Ear Gauge Blowout?

Ok i realize that 99.9% of you are probably going to scoff at what i'm about to ask, but i'm gonna ask it anyway...

Ive had my ears gauged at size 2's for like 5 years with double flare stainless eyelets... i decided a few days ago to bump them up to 0's so i bought some size 0 double flare solid acrylic eyelets and some size 0 acrylic tapers.

The tapers went in super easy with minimal swelling... i had them in for a couple days and got impatient so tonight i took out the tapers, cleaned my ears with antibacterial soap, grabbed some K-Y, and went about attempting to put the plugs in.

The left one was a little tough but it popped in and has barely swelled at all and doesnt hurt whatsoever.

The right lobe was really tough... it was pissing me off so i kept pushing and right when i was about to just give up and put the taper back in it slid in most of the way but started bleeding... i was rinsing off the blood and being the genius that i am - decided to keep trying a little more since it was largely through the hole. Well... i thought it was in but then i flipped my ear over and looked at the back side and discovered there was a super thin flap of skin covering a little bit of the plug end, and i tried to nudge it a bit more but the skin just wouldnt cooperate so i removed the plug, cleaned up the blood, and put the taper back in with the o-rings loose not knowing what else to do.

So all of that said... i'm sure i'm gonna get flamed hard on this board but i'm hoping SOMEONE has experience with this and can give me sincere advice. because of that flap of skin i saw i am worried i have a blowout. Well, actually im pretty sure it happened... ugh. It's swollen but it doesnt hurt or anything. Looking at my lobes i dont actually have a split along the hole, it just seems like i shredded the inside of the holes a bit.

Ive asked a couple other people that have experience with this and they both said to leave the taper in since it was comfortable before i attempted the flare insertion... just to wash them and let them heal awhile before attempting to stretch again.

Looking back i SHOULD have just put size 0 single flare plugs in with o-rings until they were fully ready to stretch for the double flares. I got impatient and didn't think first. Ugh.

So should i leave the taper in and clean it till its ready and go with a single flare for a long time to be safe, or should i put the smaller size 2 plugs back in and wait for them to heal and reattempt.

I'm already anticipating all of the "just take them out, they are ugly/stupid/etc" replies i'm gonna get. I'm hoping someone can tell me something different though.

Originally Posted by splattered

Click to expand...

Ok i realize that 99.9% of you are probably going to scoff at what i'm about to ask, but i'm gonna ask it anyway...

Ive had my ears gauged at size 2's for like 5 years with double flare stainless eyelets... i decided a few days ago to bump them up to 0's so i bought some size 0 double flare solid acrylic eyelets and some size 0 acrylic tapers.

The tapers went in super easy with minimal swelling... i had them in for a couple days and got impatient so tonight i took out the tapers, cleaned my ears with antibacterial soap, grabbed some K-Y, and went about attempting to put the plugs in.

The left one was a little tough but it popped in and has barely swelled at all and doesnt hurt whatsoever.

The right lobe was really tough... it was pissing me off so i kept pushing and right when i was about to just give up and put the taper back in it slid in most of the way but started bleeding... i was rinsing off the blood and being the genius that i am - decided to keep trying a little more since it was largely through the hole. Well... i thought it was in but then i flipped my ear over and looked at the back side and discovered there was a super thin flap of skin covering a little bit of the plug end, and i tried to nudge it a bit more but the skin just wouldnt cooperate so i removed the plug, cleaned up the blood, and put the taper back in with the o-rings loose not knowing what else to do.

So all of that said... i'm sure i'm gonna get flamed hard on this board but i'm hoping SOMEONE has experience with this and can give me sincere advice. because of that flap of skin i saw i am worried i have a blowout. Well, actually im pretty sure it happened... ugh. It's swollen but it doesnt hurt or anything. Looking at my lobes i dont actually have a split along the hole, it just seems like i shredded the inside of the holes a bit.

Ive asked a couple other people that have experience with this and they both said to leave the taper in since it was comfortable before i attempted the flare insertion... just to wash them and let them heal awhile before attempting to stretch again.

Looking back i SHOULD have just put size 0 single flare plugs in with o-rings until they were fully ready to stretch for the double flares. I got impatient and didn't think first. Ugh.

So should i leave the taper in and clean it till its ready and go with a single flare for a long time to be safe, or should i put the smaller size 2 plugs back in and wait for them to heal and reattempt.

I'm already anticipating all of the "just take them out, they are ugly/stupid/etc" replies i'm gonna get. I'm hoping someone can tell me something different though.

Looks like you already know what the best idea was. The double flares are always a bad idea for the first few months. Its usually just too much stretching at one time to not draw blood. If you want to go to 0, get some single flare plugs, keep them clean and don't **** with them for a while. I'd suggest glass over acrylic. They stay in way better and are less likely to cause problems

just take them out, they are ugly/stupid/etc

x30000004040340958503948503945

Hehehe. (Hahaha)

You think you have a problem now? Wait until you're 40 and you don't wear these "gauges" any more, and your earlobes looked like blown out buttholes.

Originally Posted by Kris

Click to expand...

Hehehe. (Hahaha)

You think you have a problem now? Wait until you're 40 and you don't wear these "gauges" any more, and your earlobes looked like blown out buttholes.

Well i'm not gonna go huge, so i'm not that worried about it.

Also, if i need to i'll just get the quick 15 minute procedure where they cut your earlobes open and sew them back together. No biggie.

Originally Posted by splattered

Click to expand...

Well i'm not gonna go huge, so i'm not that worried about it.

Also, if i need to i'll just get the quick 15 minute procedure where they cut your earlobes open and sew them back together. No biggie.

yeah because that will look completely normal... what is the appeal of huge holes in your ears? forget about not wanting them when you're 40, how about in like 3 years when its not 'cool' anymore.

Is there really a time limit for gauging being 'cool' (in certain circles, obv)? It was going strong 10 years ago and it hasn't gone away since then.

Originally Posted by milosz

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Is there really a time limit for gauging being 'cool' (in certain circles, obv)? It was going strong 10 years ago and it hasn't gone away since then.

I guess it would be that it is more common now and that takes away from the cool/different factor.

Originally Posted by Kris

Click to expand...

Hehehe. (Hahaha)

You think you have a problem now? Wait until you're 40 and you don't wear these "gauges" any more, and your earlobes looked like blown out buttholes.

I used to have 0's and now people rarely notice I ever had my ears pierced. The key is to do it slowly and not rip your ear and get scar tissue. The process is called stretching, and the things in your ears are called plugs. Gauge is just a measurement. I'm sure everyone cares to know this (10)

Yeah, take it slow, use plenty of KY, and ease back if there is bleeding. Don't insert a bigger plug until you're sure your ready. And be just as careful pulling it back out as when your pushing it in.

I guess if you ever develop scarring you could have your earlobe hole bleached.

damn, you have an appropriate username for this topic.

I've asked several people's opinions and everyone tells me to just leave the taper in but keep it clean and wait for it to heal and try again. I'm just a little irked because im gonna have a dual flare in one ear and probably a single flare in the torn ear until it stretches out more naturally on its own and i can get it in without further damage.

My earlobe isnt split open, it just ripped up the softer tissue inside the hole... i will most likely get scar tissue but i dont think there is much i can do about that. I should've just backed off when it started bleeding but it looked like it was in... didnt realize it got fucked up till i flipped my ear over and saw the hole from the other side.

Lesson learned i guess... ive always gone slow and only one gauge at a time with plenty of time between sizing up, i just have had size two for over 4 or 5 years so i for some reason didnt think it would be a big deal to shove em through. One of them went in fine, the other decided to freak.

This is definitely one of the dumbest things ive done in a long time though haha

Originally Posted by splattered

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This is definitely one of the dumbest things ive done in a long time though haha
Only one of?

In my experience, your best bet is to go back to the 2ga in the blownout ear and let it heal up. Sizing down gives it a little relief from the pressure so that it can heal up and minimize the chances of a blowout. Trying to keep whatever size gain you're working on could end up costing you in the long run.

Also, make sure you're putting in a good material for fresh piercings (i.e. NOT wood, horn, bone, acrylic, etc).

For the next week or two, try doing saline washes to remove any blood or dried lymph until things clear up. When your body's ready to back to 0ga in that ear, TAKE IT SLOW! Listen to your body and if it gives resistance, then don't do it. You may want to look into using teflon tape to slowly work up to 0ga. When I hit a wall, I used teflon to slowly transition.

Good luck.