Mar 30, 2012
Stretching is the deliberate expansion of a healed fistula for the purpose of wearing body piercing jewelry. Ear lobes are the most commonly stretched piercings, however, it is also quite common to stretch the nasal septum piercings, tongue piercings and lip piercings. While all piercings can be stretched to some degree, cartilage piercings are usually more difficult to stretch and more likely to form hypertrophic scars if stretched quickly. Dermal punching is another method for accommodating larger jewelry in cartilage piercings.
Stretching particularly when getting to larger sizes; can be a lot more extreme than you may think. It is far more time consuming than anything else in piercing. Stretching is usually done in small increments to minimize the potential for damaging the healed fistula or creating scar tissue. Stretching has continued to gain popularity and has become more acceptable in western culture. Regardless of your reasons for stretching it needs to be done safely to avoid trauma.
Stretching can be done a few different ways and using a taper is the most common. A taper is a rod that increases in diameter at one end to allow the stretch to take place as it is inserted. We use professionally manufactured Tapers (made of surgical stainless steel).
Weights are a very popular way to stretch lobes for many people, but generally weights are not the best way to stretch a piercing as they can cause migration of the piercing and thinning of the tissue on the bottom of the piercing.
PTFE Tape (thread tape) is an inert tape used by some people for gradual stretching of piercings (mainly ear lobes). One method for stretching a piercing is by gradually increasing the size of the jewelry. An easy way to do this is by wrapping tape around the jewelry, adding a little bit every few days. One main problem with electrical tape is the adhesive leaking out and irritating the piercing. In addition, some people react to the plastics used.
Bondage Tape is now becoming a more popular method of stretching; like PTFE tape it can be wrapped around the jewelry and reinserted into the piercing, the advantage of Bondage tape is that it is slightly thicker and does not create a crease as much around the jewelry, meaning less buildup of dead skin cells.
Most people can stretch to at least 2ga and still have the tissue return to normal when they remove the jewelry, however every body is unique and there are no guarantees. Most of this depends on lobe size, blood flow and elasticity of your skin. Most piercers will recommend you do not stretch your ears unless you are certain you’ll be okay with it forever. Once the elastic limit of the skin has been passed, or a large amount of additional tissue has been built up, the hole will not close again completely. There are surgical procedures to rebuild one’s earlobe once stretched however, these are costly and generally only used as a last resort for those wishing for a lifestyle change where a stretched piercing is forbidden.
Stretches should be cared for by cleaning regularly, in addition to massaging the area with a number of oils/creams. Jojoba, vitamin E oil and emu oils are three of the most popular, all are readily available and will speed healing process. Oils will also soften any developing scar tissue that may develop during the stretching process. Creams containing Vitamin E have also gained popularity, they nourish the skin allowing more and healthier skin cells to grow, potentially avoiding the ‘thinning’ effect discussed below.
If the skin around the piercing gets particularly thin, it is recommended that stretching ceases and the piercing is downsized to allow the tissue to thicken again and feeding it with a vitamin E cream/oil, then reinserting the larger jewelry once the tissue is thicker and healthier. By repeating this process, you can usually drastically increase the thickness of the tissue. In addition, choice of jewelry material can have an effect on the tissue’s thickness (and general health).
Over-stretching can result in tearing or migration, which will usually lead to scar tissue. The biggest problem with this is that it makes further stretching more difficult. Over-stretching can also result in damage to nerves, leading to a loss of feeling in the tissue. However, feeling typically returns in six to twelve months. Damage can also be done to blood vessels, resulting in a loss of circulation, in which case the tissue may die or become significantly weakened.
Another problem is the development of a “lip” behind the piercing. These blowout “lips” commonly appear around earlobe and other piercings that are stretched too quickly for the body to adapt. The simple way to get rid of them, if you catch them in time, is to downsize them immediately, and allow them to reabsorb. Folding or rotating the lip back inside the piercing and applying pressure to the outside with washers and O-rings, will sometimes help it assimilate back into the primary tissue. However, this doesn’t always work. The more advanced way to get rid of them is to physically remove them. One method that has been met with good success is tightly tying off the lip (using a tunnel as a backing), allowing the tissue to die, and then removing it.
A variety of jewelry is available for stretched earlobe piercings. Types of jewelry available include plugs, eyelets, and large captive bead rings, as well as hanging styles. Majority of professionals agreed that the best jewelry to wear in a healed stretched lobe, is something organic such as bone, wood or stone. These materials tend to have less of a smell.
If the jewelry is removed from the piercing, the hole will shrink in diameter over the course of weeks and months. The amount a stretched earlobe will shrink if jewelry is removed long-term is dependent on the specific person pierced, and it’s impossible to give an exact amount that will apply to everyone. Factors that will affect shrinking back down would include blood flow, elasticity, overall health, and the amount of time jewelry was worn. Please note, however, that it’s generally accepted that a piercing stretched to 4 gauge or over is not likely to shrink to the point it won’t be noticeable. Earlobes which have been scalpelled or punched will typically not shrink beyond the size they were when the procedure was performed.
If you are considering stretching please go to a professional. We would love to answer any questions you might have. Stretching is time consuming and can be considered permanent with many related risks if not done properly.
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