The Ultimate Piercing Question Thread! - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

onodrim · 01-18-2004, 03:59 AM

Hey guys, I've been thinking about piercings in general lately, and I have a few questions - most of which have not been addressed from what I could see in my searching.

The piercings I'm considering are anything from bellybutton to nipples to clit, so each question applies to all of these unless it is more specific.

1) After it's healed, how hard is it to take out every now and then, and is it advisable? Especially with the bellybutton piercings, I've seen some pictures where a person has it out and the hole is REALLY obvious and, frankly, not that attractive. I would like to have the freedom - after it's healed of course - to take it out every now and then. Same with a clit or nipple piercing since I'll probably want to take those out every now and then too, but my biggest concern is the bellybutton piercing since I've specifically seen pictures of the hole looking bad in that instance.

2) Mainly with the bellybutton piercing, does it stretch if I were to get pregnant? (quite a ways down the line, don't worry!

) I'd hate if getting pregnant - being something I definitely want to do at some point in my life - was going to ruin the piercing or make it look bad if I were to take it out.

3) How likely is a loss in sensitivity? Obviously bellybutton is not an issue here, but nipples and clit are. A loss in sensitivity is a REALLY bad thing and I definitely wouldn't want that to happen.

Biggest thing of all this though is really question 1 and 2, since 3 is addressed in other places pretty often. I know SecretMethod70 likes variety and I do too. Sometimes he or I will be in the mood to have piercings, and sometimes we won't. Obviously while they are healing they'd have to stay in, but I would like to find out how easy/advisable/safe it is to take them out every now and then if I so choose.

Thanks for all your input!

Ogre840 · 01-18-2004, 04:09 AM

for the record, i have no personal experience with any of these kinds of piercings (being a guy and all) but, here's what ive heard from people with these kinds of things.

1) i really have no knowledge... i know my lip ring leaves a pretty big hole in my lip, and even when it's in i end up loosing liquid through it when drinking... so, i would assume a belly button hole would show.

2) I've heard it does, but i think if you take it out, it wouldn't be much of a problem. Also nipple rings some times have an adverse effect on breast feeding if you are planning on doing that.

3) for the first few weeks, its like a walking orgasm, anything that ring touches sends shock waves through your clit. after that it starts to get number and number. With my lip ring that general area is slighty numb generally and i sometimes have to play with my lip to make sure i still have it lol. Not sure on nipples though, i would assume the same thing.

As allways, you should talk to the piercer before hand (even call them up with general questions like that) and i hope i helped!

bermuDa · 01-18-2004, 04:35 AM

I leave my piercings in pretty much all the time. The faster-healing areas can close around a piercing pretty quickly, and I don't want to take the chance. I'm not sure how fast bellybutton heals, but I'll bet a clit piercing would be hard to get back in if you had it out for more than a 6-8 period. Whether the hole from the bellybutton would show I suppose would depend on the size of the piercing, but I don't really know a lot about the bellybutton. I wouldn't think it'd be very noticeable unless you were really close, or looking for it.

Nipple rings can be taken out and usually don't affect breast feeding, but it is a possibility. I don't know what a clit piercing would do during birth... I'd assume you'd want to take it out for that.

My nipple is more sensitive than it used to be before I pierced it, so that's a big thumbs up

and oh the stories I've heard about clit piercings.

Go check out www.bmezine.com and read up on the piercings you're considering. People submit their personal experiences for you to learn from, and there is a risks section that explains a lot of the potential dangers of piercings, mostly from neglected aftercare.

kulrblind · 01-18-2004, 04:38 AM

As a man with a nipple piercing (insert your own shocked look here), I can comment on that. Also, I know many people with belly rings (one is even pregnant as we speak), so I think I can offer something in that category as well.

First of all, piercings can be really wonderful things. I hope that if you decide (at least for the short term) that you want one, you really do enjoy it and feel attached to it. I guess it's a little like a tattoo, but you can be moody about it and take it out if you decide it's not right for you. And believe me, you may decide that (I've removed three earrings and an eyebrow ring in the past); there's no shame in outgrowing your piercing. Better than regretting a tattoo.

That said, I can say I haven't noticed any sensitivity loss due to the nipple ring (it's been almost ten years now), but I do remember the sensation of the piercing process and the recovery stage quite vividly. It's these types of sensations that get people addicted to piercings. Personally, I love my nipple piercing and have grown quite attached to it (no pun intended). I had to remove it for surgery once (about 4 days, I think) and had a hard time getting it back through. No worries, though, I had my local piercer run it through for me -- it's more difficult when you're looking down on a piercing to find the actual tunnel.

As for the belly ring... it's true that it will leave a mark if you take it out. It looks a little bigger than a blemish (in the best of circumstances), but if you're really worried about that sort of thing on your belly, you should know that belly piercings are somewhat tempermental, and not everyone will have one that heals perfectly. Also, to my knowledge, you'll eventually have to take it out if you become pregnant, and depending on how quickly you start showing, this could be far along in the pregnancy.

Both these piercings behave differently than say, the tongue, nose, or cartilege piercings. Those piercings you can remove and leave out for short periods of time. I wouldn't advise taking a belly or a nipple ring out for very long.

Hope this helps. Feel free to email or PM me if you want more info from my point of view!

SecretMethod70 · 01-18-2004, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bermuDa
I wouldn't think it'd be very noticeable unless you were really close, or looking for it.

Cool - thanks for all the input so far guys

(Hey, onodrim's sleeping and I'm her boyfriend, so I can post for her a bit

)

The biggest concern we have isn't so much IF it can be seen but how conspicuous/unattractive it may be. For example - you can see an earring hole when it's out. No biggie. Obviously a bellybutton piercing would be bigger though - and, having not seen that many when they're out, it's hard to say how bad they may tend to look when removed.

Quote:

Originally posted by kulrblind
I wouldn't advise taking a belly or a nipple ring out for very long.

Removing them isn't likely to be a lengthy experience. More like a matter of "I don't feel like wearing my clit/nipple/bellybutton piercing today" (whichever it may be, if not all perhaps).

For example, from a sexual standpoint, it's a lot like the fact that variety is good with sex. Sometimes you're up for more kinky stuff and sometimes you're just in the mood for plain old "missionary" style sex. Likewise, sometimes the piercings are going to be really attractive and hot, and sometimes I know we'll be more interested in an unadorned body. I know, at least, for myself, every now and then I'm sure I'll be interested in eating out a ringless pussy

Variety is the spice of life - we just want to make sure we're not limiting variety by trying to have more.

ApexgriN · 01-18-2004, 07:45 AM

Navel piercings can and usually "grow out". Same with eyebrow. What happens, is the area pierced has a constant tension on the jewelry, and over time (can be a few months, can be a few years) it will move out of the skin. Your body is also more likely to reject a naveel piercing. Keep this in mind. If you don't notice it or just let it go too long, it can be ripped out once it gets close to the surface and that will never heal properly. I used to have 3 navel piercings (yeah, I'm a guy) and 1 started growing out pretty quick. I do have marks where all the holes were.

As for the Nipples, go for it. Just be aware that your nipples will be permanently enlarged, and when you do take them out they will have perma-RT. Mostly good things, but something to think about.

I'm getting my frenum done next month, my fiance is getting her hood done at the same time. [shiver]

sprocket · 01-18-2004, 09:37 AM

Id recommend going with a thicker belly button peircing for one. Probably around a 12 gauge.. for some stupid reason everyone likes to do 14 gauge and they are so thin they get ripped out quite a bit. Thicker jewlry wont slice the skin like that.

Also just make sure you use quality jewlry.. less chance of rejection, infection and other unpleasant things.

JStrider · 01-18-2004, 01:04 PM

i know you can usually get flexible plastic barbells to wear in a belly button while pregnant....

and another thing to do is look up all the piercing places in town... visit all of them... see how they look...

should be very clean like hospital clean or cleaner... talk to the piercer about all your concerns/worries... and think about if you would be comfortable with having this guy/girl piercing your nipples or clit if you decide on one of those...

onodrim · 01-18-2004, 05:13 PM

Thanks for all the help! I really appreciate it.

Quote:

Originally posted by sprocket
Id recommend going with a thicker belly button peircing for one. Probably around a 12 gauge.. for some stupid reason everyone likes to do 14 gauge and they are so thin they get ripped out quite a bit. Thicker jewlry wont slice the skin like that.

Interesting point, I always assumed a bigger gauge would leave a worse mark, so thanks for the advice!

SecretMethod70 · 01-18-2004, 08:03 PM

added a poll for those who know first-hand

kulrblind · 01-19-2004, 05:09 AM

One word of caution if you're thinking of removing piercings occasionally... Often when you take one out and try to get it back through, the skin will have tightened (not closed over, per se) so be prepared of the possibility that you may lose the piercing altogether.

This isn't a "piercings are for life, so you better respect them" attitude... just caution from someone who nearly lost his nipple piercing.

There are some very good viewpoints on this thread. See? It pays to get people's stories.

Best of luck!

View Poll Results: piercings when out?
navel: most of the time it does not look nearly as good as an unpierced belly when the piercing is out	2	66.67%
navel: it typically looks fine with the piercing out, the hole is not very distracting	1	33.33%
nipple: most of the time it does not look nearly as good as an unpierced nipple when the piercing is out	1	33.33%
nipple: it typically looks fine with the piercing out, the hole is not very distracting, and scarring is typically not bad	1	33.33%
clit hood: most of the time it does not look nearly as good as an unpierced clit hood when the piercing is out	1	33.33%
clit hood: it typically looks fine with the piercing out, the hole is not very distracting, and scarring is typically not bad	0	0%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 3. You may not vote on this poll

01-18-2004, 03:59 AM	#1 (permalink)
onodrim Cosmically Curious Location: Chicago, IL	The Ultimate Piercing Question Thread! Hey guys, I've been thinking about piercings in general lately, and I have a few questions - most of which have not been addressed from what I could see in my searching. The piercings I'm considering are anything from bellybutton to nipples to clit, so each question applies to all of these unless it is more specific. 1) After it's healed, how hard is it to take out every now and then, and is it advisable? Especially with the bellybutton piercings, I've seen some pictures where a person has it out and the hole is REALLY obvious and, frankly, not that attractive. I would like to have the freedom - after it's healed of course - to take it out every now and then. Same with a clit or nipple piercing since I'll probably want to take those out every now and then too, but my biggest concern is the bellybutton piercing since I've specifically seen pictures of the hole looking bad in that instance. 2) Mainly with the bellybutton piercing, does it stretch if I were to get pregnant? (quite a ways down the line, don't worry! ) I'd hate if getting pregnant - being something I definitely want to do at some point in my life - was going to ruin the piercing or make it look bad if I were to take it out. 3) How likely is a loss in sensitivity? Obviously bellybutton is not an issue here, but nipples and clit are. A loss in sensitivity is a REALLY bad thing and I definitely wouldn't want that to happen. Biggest thing of all this though is really question 1 and 2, since 3 is addressed in other places pretty often. I know SecretMethod70 likes variety and I do too. Sometimes he or I will be in the mood to have piercings, and sometimes we won't. Obviously while they are healing they'd have to stay in, but I would like to find out how easy/advisable/safe it is to take them out every now and then if I so choose. Thanks for all your input! __________________ "The world is so exquisite with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there’s little good evidence. Far better it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides" -Carl Sagan

01-18-2004, 04:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
bermuDa don't ignore this--> Location: CA	I leave my piercings in pretty much all the time. The faster-healing areas can close around a piercing pretty quickly, and I don't want to take the chance. I'm not sure how fast bellybutton heals, but I'll bet a clit piercing would be hard to get back in if you had it out for more than a 6-8 period. Whether the hole from the bellybutton would show I suppose would depend on the size of the piercing, but I don't really know a lot about the bellybutton. I wouldn't think it'd be very noticeable unless you were really close, or looking for it. Nipple rings can be taken out and usually don't affect breast feeding, but it is a possibility. I don't know what a clit piercing would do during birth... I'd assume you'd want to take it out for that. My nipple is more sensitive than it used to be before I pierced it, so that's a big thumbs up and oh the stories I've heard about clit piercings. Go check out www.bmezine.com and read up on the piercings you're considering. People submit their personal experiences for you to learn from, and there is a risks section that explains a lot of the potential dangers of piercings, mostly from neglected aftercare. __________________ I am the very model of a moderator gentleman.

01-18-2004, 07:45 AM	#6 (permalink)
ApexgriN Tilted	Navel piercings can and usually "grow out". Same with eyebrow. What happens, is the area pierced has a constant tension on the jewelry, and over time (can be a few months, can be a few years) it will move out of the skin. Your body is also more likely to reject a naveel piercing. Keep this in mind. If you don't notice it or just let it go too long, it can be ripped out once it gets close to the surface and that will never heal properly. I used to have 3 navel piercings (yeah, I'm a guy) and 1 started growing out pretty quick. I do have marks where all the holes were. As for the Nipples, go for it. Just be aware that your nipples will be permanently enlarged, and when you do take them out they will have perma-RT. Mostly good things, but something to think about. I'm getting my frenum done next month, my fiance is getting her hood done at the same time. [shiver] __________________ - apexGrin Last edited by ApexgriN; 01-18-2004 at 07:54 AM..

01-18-2004, 09:37 AM	#7 (permalink)
sprocket Psycho Location: In transit	Id recommend going with a thicker belly button peircing for one. Probably around a 12 gauge.. for some stupid reason everyone likes to do 14 gauge and they are so thin they get ripped out quite a bit. Thicker jewlry wont slice the skin like that. Also just make sure you use quality jewlry.. less chance of rejection, infection and other unpleasant things. __________________ Remember, wherever you go... there you are.

01-18-2004, 04:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
Ogre840 Banned Location: OlyWa	for the record, i have no personal experience with any of these kinds of piercings (being a guy and all) but, here's what ive heard from people with these kinds of things. 1) i really have no knowledge... i know my lip ring leaves a pretty big hole in my lip, and even when it's in i end up loosing liquid through it when drinking... so, i would assume a belly button hole would show. 2) I've heard it does, but i think if you take it out, it wouldn't be much of a problem. Also nipple rings some times have an adverse effect on breast feeding if you are planning on doing that. 3) for the first few weeks, its like a walking orgasm, anything that ring touches sends shock waves through your clit. after that it starts to get number and number. With my lip ring that general area is slighty numb generally and i sometimes have to play with my lip to make sure i still have it lol. Not sure on nipples though, i would assume the same thing. As allways, you should talk to the piercer before hand (even call them up with general questions like that) and i hope i helped!

01-18-2004, 04:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
kulrblind plays well with others Location: Canada	As a man with a nipple piercing (insert your own shocked look here), I can comment on that. Also, I know many people with belly rings (one is even pregnant as we speak), so I think I can offer something in that category as well. First of all, piercings can be really wonderful things. I hope that if you decide (at least for the short term) that you want one, you really do enjoy it and feel attached to it. I guess it's a little like a tattoo, but you can be moody about it and take it out if you decide it's not right for you. And believe me, you may decide that (I've removed three earrings and an eyebrow ring in the past); there's no shame in outgrowing your piercing. Better than regretting a tattoo. That said, I can say I haven't noticed any sensitivity loss due to the nipple ring (it's been almost ten years now), but I do remember the sensation of the piercing process and the recovery stage quite vividly. It's these types of sensations that get people addicted to piercings. Personally, I love my nipple piercing and have grown quite attached to it (no pun intended). I had to remove it for surgery once (about 4 days, I think) and had a hard time getting it back through. No worries, though, I had my local piercer run it through for me -- it's more difficult when you're looking down on a piercing to find the actual tunnel. As for the belly ring... it's true that it will leave a mark if you take it out. It looks a little bigger than a blemish (in the best of circumstances), but if you're really worried about that sort of thing on your belly, you should know that belly piercings are somewhat tempermental, and not everyone will have one that heals perfectly. Also, to my knowledge, you'll eventually have to take it out if you become pregnant, and depending on how quickly you start showing, this could be far along in the pregnancy. Both these piercings behave differently than say, the tongue, nose, or cartilege piercings. Those piercings you can remove and leave out for short periods of time. I wouldn't advise taking a belly or a nipple ring out for very long. Hope this helps. Feel free to email or PM me if you want more info from my point of view!

01-18-2004, 01:04 PM	#8 (permalink)
JStrider Poo-tee-weet? Location: The Woodlands, TX	i know you can usually get flexible plastic barbells to wear in a belly button while pregnant.... and another thing to do is look up all the piercing places in town... visit all of them... see how they look... should be very clean like hospital clean or cleaner... talk to the piercer about all your concerns/worries... and think about if you would be comfortable with having this guy/girl piercing your nipples or clit if you decide on one of those... __________________ -=JStrider=- ~Clatto Verata Nicto

01-18-2004, 08:03 PM	#10 (permalink)
SecretMethod70 Human Administrator Location: Chicago	added a poll added a poll for those who know first-hand __________________ Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

01-19-2004, 05:09 AM	#11 (permalink)
kulrblind plays well with others Location: Canada	One word of caution if you're thinking of removing piercings occasionally... Often when you take one out and try to get it back through, the skin will have tightened (not closed over, per se) so be prepared of the possibility that you may lose the piercing altogether. This isn't a "piercings are for life, so you better respect them" attitude... just caution from someone who nearly lost his nipple piercing. There are some very good viewpoints on this thread. See? It pays to get people's stories. Best of luck!