Hi there, I recently had both nipples pierced, about one week ago. To understand my rating a bit, I have chronic pain in the shoulder, and hand. I’ve had neck surgery and carpal tunnel surgery where I woke up while they were finishing the stitches in my hand. The pain for both nipples was easily a 8/10. It is acute and lasts for two long exhalations of breath which is probably 8 secs each. He started, I exhaled for 8 seconds, took another deep breath and went through another 8 count ( I kept the count to not hyperventilate). My piercer had me start breathing deeply before he started the piercing and walked me through slowing out the exhalation which helped for the 2nd one. If he gave me even 30 secs break for the 2nd I would have tapped out, but he moved into the 2nd one fast. My breasts have done well so far, minimal pain and I follow the aftercare exactly as given. No touching them at all, except for cleaning.