Piercing Questions

[cjsmith]

Minor web searching hasn't helped yet so I throw myself on the knowledgebase of my LJ friends. :-)

I have a nipple piercing which, after five or six years, is now migrating. One end of the piercing (medial) seems to be firmly anchored where my piercer put it, but the other (lateral) is slowly pushing toward the surface of the nipple.

The problem was probably made worse by putting too-small jewelry in. Three months ago I had to remove my 12ga. ring for surgery, and since I wasn't told about this requirement ahead of time, I didn't have a good plan. After I slept off the anaesthetic I couldn't put the 12ga. back. I put in an 18ga. I had lying around. Then I was lazy and didn't get it stretched back out.

It's now feeling pretty fragile. At the "bad" end, I can see the ring through the skin.

My Questions:
1) Anything I can do to save this one? Do I have to give up?
2) If I repierce, how long should I wait after pulling this ring out?
3) Years ago, my other nipple piercing migrated within weeks and the jewelry was removed -- but it never fully closed. If I repierce this one, is there anything I can do to make sure the remains of the first piercing will close?
4) Any idea why this happens? Can I help prevent it in the future?

Comments

My usual response

[rmjwell.livejournal.com]

Have you taken a look at the rec.arts.bodyart FAQ?

Re: My usual response

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Hadn't; thanks for the reminder. It concurs that the too-narrow guage is troublesome. It doesn't say how to solve the problem, so maybe no one knows! :-(

Next time I could ask for a larger guage than I got pierced with this past time. Hah, THAT'LL show 'em. (er. maybe.)

Re: My usual response

[rmjwell.livejournal.com]

Glad my mutant ability to state the obvious has some benefit to your situation. :-)

[basmati.livejournal.com]

I'm not a piercer, but I am pierced :)

I had a nipple piercing for many years (I ended up taking it out when I was pregnant and it was bugging me, and never replaced it).

Migrating is often caused by too-small jewelry, as you suspected. 18ga is way too small for a nipple, really, and can cause that cheesecutter effect.

I think if you can see the ring thru the skin, it is too late to save. Once a piercing is migrating like that, the best you can usually hope for is that it stays where it is, and that doesn't sound comfortable for you right now.

I'm not really sure if there's much you can do to make sure the first piercing closes. Some do, some don't. I think encouraging scar tissue on your nipple would probably be a bad idea.

Some people have continual problems with rejection and migration of piercings. You might be one of those people. Usually, you try to prevent this by leaning towards bigger-gauge jewelry and avoiding a lot of tugging/torsion of the piercing site.

I really think your best bet is talking to a reputable piercer, preferably in person. They'll be able to give you better insight and advice about repiercing. I'm not sure where you are in California; I can recommend a great place in San Francisco, and can probably find a good place for you elsewhere. A good piercer will be willing to discuss it at length with you and will have the experience to know how to deal with it.

Good luck!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Some people have continual problems with rejection and migration of piercings. You might be one of those people. Usually, you try to prevent this by leaning towards bigger-gauge jewelry and avoiding a lot of tugging/torsion of the piercing site.

Mmm, not what I hoped to hear but maybe what I need to hear. :-) Thanks.

I can recommend a great place in San Francisco

South Bay. I would be mucho grateful for a specific recommendation in SF (or farther south in the Bay Area). I was pierced in the Gauntlet in SF, and ever since they closed I haven't really gone to the trouble to find a place I trust as much as I trusted my guy there!

[basmati.livejournal.com]

I got my nipple pierced (my first non-ear piercing) at the Gauntlet, too! about 10 years ago now.

ok, I don't know of any places in the South Bay, but the place I recommend to everyone in SF is Body Manipulations. Their site seems to be down right now, but they're at 3234 16th Street @Guerrero. Phone is 415.621.0408. I've been really happy with everyone I've had dealings with there. The most recent experiences I've had (not personally getting pierced, but going with other people) were with Joey and Jon, who were both extremely professional and knowledgeable. I'd trust them both.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'll give them a call. Hey, maybe there's something about the name Jon. My piercer at the Gauntlet was named Jhan, pronounced John. :-)

[basmati.livejournal.com]

He's the one who did my nipple, too :)

[daltong.livejournal.com]

We used to go to the Gauntlet; now chiefted goes to Cold Steel (same location, corner of Market and Castro) and he's been just as happy with them.

Good luck.

[joedecker.livejournal.com]

I've attempted to point some people your way, I know a number of people with piercing experience.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :)