially important for a new piercing. Choosing high-quality initial jewelry, such as implant-grade titanium, can help reduce irritation and support a smoother healing process.
Before getting pierced, ask your piercer what is included in the price. Some studios may charge for the piercing and jewelry separately, so knowing the full cost ahead of time can help you plan.
Nipple piercings take longer to heal than many other types of piercings. The healing time for nipple piercing can extend up to a year or longer, depending on your body and how well the piercing is cared for. During this time, proper aftercare is important to help prevent inflammation and other complications, including rejection or migration.
Piercings heal from the outside in, so a nipple piercing may look healed before the tissue inside has fully recovered. Even if your piercing looks and feels fine, continue your aftercare for the full healing period. If you’re unsure whether it has fully healed, have your piercer check it before stopping aftercare or removing your nipple piercing jewelry.
Switching out the jewelry too early can irritate the piercing and delay healing. So, when can you change the nipple piercing jewelry? It’s best to wait until the piercing is fully healed before changing it yourself. If the jewelry needs to be changed sooner because of its fit or another issue, talk to your piercer.
Follow your piercer’s instructions diligently. Generally, clean your piercing twice a day using a saline spray. Remember to:
When healing, wear loose clothes to prevent snagging the jewelry. Any snagging can not only be painful, but it can cause trauma to the piercing, which can lead to rejection.
Can you wear a bra after a nipple piercing? Yes, however, opt for soft cotton bras or sports bras for support, and ensure they are clean to prevent bacterial transfer.
While working out is important to stay healthy, consider taking a break while your piercing heals. If you choose to continue working out, wait at least a few months to allow your piercing some time to heal.
Avoid activities and exercises that can irritate the piercing. For example, instead of running, opt to cycle instead.
If you wear a bra, using a sports bra can help to prevent the piercing from moving around and getting irritated.
After working out, shower immediately and clean the piercing site with saline spray.
If you suspect any sign of infection or that the piercing is migrating or rejecting during healing, consult your piercer or a medical professional immediately.
Yes, nipple piercings can close. They may close faster than you expect, even after they’ve fully healed. Nipple piercings go through soft tissue with lots of blood flow. When you remove the jewelry, the body acts quickly to close the hole. In fact, nipple piercings are known for closing quickly.
So, how fast do nipple piercings close? How long does it take for nipple piercings to close? For newer piercings under six months old, the hole can shrink within hours and may even start closing within minutes. In some cases, it may close completely within a day or two, especially if the jewelry is removed too early.
Even if you’ve had it for a year or longer and your nipple piercing is fully healed, it can still close. The process is usually slower, but the hole can shrink significantly within days if jewelry is left out. If you're changing out the jewelry for the first time, consider going to a piercer. They will do it quickly and before the piercing closes.
If you need to remove your jewelry temporarily, such as for a medical procedure or surgery, it’s best to plan ahead. Talk to your doctor about using a retainer that’s safe for your procedure and what materials are approved. Retainers are designed to keep the piercing open and are available in materials like glass, silicone, acrylic, bioflex, and more.
Can a closed nipple piercing be reopened? It depends on how much it has closed and whether scar tissue has formed. In some cases, a piercer may be able to taper the hole back open if it hasn’t fully closed. However, if the channel has closed and scar tissue has formed, it’s usually safer to get a new piercing rather than trying to force jewelry through the old one.
As with any piercing, everyone’s body heals differently, so piercings may close at different rates. If you’re unsure whether your piercing is still open or what your options are, go see your piercer and have them assess the piercing.
Is there a difference between nipple piercing for men and a women? First of all, everyone has nipples, so anyone can get pierced if their anatomy allows. However, there are some things that are more specific to men and women.
Many men say their nipples feel more sensitive after getting pierced. However, this sensitivity can be different for each person. Men's nipples may also heal faster than women's. This is because men do not have monthly hormonal changes.
Nipple development or changes in nipple shape or texture, are more common in men and women with smaller or less developed nipples. These changes can be pretty noticeable, with the nipple growing in response to the piercing and jewelry.
When the piercing is placed in the right spot, following the natural lines of the nipple, it usually looks good. But if the piercing is off, the nipple might take on an uneven or less appealing shape. Sometimes, these changes stick around even if you remove the jewelry, so it's worth considering before getting pierced. While this is common, not everyone reacts the same way to nipple piercings.
Let's cover more specific things that can be seen in nipple piercings for women. Tenderness can change depending on a person's activities and hormonal changes. Many people notice increased discomfort, swelling, or even some discharge right before and during their period, even after the piercing has fully healed.
If you’re not pierced yet and you plan on nursing in the future, we can’t stress enough the importance of going to an experienced and knowledgeable piercer. Nipple piercings done incorrectly can lead to scarring and can cause complications with nursing down the line.
Now, if you’re nursing, it’s important to remove any jewelry to ensure your baby is able to latch on properly and so they don’t risk swallowing or choking on any small jewelry parts.
While you can remove and insert the jewelry every time you breastfeed, it can be a hassle. Instead, some parents opt to remove the jewelry altogether during the nursing period. If you decide to do this, keep in mind that there’s a chance the piercing will shrink or close once you have weaned your baby. Don’t worry, you can always get your nipples re-pierced. You’ll have to wait a few months until you do so.
Ready to wear that nipple piercing ring you've been eyeing? Before removing your nipple piercing jewelry, check with your piercer to make sure fully healed. Once your piercing heals, you can have fun shopping for body jewelry.
You can wear anything from barbells, rings, clickers, circular barbells, captive bead rings, nipple stirrups and nipple shields. At Bodyarforms.com we have tons of styles to accentuate your nipples.
Need help choosing the right gauge or length? See our body jewelry measurement guide.
SHOP ALL NIPPLE JEWELRY
That concludes our guide to nipple piercings! We hope you found it helpful. Nipple piercings are a bold and beautiful statement; however, they should be taken seriously. Always do your research to find an experienced piercer.
Don’t forget to follow us on all of our socials @Bodyartforms!
