Uncomfortably thin lobe question
Printed From: BodyMod.org
Category: Body Mods
Forum Name: Piercings
Forum Discription: Stories, studio suggestions, questions, etc.
URL: http://www.bodymod.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=21431
Printed Date: March/26/2023 at 2:48am
Topic: Uncomfortably thin lobe question
Posted By: trotskyicepick
Subject: Uncomfortably thin lobe question
Date Posted: March/09/2012 at 7:28pm
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Just a quick question. I originally stretched my ear lobes to approximately 60mm several years ago and due to lack of patience I had gone far to far, far to fast resulting in blowouts etc. I eventually had them surgically repaired 8 years ago meaning the removal of quite a bit of skin.
I have recently started stretching again and am currently at a comfortable 18mm, the piercings are quite loose and I know I could easily get 20mm in without further actual stretching. My question might just be a silly one, but is there any way to thicken up the skin around an earlobe piercing? I've been taking vitamin E supplements and massaging with vitamin E oil (after reading a blog post from somewhere), but I'm not convinced. I've had some issues with over cleaning with too strong saline solution, which is why what I have left feels (only visually) uncomfortable, so it's not a major issue. I'd like to reach about 38mm (which is where the jewellery I like just about starts), and I'm confident if I take my time I can achieve that.....I'd just like to feel more comfortable in doing so. Thanks for listening. |
Replies:
Posted By: Cale
Date Posted: March/09/2012 at 9:03pm
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Downsizing and restretching exercises! Just downsize your lobe a couple of sizes, then stretch them back up to your 18mm. Doing this multiple times over a period of time will definitely benefit you. :)
------------- Miss Cale True Blue Tattoo ~ 303-989-6824 305 S Kipling St, Lakewood, CO 80226 http://www.facebook.com/piercingbymisscale - facebook. |
Posted By: jakethejake
Date Posted: March/09/2012 at 9:22pm
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when you stretch, you make micro tears in the skin, and then those tears are filled in with new skin. (skin for the lack of proper term .. )
the idea behind downsizing is to stretch, create micro tears, allow it to settle.. then taking your plugs out and allowing your ear to shrink up, and stretching back up, again creating micro tears, and allowing them to be filled in. so you do actually create more lobe as you downsize and restretch. a word of caution, don't allow yourself to rush and stretch right back up after downsizing, the point is to give your ear a long time to gradually stretch. that, along with mucho jojoba or vitamin e oil rubs, and your lobes will thicken up. however, it doesn't happen overnight.. takes a while to see any difference. |
Posted By: trotskyicepick
Date Posted: March/10/2012 at 4:37am
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Thanks a million to both of you. I've actually already been downsizing - restretching for a bit (hence my lobes feal healthy already), but I didn't actually know why!!!
Patience has never been one of my virtues, but it appears it's one I'm going to have to learn ;D |
Posted By: Cale
Date Posted: March/10/2012 at 2:47pm
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Patience is the key when it comes to stretching. :)
------------- Miss Cale True Blue Tattoo ~ 303-989-6824 305 S Kipling St, Lakewood, CO 80226 http://www.facebook.com/piercingbymisscale - facebook. |
Posted By: trotskyicepick
Date Posted: March/10/2012 at 6:57pm
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To true. One question, without any jewellery in, would really good hard massage do a similar trick with regards to micro-tears? It kinda feels like it should.
Anyways, going back down to 14mm, and spend the next 12 months going between that and 18mm, see where I go from there. BTW Cale, I absolutely love your tattoos, and those surface piercings are amazing. Have you ever considered doing some suspensions ? By that I mean I have done several here in the UK (being hung up from my chest piercings) ala "A Man Called Horse", or if you're more familiar ala Ron Athey, actually participated in one of Ron's performances over here many moons ago. Anyways, you look super-cool and keep up the good work, and if I don't otherwise keep communicating on this site, I'll let you know if/when I get to my desired 40mm. Regards Andrew PS. I want to restart my labret to get back to 18mm, but the last jewellery I had at that size was custom made with a concave oval back-plate and was in some odd material that felt really quite waxy, very comfortable on the gums, and I have no idea what it was. Do you have any idea what it might have been? Edit: Think I've just answered my own question regarding hard massage. I think it's probably about creating the micro-tears by stretching then wearing the larger jewellery for a time so new skin gets to develop, then down-size again. Sorry if I sound like a clutz, I'm really not 
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Posted By: jakethejake
Date Posted: March/10/2012 at 10:24pm
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good hard massages are always a good idea :) .. I mean as long as you aren't hurting yourself.. hehe.
the material you're speaking of was most likely teflon or delrin. teflon has a natural lubricity to it, that makes stretching with it quite wonderful. However, both will begin to breakdown after longggg term wear (> year) |
Posted By: trotskyicepick
Date Posted: March/11/2012 at 8:34am
Delrin sounds familiar, though I did wear the piercing for over 5 years without the material breaking down at all. |
Posted By: Cale
Date Posted: March/12/2012 at 3:00pm
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I wouldn't do THAT hard of a massage. That might make your little tears worse!! Also, the material you're describing sounds like delrin to me as well. And to answer your question, I do suspension, but I've personally never been suspended! ------------- Miss Cale True Blue Tattoo ~ 303-989-6824 305 S Kipling St, Lakewood, CO 80226 http://www.facebook.com/piercingbymisscale - facebook. |
Posted By: trotskyicepick
Date Posted: March/13/2012 at 7:54pm
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One last post on this topic, ostensibly to say thanks for your time in responding.
I have problems which mean I massively over-complicate and over-analyse everything, hence this over-long thread. I think I've come up with a good solution though. I'm currently taking Vit E and Vit A supplements, drinking 2 ltrs plain water a day and massaging twice daily with Vit E oil. I have ordered sets of silicone eyelets ranging from 14mm upto 20mm. I intend to downsize 1 size at a time every 2 weeks, then upsize 1 size every 2 weeks until I get to 20mm, then repeat as often as necessary. Sounds like it should do the job, but anyone with more common sense / experience can put me right. |
Posted By: that1chick
Date Posted: March/13/2012 at 9:13pm
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Silicone is not good for stretching!
You really want to stick with non-porous materials like steel and titanium. Otherwise you risk damaging your piercings. ------------- http://www.bodymod.org/profiles/profile~ID~124632.aspx"> 
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Posted By: PeterAlsen
Date Posted: March/14/2012 at 5:44am
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Shouldn't it be possible to make fat-injections in the lobes? Making them permanently thicker? I've heard another person in the industry talk about how it was "in the works" and I was happy to hear it. My lobes are at 30mm and they are thin, I have downsized and stretched up, as well as scalpelled them twice and so on. But imagine making them FAT! I'd reach 50! :D |
Posted By: trotskyicepick
Date Posted: March/15/2012 at 7:26am
Really unhappy to hear that, thought it sounded like a really safe way to do the downsize-upsize shuffle.
Indeed, that would be truly awesome. |
Posted By: trotskyicepick
Date Posted: March/16/2012 at 7:27pm
So fat injections not realistic. I've just bought some fantastic ebony plugs at 42mm just to remind me why I want to take the trouble. Going to be slow and steady wins the race for me. |
Posted By: SierraFoxtrot
Date Posted: March/16/2012 at 10:35pm
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trotskyicepick (nice name btw)
I have used silicone for stretching, and I think its great. That1Chick is right about the material being porous, but this is not a problem as long as you take the plugs out more than once a day, and clean them good :) If you're oiling them everyday this should be sufficient to stop your ears from 'growing onto' the plugs. Stretching was actually really comfortable for me with the silicone plugs because I didn't have to 'pop' the plugs in, so there was no single point where my lobe felt the pressure. I would definitely recommend it for someone such as yourself who is willing to set aside a few minutes everyday to take the plugs out and get oiled up. ------------- I've got problems of my own, but not the kind that can be solved with an atom bomb. |