Earlobe stretching is a body modification practice that has been around for centuries. In order to stretch a piercing, an object slightly larger than the hole is inserted, causing microscopic tears. The larger object, usually jewelry, is left in place until the tears heal. When done slowly, earlobe stretching is not painful.
Gauge vs. Stretch
The practice of stretching a piercing is often incorrectly called gauging. In fact, the word "gauge" refers to the thickness of the jewelry. Standard wire gauge sizes are used, with 20 gauge, usually limited to ear or nostril piercing jewelry, being the smallest. The largest gause is 000, pronounced "triple zero" or "triple ought." After that, jewelry is measured by inches or millimeters. Then next size after 000 is 1/2 inch, or 12.77 mm. Earlobes can be stretched to three or more inches in diameter, depending on individual anatomy.
Stretching Process
The best way to begin stretching your piercings is with surgical steel tapers, which piercers usually keep in their shops. A taper looks like a long needle with a blunt end. The small end is the size of your current piercing; the large end is the size to which you are stretching. The piercer lubricates the taper with surgical scrub, pushes it through the piercing, and inserts the larger jewelry, often a round piece called a plug, while pushing the taper out. When your piercings reach a certain size, usually 1/2 inch, stretching is done by wrapping the plug with Teflon tape. A plug can be wrapped once every few days.
Aftercare
A stretched piercing should be cleaned just like a new one. Alcohol and peroxide are too harsh for healing tissue and can actually slow healing time by causing unnecessary dryness. The best way to clean freshly stretched earlobes is with an antimicrobial soap like Technicare, Satin or Provon, which can be purchased from your piercer or a medical supply store. If your lobes bleed, the Association of Professional Piercers recommends soaking them in a saline solution made of 1/4 tsp. non-iodized sea salt and 1 cup warm water.
Jewelry for Stretched Earlobes
The pieces of jewelry most commonly worn in stretched lobes are called plugs, although they are sometimes incorrectly called gauges. While plugs can be made of wood, bone, glass or acrylic, the ones most often used for stretching are made of surgical stainless steel. Because they are inexpensive and can be autoclave-sterilized, metal plugs are ideal for healing the tissue trauma that results from stretching. Other styles of jewelry include talons, which look like plugs with a long, curved claw coming out the back, and spirals.
Repairing Stretched Earlobes
Some people may decide they want to return their lobes to normal size after stretching. If the lobes are stretched to a 2 gauge, or a quarter inch, or smaller, there is a good chance of them shrinking back to their original shape. However, piercers generally agree that a 2 gauge, or the next larger size, a 0 gauge, is the point of no return. After a 0 gauge, a portion of the stretched lobe must be excised and the remaining tissue sutured back together. Because this procedure can be expensive, you should be certain you are prepared to live with the results before you begin the process of stretching.
