Can’t get plug through after stretching

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Tuesday June 24th, 2008 @ 10:26 PM

Filed under: Ear

After being at a 4g for about 3 1/2 months, I attempted to stretch my right ear to a 2g. The taper went through no problem, but I was only able to get the plug about halfway through. The back of my ear just doesn’t want to cooperate, and I’m not sure why. I gave up after a few attempts, didn’t want to irritate my ear too much. After waiting about a month, I tried again with the same results.

My ears have never really been that loose (my left ear wouldn’t take the taper at all), but Ive never had any issues stretching before now(no pain, blow outs, blood etc) and have no idea why my ear will take the taper but not the plug.

Is there anything I could do to get this plug in my right ear? After reading an older question, I saw “surprised to find out that you sleep on that side more often and/or use the phone on that side more often. Those sorts of things cause additional irritation, which can cause scar tissue build-up.” I sleep on my right ear, is it possible that scar tissue build could be the problem?

Thanks for any help you can give

There are a few things to keep in mind:

As you stretch, it is very common for stretches to become more challenging. It’s also very common for people to need to wait longer between stretches. While 3-1/2 months, or even 2 months, may have been long enough between your last stretch, it may not be long enough this time. There are a variety of factors that can contribute to this, but why it happens isn’t all that important. Listening to your body and not tearing your ear is really the important thing.

Another very real possibility is that the jewelry you are trying to insert is actually a bit bigger (even a fraction of an inch) than the taper you are stretching with. If that is the case, it’s very easy for the jewelry to get hung up on the tissue even if the taper goes in just fine. You may want to try and find a different piece of jewelry to put in immediately after the stretch.

It’s also possible that you simply don’t have a good angle for the insertion. As an experienced piercer, there are still times where inserting jewelry behind a stretching taper can be challenging. Trying to do it on yourself, especially if you have a piece of jewelry that is a bit too large, can be nearly impossible.

Most people do have one ear that stretches more easily than the other. I think all the theories behind why it happens are really just that…theories. They may in fact be right….or the very least, very well-educated guesses, but I don’t think anyone really knows for sure.

Best of luck. Just remember to not force it.

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