Ear stretching, more modernly referred to as ear gauging, is the practice of stretching the ear lobes by creating a small fistula in the ear, and then using a taper rod to slowly increase the size of the hole, placing a new size or gauge piece of ear jewelery to keep the new hole opened and stretched. This continues until the stretched hole is the desired size. Although the practice of ear stretching is common, there are certain problems you should be aware of before taking part in the procedure.
History
Ear stretching began as a tribal practice, such as with the Mursi tribe of southern Ethiopia, who stretch both their lips and their ears. The Hill tribe of northern Thailand is also known for traditional piercings that involve stretching the ears. As body piercing became more popular in the United States over the past few decades, ear stretching became a unique way to take piercing a step further in order to express a personal style, while evoking an overall tribal feel.
Process
The ear stretching process takes many months to complete, especially when aiming for larger gauges. The stretching process begins with making a small piercing in the ear. Next, a taper is inserted into the ear to begin the stretching process. A taper is a needle-like device that comes in different gauge sizes. The smallest gauge is placed in first, which stretches the ear just enough to allow the insertion of a piece of jewelery to hold the stretched hole open. After the ear tissue has had time to heal, a larger gauge is placed into the ear to stretch the hole a little wider. A new piece of jewelry replaces the smaller piece to hold the ear open to the new size. This process continues until the desired size is reached.
Infection
One of the most common possible dangers related to ear stretching is infection. Infections can develop into abscesses or even necrosis if not treated correctly. Infection can occur in two main ways. First, the infection can come from unsterilized piercing equipment. Second, infections can develop if you do not follow proper piercing care after the stretching has been done, such as cleaning the area daily with a saline solution as suggested by the Association of Professional Piercers.
Permanence
Ear stretching affects the ear tissue in a much different way from traditional piercings. Because the skin is overstretched, there is a greater chance the skin may not return to its normal shape and heal correctly. Other permanent and noticeable changes may occur to the ear as well, such as the development of hypertrophic scarring or keloid formation, states the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Treatment
When problems with stretching occur, several different treatments may be used. For example, during a mild infection, a moist warm pack on the ear or the application of an over-the-counter topical antibiotic may be enough to heal the infection. However, with more serious infections, a prescription antibiotic may be used, such as fluoroquinolones, to prevent infections from progressing into abscesses or necrosis. In cases where the ear was stretched too quickly or does not return to its normal shape, plastic surgery may be necessary to reconstruct the ear to a more normal appearance.
