What to look out for
Jewelry rejection - the body may reject a piercing if you don't plan ahead and take proper steps to prevent this. The nipple for example has enough tissue thickness to prevent the body from rejecting it, but the piercing must be deep enough and the initial jewelry must be of a think enough gauge. If the piercing is shallow or the jewelry too thin, the body can reject it.
Metal allergies are also a consideration. Some folks are allergic to nickel, silver, and other metals found in jewelry. The way to avoid this is by buying only good quality jewelry made of surgical steel or gold.
Physical irritation (tugging and pulling) can cause a new piercing to reject, sports, outdoors lifestyles martial arts and other physical activities may also cause problems. So leave playtime to a minimum until the piercing has completely healed.
Scar tissue can alter the shape and size in ways that were NOT intende, so keep any eye out for this.
Nipple splitting can happen when using the wrong jewelry, a good reason to seek out a professional and avoid the ‘do-it-yourself’ approach.
Numb nipples can happen from time to time when a nerve gets damaged and sensation is lost altogether from the piercing to the tip of the nipple.
Nipple cysts and infections. Always see a doctor immediately if you develop any pain, swelling, inflammation, or pus (yellow fluid) at any point. An infected nipple is typically treated using antibiotics.
Improperly sized jewelry can prolong the healing process. If you suspect this is the case, seek out another piercing professional to do an assessment. If you have other symptoms, see your doctor immediately.
Kids are a danger to most every thing as any parent will tell you, so look out for unexpected grabs and tugs.
Breast feeding
If you are interested in being able to breast feed don't worry. Yes the piercing must be completely healed before breast feeding starts, and thats why many piercing professionals refuse service pregnant women. Just wait for your the kid to stop feeding off of you and then get it.
If you already have nipple piercing breast feeding is still easy. While breast milk may leak out the holes, this shouldn’t matter. As long as the jewelry is removed before feeding, the baby should still be able to ‘latch’ and feed without spillage. Jewelry must not be left in during a feeding; it is a serious health risk to the child.
Long term health issues
A nipple piercing can occasionally block a milk duct, leading to an infection trapped inside the breast (mastitis). And watch out for lumps, it may not be cancer, but an internal infection can still make you extremely ill if you ignore it.
Is nipple piercing right for me?
You should avoid nipple piercing if you are taking anticoagulant drugs, immunosuppressive medications, and certain corticosteroids. Chemotherapy reduces immune function and makes a body more prone to infection. Breast implants can cause complications. Finally, those people with heart valve disease, skin infections, or rheumatic fever should also avoid getting a piercing.
Final thoughts
Piercing is a personal choice and can be fun if it fits your life style, but it is "surgery" so remember to think on it and can make the right decision in the first place.
