How long till you can change nipple piercings

Nipple rings have become quite common in this generation. Celebrities have had a significant role in making nipple piercings fashionable and trendy.

The piercing is popular in both men and women, and usually, the rings will protrude in tight shirts.

The piercings are very private, which means it is difficult for you to know who has done it or who hasn’t.

It is nevertheless not a celebrity art only as many people are doing it for different reasons. Expressing oneself is one reason behind getting this piercing done.

These piercings are not random modifications of the body. Nipple piercings take a longer time to heal compared to other piercings like ear piercings.

Swapping the nipples’ jewelry requires a comprehensive and detailed pliers-like instrument for opening and closing the rings.

It takes time to heal, and you should be prepared to care for your piercing during the healing period. The healing process and duration depend primarily on your body and your efforts in taking care of the piercing.

Classic and trendy jewelry can influence you to change your nipple piercing and show your boldness you may want to change the jewelry almost immediately. However, the question to be answered is, how long do you have to wait to change your jewelry?

Contents

• What you should consider before swapping the nipple piercing
  • How do you know if your nipple piercing is completely healed?
  • Are nipple piercings extremely painful?
  • What type of jewelry should you have?
  • How will you know if your piercing is being rejected?
  • Should your nipple piercing breathe?
  • Can you breastfeed after getting a nipple piercing?
  • Can you change the piercing after a month?
  • How to swap your nipple rings
  • What to do to fasten the healing of your nipple piercing.
  • How long should you wait to change your nipple piercing?
• For what’s worth

What you should consider before swapping the nipple piercing

When you still have discharged from the nipple

During the healing process, you will have yellowish or brownish discharges from your nipple. These discharges usually take place a few days after undergoing the piercing procedure. The discharge should not cause you worries as it symbolizes that the piercing is healing.

If the discharge of these fluids persists, then you might need to consult with your doctor.

Prolonged discharges are symptoms of you developing an allergy to the piercing or the jewelry used for piercing.

Nonetheless, you will see a layer of plasma on the nipple during the healing time for several months—the layer forms when it mixes with air and then dries up.

If the layers keep forming even after cleaning the piercing, the piercing may not have healed completely, and changing the jewelry will cause more harm than good at this stage.

When your nipple is still painful

If your nipple is still sore and painful regardless of how long the piercing was done, changing the jewelry is the wrong idea.

Even by touch, the nipple’s pain is a symbol that there is an infection in the nipple and that the nipple is not completely healed.

If the pain is associated with swelling and discoloration, you need to consult with a professional piercer.

Therefore, if your nipple is still painful, you need to stick to your aftercare procedure and practice patience before changing the jewelry.

The healing process.

As with most piercings, infections are prevalent when it comes to body modifications. Too much cleaning and touching of the piercing accelerates the rate at which bacteria enter the piercing.

If you had complications during the piercing, then the healing process will also be extended.

The introduction of bacteria causes nasty infections to the piercing. The nipple will swell, discolor, and there will be a brownish discharge.

If the symptoms are severe, you will have to use antibiotics to help reduce these symptoms; this, however, increases the healing time of the piercing.

It is essential to assess the metal-type contents that are to be put in your nipple as your body might reject it and cause allergies. Nickel-free metals are the best for nipple piercing.

You should pay a visit to your piercer to change the metal piercing to a non-reactive metal. Should you have metal allergies afterward, you can return to your aftercare procedures.

If you experienced an allergy during this procedure, chances are the healing process is prolonged. Therefore swapping the jewelry is unnecessary as it will not have healed.

The time frame in which the piercing was done.

Nipple piercing takes a lengthier time to recover than other body piercings. The healing period of a nipple piercing takes between 12 to 16 weeks, but it varies from one person to another. Changing the jewelry after 12 months is the best as the piercing would have completely healed.

If your nipple piercing’s healing process was without any significant complications, swapping the jewelry at nine months is possible. The piercing will be completely fit, provided you followed the aftercare measures religiously.

It is also crucial to check on the nipple entries if it has gained their tightness and elasticity. You can also flap the ring to confirm if the piercing is completely healed; you are good to go if there is no pain.

The result is that if the piercing has regained its tightness and elasticity, then changing the jewelry will not be a big deal.

The aftercare procedure.

The first days of a nipple piercing are crucial because the piercing is open; hence there is an introduction of pathogens to the piercing through exposure to air or contact with the skin. The instructions given to you are vital in regulating these infections.

Following your aftercare instructions given to you by your piercer is very important. Aftercare measures and instructions help in shortening the length in which the piercing heals.

Discipline and patience are of great importance during the healing process.

On the other hand, if you did not follow the aftercare instructions religiously, brace yourself for lengthier healing. It will also increase the time in which you anticipated to change your jewelry. Aftercare instructions influence how fast you get to swap your jewelry.

How do you know if your nipple piercing is completely healed?

When the piercing is not sore, and there is no discharge of greenish or brownish fluid from the piercing, your piercing is considered healed.

You can also try flapping the jewelry; if you feel a sharp pain, then the piercing is not entirely healed, but it is okay if you do not feel anything.

The jewelry should also rotate with ease and with no formation of crust on it. It is essential to consult with your piercer to assess the piercing and confirm that it is healed entirely before swapping your jewelry for what you want.

Above all, your body can give you answers if your piercing is healed or not, and if you are ready for a piece of new model jewelry or not.

Are nipple piercings extremely painful?

The piercings vary from one person to another. There is no definitive answer as to say whether it hurts or not. Most people, however, find the piercings bearable and not that painful. Nipples have nerve endings, and that means there is some pain associated with it.

The pain is also influenced by your nipple sensitivity level, which varies from one person to another. The piercing is delicate, and thus the reason it takes a long time to heal completely.

What type of jewelry should you have?

With jewelry, the 14 gauge straight barbell is the best for first-time piercers. Straight barbells are long enough and provide space for the nipple to heal through the swelling. The swelling of the piercing is expected during the healing phase.

Straight barbells jewelry does not stretch the piercing. They are not as heavy as other jewelry varieties like the captive bead rings and dangle nipple rings, which tend to pull the nipples down.

How will you know if your piercing is being rejected?

Your piercing may sometimes reject you due to different reasons. It is advisable to consult with your piercer if there are signs that the piercing is rejecting you. The signs are pretty obvious, even if you cannot access a reputable piercer nearby.

Here are some signs the piercing is being rejected;

• If the piercing shows a lot more bar than the first time piercing, then it could be rejecting you. The jewelry might have slightly moved, thus the rejection.
• If the piercing appears to be expanding over time.
• If the nipple is sore and there are swellings on the jewelry balls, this might be a problem caused by the jewelry when they are too short.

Consulting with your piercer is the best solution once again. The piercer will recommend the best action to take after examining the signs.

Should your nipple piercing breathe?

Letting your piercing breathe plays a very crucial part in the healing process of the piercing. It would help if you allowed air circulation in the piercing to prevent the buildup of dirt and debris on the piercing.

Wearing loose clothes during the first few weeks after piercing will ensure a continuous air supply, hence no formation of bacteria. Alternatively, you can wear a padded bra if you are going out to participate in physical activities.

A padded bra will limit the breast’s movement, thus regulating injuries and damages to the piercing. You can as well leave them free when you are having a nap.

Can you breastfeed after getting a nipple piercing?

When it comes to breastfeeding, is always a sensitive topic. Of course, you can breastfeed your baby with nipple piercing, but there are some measures that should be put in place before breastfeeding your baby.

The piercing does not have any effect on how the milk flows into your baby’s mouth. The issue is when the infant grips on the jewelry. This will cause puncturing of the skin, so before you feed your baby, it’s better to remove the jewelry.

Nevertheless, if you decide to breastfeed with your jewelry on, you should probably use a high-quality jewel that does not store dirt.

It is important to have your nipple jewelry as tight as possible should you have decided to breastfeed the baby while wearing it. It is to prevent the baby from swallowing loose screws that might be hanging on the jewelry.

Can you change the piercing after a month?

Swapping your nipple piercing after a month is not advisable. Nipple piercings take between three to twelve months to heal completely; changing the rings at this stage is very risky.

Switching the jewelry may cause irritation and inflammation of the piercing, thereby extending the time when the piercing was supposed to be completely healed. Other than that, you might scrape the tissue in the nipple as they are very fragile.

How to swap your nipple rings

Swapping your nipple jewelry for a new one requires your piercing to be fully recovered to avoid tearing the skin around the piercing and causing infections. It is essential to understand the basics of removing the old jewelry and swapping in the new one.

It is a straightforward procedure, but it needs you to be extremely patient and careful to avoid injuring yourself.

Here are a few guidelines to be followed while changing the jewelry;

Massage the nipple

It would help if you massaged the piercing earlier to ensure that the nipple retains its elasticity of the fistula. This will make the nipple flexible so that when inserting the new jewelry, you do not have to force it in and tear the skin. Massaging should be done at least 2-3 weeks earlier before the removal.

Use a taper.

While purchasing the new jewelry, you should buy a taper to stretch the piercing. You should also have a water-based lubricant to lubricate the jewelry.

Dropping the jewelry in a water-based lubricant will make it easy for you to slip the jewelry into the piercing without too much force.

Avoid using petroleum lubricants on the jewelry as petrol will prevent air circulation in the piercing and facilitate the growth of pathogens.

Inter-change the threading of the jewelry.

For the first time, you change your jewelry. It would be best if you considered using internally threaded jewels in place of your starter rings. The advantage of threaded jewelry is that you can connect it with the threaded taper, but they must be of the same gauge.

Internally threaded jewelry is ideal for your nipples as they do not scratch the fistula, which is fragile.

On the other hand, externally threaded jewelry has got threads on its bar and causes tearing of tissues and pain while being removed or inserted.

Maintain the same gauge of the jewelry

If you are using nipple jewelry that is not threaded, it is essential to maintain the same gauge you were using for your starter jewelry. Adding the gauge amount to your nipples may make your jewelry migrate over time.

What to do to fasten the healing of your nipple piercing.

Soak your piercing in saline water.

Prepare a saltwater solution that contains distilled water and 3-4 tablespoons of non-iodized salt. Mix the solution and ensure that the salt is dissolved in the water. Pour the solution into a short glass.

The distilled water should not be hot and rather lukewarm and then push your nipple into the glass with the solution. Let the nipple stay in the glass for 7-10 minutes, and after that, rinse the piercing with clean water.

Use padded bras

Women need to wear padded bras after the piercing, especially while performing physical activities. This is to regulate the movement of the breast while hitting the gym.

This bra fits perfectly and regulates the breast’s movement such that the nipple will not rub the bra causing sharp pains.

Avoid touching the piercing.

It is a common rule with almost all body piercings to avoid touching the piercings no matter how itchy they may be. Your hands carry a lot of pathogens, especially if you spend time on laptops and phones.

They are the primary carriers of bacteria, and touching the piercings without washing your hands may risk infection.

In any case, if you must touch your piercing, use sterilized gloves or sanitize your hands properly to prevent bacteria’s introduction to the piercing.

Wear loose cotton clothing

It is essential to let your nipple piercing breathe. For the first few months, you need to dress in loose clothing to allow air circulation in the piercing. Tight clothes facilitate the buildup of bacteria around the piercing area.

Also, tight clothes will rub against the piercing causing pain and damage to the piercing if it happens continuously. So during the period in which the piercing is healing, loose clothes are the best as they will unlikely irritate the piercing.

Clean your piercing every day

It would help if you cleaned your piercing regularly and daily to remove any particles on the piercing; this includes the crusts that stick on the jewelry. Use warm water and a soap that is not scented to clean the piercing. It would be best if you also rinsed it while taking a bath.

How long should you wait to change your nipple piercing?

Nipple piercings are a body modification that takes a longer time to heal. It takes about six to twelve months due to their fragile nature. It contains very delicate tissues that, when interfered with, may prolong the healing time.

Changing the piercing largely depends on how fast your piercing heals and how well you undertake the precaution measures. If you want to swap your jewelry after a short while, you need to be disciplined with your aftercare instructions given to you by your piercer.

Changing your piercing requires patience, and rushing to change the jewelry can have huge repercussions.

Before swapping your jewelry, it is essential to ensure that the piercing is healed fully. For men, the nipple can take between three to six months while that for women goes between six to twelve months, after which you can swap your jewelry.

For what’s worth

Nipple piercing is a very complicated piercing and demands a must responsibility and a lot of care. They can also last forever if they are well taken care of. You must be patient with the piercing as it will take a while for it to heal completely.

Changing your jewelry depends on how well you follow the aftercare instructions. Religiously following the instructions will benefit you as you will be able to change the rings before the stipulated time.