Tuesday February 17th, 2009 @ 3:51 PM
Filed under: Ear
Ive been stretching for about 3 years now and I got a blow out back at only half inch and im at 1-5/8 now but I always managed to keep the blowouts somewhat under control untill recently. The one on my right ear got so bad that its pretty much all blowout and inside out and the skin is weird and always out-stretches by itself. Maybe a month or two ago my lobe started thinning out at one point while the rest of it was still extremely thick, I didnt think too much of it because it wasnt THAT bad but maybe two weeks ago I had gotten sick which gave me a skin rash which affected my lobes and they both got pretty badly infected. There still healing from the infection BUT now my lobe is thinner then ever, almost like a string and really badly scabbed and the more it scabbes the thinner it gets. Im guessing its pretty much inevidable that its going to snap any day now but my question is when it does would I need complete earlobe reconstruction or can I get the thick parts sewn back together, which would make the lobe a couple sizes smaller? And what can I do to prevent this with my other lobe? Also curious about the thick part of my lobe near the bottom, since its like a complete blowout the feel of my lobe is weird, almost like puddy, you can squeeze it and it will hold the indent and blood just pours out of the thinned area when I squeeze it. I dont know if theres ANY hope for my lobes but please help. Thanks. - Andrea
Aww Yikes. Don’t squeeze your poor irritated earlobes.
The constant scabbing and continual thinning could very well be from the tissue dying as a result of lack of circulation in the thinning area.
With stretched earlobes, it’s always a good idea to sleep with your jewelry out. When you’re outside in the cold, your jewelry should be out and your lobes wrapped up with a scarf or a touque to keep the blood flow to that area (Which will keep your lobes plump and healthy).
I tell all my clients to remove their jewelry completely for a few weeks after any type of injury to their earlobes (be it a blowout, frost bite, sunburn, jewelry irritation, etc)
It’s better to risk losing a couple sizes than losing your lobe entirely.
As far as reconstruction goes, you may be able to find a reputable artist (or doctor) who could either reverse your stretched lobes completely OR, depending on the current state of your lobes, remove the dead/severely damaged tissue and rejoin the two healthy ends back together and have you start stretching back up again.
+9 / 11 votes 
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Posted by Lexci Million | Permalink | 2 Comments
Tuesday February 10th, 2009 @ 1:45 PM
Filed under: Ear
Hi, I am looking at getting a new piercing. When I went on BME I couldn’t find any pictures of it so I am wondering if it is rare or if I am looking in the wrong place or what. I think it is part of the helix. It is the curled part of the ear just above the tragus, right next to the temple. So, my question is, what is it called and where in the BME pictures would I find it? Thanks so much. 
Jen
I always called it a “forward helix”, but in the bme encyclopedia if you look up helix it mentions it as an “ear head” piercing. No disrespect to whomever came up with that name but I am sticking with calling it a forward helix.
+11 / 11 votes 
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Posted by Sean Philips | Permalink | 7 Comments
Thursday February 5th, 2009 @ 1:02 PM
Filed under: Ear
Whats the best place for scalpeling in NYC? And any idea on the going rate? Money is tight but I would love to have this done soon, just need to know how to budget!
Thanks!
Check out Brian Decker , he’s definitely your best bet. I don’t know what he charges now, but I am sure it is too low. Every time I see him I tell him he doesn’t charge enough, but lucky for you no one really listens to me.
+9 / 11 votes
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Posted by Sean Philips | Permalink | 2 Comments
Tuesday January 20th, 2009 @ 3:05 PM
Filed under: Ear
Hi BME,
I recently stretched my earlobes from 14g to 12g. The new jewellery went in with minimal fuss and my left lobe is doing great, but a few days after the stretch my right lobe ballooned out like I’ve never experienced before. It’s currently almost twice it’s ordinary size, is quite painful (and sometimes itchy) and isn’t leaking any fluid. I’ve been cleaning it with a combination of sea salt soaks and chamomile tea to alleviate the swelling (to no avail). It’s now been like this for about three or four days with no change; the worrisome part is that my face close to the lobe is beginning to hurt as well…Before I run to my doctor and have them chastise me for engaging in body piercing and demand I remove the jewellery, heal the hole up and become a nun, do you have any advice for me on repairing it at home? Does it sound like an infection, or just an allergy/irritation?
Thanks in advance
Going from 14g to 12g shouldn’t really cause you that much of a problem unless you have only recently had your ear pierced. If not, it could well be a reaction to the jewellery, however, the fact that the swelling is quite marked and painful and the pain is now affecting your face is giving me cause for concern. I would be inclined to downsize and pop some sterile jewellery in there (titanium is hypo-allergenic) and brave the doctor just to be on the safe side. Pain and redness that tracks away from a piercing site should always be treated as potentially serious.
+12 / 14 votes
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Posted by Tiff Badhairdo | Permalink | 3 Comments
Friday January 16th, 2009 @ 3:47 PM
Filed under: Ear
A friend of mine got his ears pierced at 14g in early June. Monday (1/12/08) he switched his jewelry from the original jewelry he got when he was pierced (CBR) to a plug. This morning he realized, when he tried to take his earring out to put a new piece of jewelry in that he couldn’t remove the earring. After looking at it, I realized that the o-ring had become embedded in his earlobe.
I was wondering what would be the appropriate way to go about dealing with the situation. Should he go to a doctor? A piercer? And what will need to be done in order to remove the o-ring from his earlobe?
He should have the o-ring taken out right away. A piercer or a doctor could do this pretty easily and in a clean environment. Depending on the severity of the embedded o-ring, it may just need a hot soak and gentle massage to pop the jewelry out. Worse case scenario is that the o-ring needs to be removed surgically.
+4 / 4 votes
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Posted by Lexci Million | Permalink | 1 Comment
Monday January 12th, 2009 @ 2:54 PM
Filed under: Ear
Hey,
About a year ago I removed my plugs and left my ear lobes empty of all jewelry. They have shrunk quite a bit and I always new my ears were kind of… off. I had my ears pierced at a young age and started stretching about 7 years ago so I honestly can’t remember my ears being how they appear now… Then again I was much younger. Anyway! My ear holes are thinner on the side close to my face. I have been considering scalpelling my ears to try and have a more centered look. I’m curious if this will really help. I only knew one person who had scalpelled their ears and he had aesthetically pleasing lobes in the first place…
I also had an issue with one of my ears not going past 5/8″ (though I never really forced anything in there, so I could be wrong… Maybe it is just a stubborn ear) If I do scalpel, is it possible that this may make going past 5/8″ comfortable/possible? I’m honestly just curious as I take some more time to think about this…
Thanks for taking your time to answer this and all. I appreciate the time you all take to answer questions, no matter how stupid or obvious or out there that they may seem.
xoxo
These issues are perfect reasons to consider scalpelling. The one thing I always mention when discussing scalpelling is the fact that often after scalpelling the next few sizes stretch easily, sometimes too easily. So make sure to mention your final size goal (if you have one) when discussing the procedure and of course make sure you find a reputable experienced practitioner to perform this modification.
+5 / 5 votes
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Posted by Sean Philips | Permalink | 1 Comment
Monday January 5th, 2009 @ 4:14 PM
Filed under: Ear
Today I bought 00 gauge tapers and plugs. I had been at 0 gauge for about a year, and thought it was time to stretch some more. When I got home I compared the 00 gauge tapers to my old 0 gauge tapers and they didn’t look too different - the 00 gauge ones were slightly bigger, but not very much so. I thought that was a little weird because I’ve always heard that 0 to 00 is supposed to be a big step. So I put the tapers in, and they slid in without any fuss. Just a miniscule amount of pain. I put the 00 gauge plugs in immediately and they fit great. So my question is, is 0 to 00 not that big of a step, or did I get duped at the store and wasn’t really sold 00 gauge earrings?
The difference between 0g and 00g is 2mm. Which isn’t that much of a size difference as far as most things go, but depending on how ready your lobes are to stretch up a size, it could be huge.
If they slid in with ease, it sounds like they were probably ready.
It shouldn’t hurt to stretch your lobes if you’re doing it properly.
+3 / 3 votes
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Posted by Lexci Million | Permalink | 7 Comments
Friday January 2nd, 2009 @ 6:19 AM
Filed under: Ear
Hey there BME!
I was just told by a friend that stretching your ear lobes to 1″ can cause constant headaches. I call bullshit on that, I don’t believe it, but just to make sure what’s your view on this? I honestly don’t see how stretching to that size can cause it? Seems ridiculous.
I’m with you all the way on the bullshit front.
+19 / 19 votes
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Posted by Tiff Badhairdo | Permalink | 6 Comments
Saturday December 27th, 2008 @ 10:45 AM
Filed under: Ear
Hi there,
I’ve had what could possibly be termed as helix piercings, but are really more orbitals from where they are situated (the flat part of the ears, but circling the rim)
In any case, it’s been two years, and they still give me trouble. In the summer it’s just fine, and I never have any problems with it, but in the winter, every time the snow comes down, I find my ears take a beating, and they grow bumps and are painful.
Is there possibly a way for me to protect my ears, or should I just do sea salt soaks like I normally do?
You mean outer conch piercings 
The only thing you can do, really, is keep your lugs warm. Woolly hats, ear muffs.. whatever it takes. Warm seasalt soaks will help but prevention is way better than cure, so keep ‘em toasty.
+6 / 6 votes
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Posted by Tiff Badhairdo | Permalink | 5 Comments
Thursday December 11th, 2008 @ 5:22 PM
Filed under: Ear
My ears have been at a 2g for about two months now and today when i tried to stretch to a 0g my ears started to bleed. I went back down to a 2 but i wanted to know if you guys have any advice on what i can do to get my ears ready to go to a zero. I also tried taping but after the first piece of tape i waited a while and the second piece of tape wouldn’t fit.
The simple answer is to give it more time. Patience is the key. You may find that visiting a piercer and having them use a lubed-up taper helps but certainly give it more time. Time is the best advice I can give you.
+11 / 11 votes
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Posted by Tiff Badhairdo | Permalink | 5 Comments
