If there's one thing that the recent TSA/passenger conflict in Texas showed, it's that even 20 years after nipple piercing started to move into the mainstream, many people still don't know anything about them. In fact, the most the average person knows about nipple piercings is probably just a vague memory of something sparkling on Janet Jackson's breast during her unfortunate "wardrobe malfunction." These are not a casual body modification, like having ears pierced. Pierced nipples take months to heal and removing the jewelry often requires the use of specialized pliers made for opening and closing the thick rings.

This hub describes the process of how nipples get pierced and answers some frequently asked questions about nipple piercings. If you have more questions, you can ask them in the comment capsule at the bottom of the hub.

Nipple piercing is a fairly straightforward and easy body modification procedure. No anesthetics are used, as their use is regulated and restricted to doctors, so it would actually be illegal for body piercers to use them. The piercing itself takes only a few seconds.

This photo series shows the basics of nipple piercing. (photos © Relache/Rae Schwarz. All rights reserved)

• First the nipple area is cleaned and marked so that entry and exit holes for the ring are located and lined up properly. The piercings are most often set at the base of the nipple, where it joins the aureola.

• Next a medical clamp called a Pennington forcep is applied to the nipple, holding the tissue firmly and lining up the two dots for the holes as closely together as possible.

• Then holding a cork on one side to catch the needle, the piercer quickly does the actual piercing with a slant-tip hollow needle. Nipple piercings needs to be at least 14g in thickness to prevent tissue tearing.

• The clamp is removed and the needle is almost all the way through the piercing. Then the ring is butted up against the end of the needle and is used to push the needle out, allowing the ring to slide smoothly into place.

• The captured bead ring is then in place and is ready to have a bead inserted between the two end and be pinched closed.

When nipples are first pierced, the best jewelry to wear is a captured bead ring. This allows for the easiest aftercare and cleaning for the healing piercing. For men, a pierced nipple can take three to six months on average to heal. For women, it can take six months to a year. Everyone's body is different, so be sure to discuss any specific concerns with your piercer BEFORE you get pierced.

Nipple jewelry should be 14g to start as thinner wire may migrate out or risk getting caught and ripping the nipple tissue. If you wish to enlarge or "gauge" your nipple piercings, it's best done by going to a professional body piercer and having the piercings sized up one gauge at a time, with at least a month in-between enlargements. Go up too fast and you risk tearing the tissue and having to go through a prolonged re-healing period.

One healed the jewelry can be changed, and with nipples there are many options. The most popular options after captive bead rings are straight and circular barbells. Make sure with straight bars that the jewelry is about 1/16" longer than the nipple diameter for comfort, and so that the ball ends don't dig into the tissue. With barbells, dangles and nipple shields can be worn. Both of these are pieces of jewelry that hang from or or held on by the actual barbell, so you'll want a tad extra length if you have either of these in mind.

If you wear captive bead rings, be sure to get special ring spreaders (a form of pliers) and ball closure pliers so that you can change your jewelry yourself. These ensure the jewelry can be opened and closed safely for the wearer and keep the jewelry from being deformed or damaged by the removal process.

The recent controversy about nipple rings and airline security stemmed from an incident when TSA security screeners in Texas forced a woman to remove her nipple rings, telling her she would be barred from being allowed onto her flight if she didn't. No one is quite sure why just nipple piercings are suddenly an air safety threat when nose, navel or genital piercings aren't considered to be an issue. Body piercings aren't detectable by walk-thru doorway-style metal detectors, but will register if a person is scanned with a hand-held wand. What this means is that hundreds of nipple piercings a day fly without being detected but pierced people who get randomly selected for extra screening may have to endure having their pierced parts inspected. Remember, inspections should be done by same-sex security agents (guys check guys, women check women) and they are supposed to request that you disrobe enough to show the nipple piercings, and they shouldn't have to touch your body.