scalpelling blow outs

Thursday May 15th, 2008 @ 1:53 AM

Filed under: Ear

Ive had blow outs and scar tissue on the back side of both lobes for sometime now and they are rather embarrasing to say the least. Not only do they make it very difficult to stretch but I have to always find or have custom peices made to accomodate the width.

I sleep with my plugs out and do oil massages but the blow outs and scar tissue dont seem to want to go anywhere.

I learned that I can have them scalpelled off and because I have also heard that scalpelling to produce a larger size makes future stretching easier I woould also like to have this done.

I was perviously at 1 1/4 but due to complication from the scar tissure not wanting to stretch to that size have since downsized to 1 1/8

Becuase I like the size of 1 1/4 and plan to stay there for a good while, and than eventually 1 3/8 for a good while and than 1 1/2 etc

I was thinking if getting scalpelled to 1 1/4 from 1 1/8 and at the same time getting my blow outs removed is good idea or not?

Im also a little concerned about thinning and I hear that scalpelling to larger size will redirect the piercing.

Here is a question I’d like to ask…Have you ever tried simply taking the jewelry out, leaving it out, massaging the lobes multiple times a day to see if the blow outs,etc get re-absorbed into the body? If my measurements are precise you only went down one size in your downsizing. With blow outs I strongly advise clients to literally not wear jewelry in their ears, until their lobes re-absorb the blow outs. From there you put whatever light weight jewelry (Pyrex eyelets,etc) fits comfortably and then wait roughly 1 year or so before you consider going to the next size up. From there literally wait 6 months to a year (ideally a year) before going up to the next size and so on an so forth.

Personally I’d suggest that before ever considering the scalpelling route. Lobe Scalpelling/Re-Directing,etc should only be done as a last resort, after all other avenues have been done.

Without seeing your lobes and the blow outs and scar tissue,etc I can’t really give much confirmed responses (ie: how big of a blow out you have,etc). But I’d honestly encourage you to at least try what I suggested if you’ve never done that, before selecting to go with the scalpelling. And I’d honestly literally not even consider the concept of stretching your lobes to larger sizes until this matter is sorted out.

But yes scalpelling and removal of the blow outs can be an option, but like I said I’d encourage you to consider it the very last option.

Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | 5 Comments

inner conch downsizing

Thursday May 15th, 2008 @ 1:48 AM

Filed under: Ear

i think this might be kind of a dumb question, but whatever.

I have a 6g inner conch piercing and due to my new job i have to take it out. I’m wondering if there would be any complications in removing my jewelery and if I can expect it to close up at all. Just curious!

Thanks!

Complications by removing jewelry are pretty non-existent, except if you view jewelry removal as a complication hehe.

In regards to closing up its all a matter of speculation/guess work, it may or it may not. It depends on how long you’ve had it, if you stretched it to 6ga, if it was pierced with a needle or punched, the aftercare protocol,etc. So this part of the question is the real hard part to give a 100% yes or no answer to, other than a simple: “You’ll just have to wait and see.”

I suspect it’ll downsize most definitely but like I just said only time and your body will determine how much it downsizes to.

Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | 1 Comment

Tender VCH pt 2

Wednesday May 14th, 2008 @ 5:55 PM

Filed under: Female Genital

I posted about a month ago about my VCH. It was suggested that I changed the jeelery.. Here’s some background. I got it pierced 4.28 with a 14 g 3/8 curved barbel. Well about a month ago it started to hurt. So I had the bar lengthened because my piercer thought it was too short. They I had the style changed to a straight. And it still effing hurts. Infact, it hurts more. What can I do? I love this piercing but this isn’t worth it if I can’t make it stop. Its a constant deep bruise feeling all over it, but im not swollen or infected. Please help.

I’m personally not a fan of straight barbells in VCH piercings. I find them to be uncomfortable, even in a well-healed piercing. If I recall rightly, you stated that it was fine to start with and then it just flared up? Try a titanium curved barbell and see if that makes a difference - the metal is lighter than steel and it is hypo-allergenic due to it being nickel-free. Also, avoid wearing restrictive clothing like tight jeans for a couple of weeks until the piercing feels happy. It’s a good idea not to use any kind of soap products in that area too. It could also be a placement issue but that’s the best I can do, really, without actually seeing the piercing myself.

Posted by Tiff Badhairdo | Permalink | 5 Comments

Wrecking Balm

Wednesday May 14th, 2008 @ 12:42 PM

Filed under: Tattoo Removal

Does Wrecking Balm actually work? I am not interested in using it, just curious on your opinions.

It seems pretty bloody unlikely to me. Allen Falkner’s been doing some research into it, and since he’s in the tattoo removal business these days, I’m inclined to defer to his opinion. Thus far? It seems like he’s still using lasers.

Posted by Lori St.Leone | Permalink | 2 Comments

Labret sizing

Tuesday May 13th, 2008 @ 6:54 AM

Filed under: Lip/Cheek

I have a 14 gauge labret, which i am uncomfortable with its length.

It feels too tight, so am i able to get the same size gauge jewelery but with a longer bar, or will the purchase of a 14 gauge only come in one standard length, the length i already have?

Can someone please tell me what size i will require if the fact is that gauges only come in one size lengths.

Thanks

PIPA

Labret studs come in a variety of different lengths irrespective of the gauge. I can’t tell you which length you need as that depends on the thickness of your lip. The best thing for you to do is to pop along to the piercers and have them measure your piercing and provide you with the appropriate sized jewellery.

Posted by Tiff Badhairdo | Permalink | 1 Comment

tongue splitting/frenum cutting

Monday May 12th, 2008 @ 9:15 AM

Filed under: Other

hey just a quick one, is it poss to have my frenum cut without getting a lisp or speech impedement?

Possible is a sticky wicket.
Yes. It’s possible. It’s also possible to get your tongue split with no affects to your speech- but it’s also possible that you’ll thound like thith. There’s really no way to guarantee it 100%.

is it probable?
Again- yes. It’s probable that you’re speech will totally unaffected by having the lingual frenulum cut. Ankyloglossia (being “tongue tied”) is common enough that performing a frenotomy (though unpopular in some circles) is a medically approved option that carries with it the hope of untethered movement of the tongue and improved speech.

Posted by Shawn Porter | Permalink | 3 Comments

Tattoos and Keratosis pilaris

Saturday May 10th, 2008 @ 10:52 PM

Filed under: Tattoos

Hi there!

I have a question that I’m struggling with for quite some time now and I thought maybe you guys will know something about it…. (Sorry if my English is a bit weak…)

I have a skin disorder called “Keratosis Pilaris”, well actually about 50% of the population have it but don’t know it.

Here’s a short Wikipedia explanation to it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keratosis_pilaris

And another site dedicated to it, and there’s an image on the homepage that clarifies what this means better than words: http://www.helpforkp.com/

Anyways, I never got a good answer about tattooing my KP infested upper arms. The thing is, tattoo artists don’t know too much about dermatology and are afraid to make medical statements, obviously, and skin doctors (dermatologists) don’t know anything about tattoos, or just tell me “don’t tattoo yourself”.

So here’s my questions:

Can I tatto over it?

Will the tattoo quality be good as on healthy skin?

Is there anything special I need to do before tattooing my arms?

Thanks!!!

If you have answers for me I would be sooo grateful (-:

Have a nice day

The short answer is “yes”. An ex of mine has keratosis so I was able to see firsthand that it’s entirely possible. Depending on the severity of your KP, it could be easier/harder. Will it look like a tattoo on healthy skin? No. But it can still look quite good.

Posted by Shawn Porter | Permalink | 7 Comments

eyebrow piercing rejection?

Saturday May 10th, 2008 @ 8:28 PM

Filed under: Eyebrow/Bridge

ive had my eyebrow piercing for 4 months now.i think it still hasnt healed, the first jewelery i had was a 16 gauge (3/8)barbell. after two and a half months from getting the piercing i changed the jewlery to a titanium barbell which was a 16 gauge but a 5/16 it was kind of tight. i let it sit their for like a month or 2 then recently i took it off and put the first one i had back on and now i noticed that the bar is hanging from the bottom a little, it wasnt like this when i first got it. also when i press on my skin between the two beads i feel a little pain, is this part of the healing process or is it rejection or migration maybe? i clean my piercing and disinfect it everyday since i got it and 1 month ago i just started putting salt water on it, so if u can please answer me as soon as possible i would really appreciate it. thanks

I wish I knew if you were wearing a straight barbell or a curved barbell.

If you are wearing a straight barbell, I would say chances are very good your piercing is rejecting. The pressure put on the flat, often-tight tissue of an eyebrow, often leads to rejection. A curved barbell is a better option. Having said that, eyebrow piercings done with curved barbells still reject sometimes.

Without seeing your piercing, there is no way to say for sure if it is rejecting or not. However, rejection with eyebrow piercings…especially ones that are subject to a lot of irritation/abuse while they are healing…isn’t unheard of.

Your best option is to go visit a piercer you trust and get their assessment of the situation. Unfortunately, this is one of those situation where someone who can see will be much better-suited for figuring out what the problem is.

Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | Comments

Nipple Jewelry

Saturday May 10th, 2008 @ 8:24 PM

Filed under: Nipple

I swear I read about proper jewelry on here somewhere before, but I’m assuming it was on the old QOD..so I apologize for what may be an easy question to answer.

I’ve had my nipples (female) pierced for about 2 1/2 years with the original 14 gauge horseshoe..uhh circular?..barbells still in (pardon my lack of proper terminology, my brain isn’t working well tonight). There’s still crusties everyday, but I had a difficult time with healing, especially after one was ripped in my sleep. Mainly I’m wondering if I might have better luck with straight barbells, such as less movement and less snagging, which in turn I would hope to have happier piercings.

If barbells are a better option, how do I go about figuring a proper length without going to a studio…all the “shops” around here are disgusting and unsanitary and I don’t trust the people running them at all, and the shop I got the piercings done at is several hours away.

Thanks

Barbells are going to be a better option for you and will likely solve the problems that you are having. The reasons you guessed they might be a better option for you are spot-on.

As for figuring out the size…a pair of calipers or even a ruler should do the trick. You want the barbells to be 1/16″-1/8″ of longer than the width of your nipples. Chances are good that 1/16″ will do the trick, but if they still tend to flare up or get swollen, a little extra room might be good. Take the measurement and then figure out what length of jewlery is going to fit the best.

Good luck!

Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | Comments

Flat discs for surface bars

Saturday May 10th, 2008 @ 8:17 PM

Filed under: Surface/Unusual

I’ve been researching on wrist surface piercings, and looking for the kind of jewelry I want to use. I’ve opted to get the discs when I actually get the piercing, but I can’t seem to find flat discs that are dark gray/black. Do they exist, and if so where can I find them?

Flat disks are typically going to be an excellent choice for the top of your surface bar.

As for finding them that are gray/black, that could be a bit more challenging. In order for them to be gra or black they will have to be made out of either Niobium are some other coated/plated metal…most commonly titanium.

You are almost guaranteed not to find disks in Niobium. While it is a good metal for captive bead rings, it can be a more difficult metal to machine when it come to dealing with threads…so none of the manufacturing companies I’ve seen deal with it in that capacity. While you can get barbell posts that are niobium, the threaded ends made of niobium just don’t happen.

As for the a coated titanium, it is more likely you will find this. It is typically referred to as Blackline jewelry, or something similar. Most of the companies making or distributing this type of jewelry tend to be European companies. So…the options you have may be more. None of the companies that I am willing to purchase surface bars from to put into my clients make coated titanium jewelry, so unfortunately, I can’t give the name of a specific company to contact.

Best of luck in your search.

Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | 6 Comments