“At least go three or four weeks and try to keep it to a minimum,” Thompson explains, “but it's not like you have to go six months.” And obviously, wash your hands before touching your nipples. Does the piercing make your nipple more sensitive? Yes and no.
On average, it can take between 4 to 6 months for a nipple piercing to heal. However, it can take as long as 9 to 12 months. It is crucial to keep the piercing clean and comfortable during the healing process.
Avoid swimming for the first six weeks and have showers rather than baths – it's best to avoid soaking your new piercing in water with chlorine or bacteria in it. Wear breathable cotton as synthetic materials can cause sweat to build up if the garment is tight-fitting against the new piercing.
Nipple Erection/Hardness
They may stay erect for a while, but once your body gets used to the piercings, your nipples will more than likely relax. If you have flat nipples, piercing them can help push them out a little bit, but that doesn't mean they will always stand erect.
Can I lose sensation? Your nipples will become more sensitive after being pierced, not less. Nerves in the nipple are spread out and not in one place that can be severed by being pierced.
Some prefer to wear a bra to protect and secure their piercing. Others feel a bra is too restrictive, fear snagging their piercing on their bra, or dislike the feeling of wearing a bra with their new jewelry. Others yet skip the bra altogether. We often recommend wearing a sports bra during the healing process.
A nipple piercing is a self-inflicted wound that starts healing, as soon as it happens. Usually, this wound heals around the jewelry, meaning a successful piercing. The healing process can cause side effects, such as redness, itching, or small amounts of discharge.
Many people say getting re-pierced is less painful than the first time. Remember fleshy areas such as the lobes are less painful than areas with thicker cartilage like the helix.
Nose piercings are notoriously hard healers, as they are a very sensitive area due to the nerves that run though. They take at least 12 weeks before being able to be changed, and even then, may need more time.
Importance of Care. Although the earlobes, nostrils and belly button are generally safe areas to have pierced, a risk of infection still exists. Properly caring for your piercings drastically reduces the chances that they will become infected.
Helix (and Most Outer Cartilage): 6-12 Months
As a result, these piercings tend to take longer to heal, and Gottschalk estimated about 12 months of healing time for most outer-cartilage piercings to fully heal, helix included.
“If you're very physically active, a navel or belly button piercing might not be a good choice,” Dr. Kronborg said. “All the jostling and trauma increases healing time and the risk of infection.”
Mandibular Piercing:
This is an extremely dangerous piercing to get done. There are a number of important Nerves and Viens in the area and due to the depth of the location, internal bleeding could occur.
Because the cartilage is thinner on the upper ear, helix piercings tend to be the least painful cartilage piercing. They measure around a 4-5/10 on the pain scale and take around 3-6 months to fully heal.
The septum piercing (a.k.a. a piercing through the soft tissue in between your nostrils) is one of the fastest-healing and lowest-irritation piercing zones. Unlike the nostril, the septum is exposed to fewer bacteria and is known to be a quick healer.
It is not uncommon to have multiple piercings performed on the same day. We recommend not getting more than four piercings in one session, especially if you're getting them on the same ear. Getting multiple piercings can also cause increased swelling during healing and can prolong healing time.
To keep your piercing safe, invest in clothing that will secure your piercing without pressing too hard on the jewelry, like a somewhat tight t-shirt or a light cotton bra. Refrain from nipple play in the bedroom, and you shouldn't touch them at all during the first weeks. Try not to pick at any crusties that form.
The night before
Stay Hydrated: Drink lots of water and try to get plenty of sleep! Please don't drink alcoholic beverages the night before getting pierced. Even if it's not enough to make you drunk or hung-over, it could still thin your blood the next day.
Most piercers do not recommend getting more than four piercings in one sitting. Even then, depending on the piercing placement, they might suggest that you stagger your piercing appointments. The shark bite piercing, for example, requires four piercings—two on one side below the bottom lip and two on the other.
The standard lobe placement is most individuals' first piercing. These piercings arguably rate the lowest on the pain scale compared to other common placements. Because there is no cartilage on the earlobe, these piercings will heal fairly quickly – within approximately six to eight weeks after your session.