anyone know anything about body mod?

[ibanezjunkie]

well, i say body mod, more specifically im referring to ear stretching.

i cant quite figure this one out myself. here it is;

ive had my steel 000g tunnel in now for god knows how long, and it doesnt seem to be healing. i wash it every day, but i take out the tunnel and wash it, should i just rinse it while its still in? i dunno. so does anyone know how ican make it start healing? its getting pretty annoying now. :poke:

thanks

[Ro3b]

By "not healing," do you mean bleeding or just tenderness? Generally bleeding is a sign of the fistula not being quite recovered from the last stretch (i.e. your stretch up to 00ga).

If you're just having pain and tendeness, I'd bet the piercing is just getting cranky with the tunnel being taken out and put in. Most piercers I know would tell you not to take the jewelry out unless you really have to. Try just leaving it in using either H2Ocean or good old sea salt soaks (1/4 tsp. sea salt dissolved in a cup of warm water) twice a day, and otherwise don't touch the piercing till it calms down. If you're keeping it clean and unmolested it should heal up fine in a few weeks if not sooner. If it doesn't, talk to your piercer before trying anything else.

Good luck!

[ibanezjunkie]

its not tender as such, its just very moist and fluid-y. and im going to try what you recommended. i use dettol stuff to clean it with, dilute in water, antiseptic stuff.

[piebaldpython]

Hey Ibanezjunkie.......I sent your "problem" to my 22 yr old daughter, Baby Cobra (who has ear stretchers herself :D ), and she responded. Here ya go, good luck.......

"Ahem. Here is the solution!

One: Do NOT remove the jewelry until the stretch is fully healed. Removing the jewelry irritates the healing skin and makes it much harder to heal. The best rule of thumb is to not touch the jewelry for at least two weeks after a stretch.

Two: Do NOT wash a stretch with soap. Soap dries out skin, which makes it less elastic and, once again, makes it harder to heal. The general act of touching a stretched area while it’s still healing greatly interferes with the healing process. If the area gets wet or soapy in the shower, that’s fine, but you shouldn’t try and purposely wash it.

If, for some reason, there is gunk around the stretch (there SHOULD NOT BE), you can lightly wipe it away with a cotton swab soaked with warm water. Make sure to keep the jewelry in while doing this.

A stretched area should be massaged every few days with oil after it’s healed. Vitamin E oil, jojoba oil, emu oil, and extra virgin olive oil are all good choices. (Many of these are available through professional piercing studios and online merchants.) Simply put a little oil on your fingers and rub the area in a circular motion. Keep the jewelry in unless the area is fully healed (no more redness in any part of your ear, including the inside of the piercing.)

Some people are very sensitive to Nitrile, which is what black o-rings are made of. They can cause your ear to peel, flake, or even turn red. Usually, the irritation is only on the outside of your ear. In this case, switch to silicone o-rings, which are much gentler to sensitive skin. (These are available through online merchants.)

If there is puss, blood or general fluid weeping from the stretch, you did something VERY wrong. There is probably a tear inside your ear. Usually, this indicates that you stretched too soon. (You should wait at least three months between stretches over 8mm, or 0g. Six months is better.) If the stretch hurt more than a pinch and stayed sore or red for more than 12 hours, you stretched too soon.

If you stretched your ears too quickly, you should downsize by removing the jewelry and leaving your ear free for a few hours or even overnight. Then, place in jewelry one to two sizes smaller. (So, in your case 00g or even 0g.) Leave this jewelry in for three to six months before attempting to stretch again.

If you stretched directly from 0g to 000g, you stretched a full two millimeters. The recommended stretch is only one millimeter. Finding 00g jewelry (9mm) can be a little tricky, but it can be done. A lot of online glass merchants carry that size. It’s a little more expensive, but some websites have sales. Glass is also very beautiful and its smooth surface helps to prevent rippling in the ear as it heals. Dealers in the UK also sell the 9mm size in steel.

Good body jewelry supply sites:

http://www.bodyartforms.com

http://steelnavel.com

http://www.bodyjewelleryshop.com (UK site)"

[Ro3b]

I wonder if you're having a reaction to the Dettol? I'm kind of leary of that stuff myself. Some people find it useful for piercings that are already infected, but even in solution it seems like it would be kind of harsh on a newly stretched piercing.

PBP's daughter has excellent advice.

(Dare I say it? This thread is useless without pics! After you've healed up of course.)

[ibanezjunkie]

erm im gonna try and remember my process.

1.2mm
3mm
5mm
6mm
8mm
10mm
12mm

i couldnt find 7mm, 9mm or 11mm ANYWHERE and trust me i looked hard, on every UK jewellery dealer i could find.

[piebaldpython]

My daughter weighs in yet again :D :

It seems like you stretched 2mm per stretch recently. Unless you’re using a very gradual method such as Teflon tape, this can leave micro-tears in your ears. Over time, these tears can leave scar tissue, which can make both stretching and healing harder.

7mm and 9mm (1g and 00g) can be hard to find. However, bodyjewelleryshop.com (who is in the UK) carries 3mm through 12mm in steel flesh tunnels. The product page is here:

http://www.bodyjewelleryshop.com/online_store/steel_flesh_tube_3386258.cfm



The also have steel tapers for 1.6mm through 15mm. The product page is here:

http://www.bodyjewelleryshop.com/online_store/steel_tapered_insertion_pins_4020428.cfm



Glasswear Studios (an American company) also sells all sizes, though their prices are a little higher. However, they have an amazing variety and their work is flawless.

http://glasswearstudios.com



The 11mm size is actually sold as 7/16in. So, try looking for that size through American retailers like http://www.bodyartforms.com or http://steelnavel.com. Bodyjewelleryshop.com also sells 11mm tunnels and tapers.



To help minimize scar tissue, make sure you wait at least three months between stretches.

Massage your ears (as mentioned previously) with the appropriate oil. (Emu oil can actually help to soften scar tissue.)

Make sure to lubricate all tapers and jewelry with oil before insertion.

If you’re inserting a taper and it feels painful, stop. Remove the taper and replace the old jewelry. Wait another two weeks before trying to stretch again.

[Rocket]

(Emu oil can actually help to soften scar tissue.)
...or Bobcat milk (but it's gotta be fresh!)

[ibanezjunkie]

My daughter weighs in yet again :D :

It seems like you stretched 2mm per stretch recently. Unless you’re using a very gradual method such as Teflon tape, this can leave micro-tears in your ears. Over time, these tears can leave scar tissue, which can make both stretching and healing harder.

7mm and 9mm (1g and 00g) can be hard to find. However, bodyjewelleryshop.com (who is in the UK) carries 3mm through 12mm in steel flesh tunnels. The product page is here:

http://www.bodyjewelleryshop.com/online_store/steel_flesh_tube_3386258.cfm



The also have steel tapers for 1.6mm through 15mm. The product page is here:

http://www.bodyjewelleryshop.com/online_store/steel_tapered_insertion_pins_4020428.cfm



Glasswear Studios (an American company) also sells all sizes, though their prices are a little higher. However, they have an amazing variety and their work is flawless.

http://glasswearstudios.com



The 11mm size is actually sold as 7/16in. So, try looking for that size through American retailers like http://www.bodyartforms.com or http://steelnavel.com. Bodyjewelleryshop.com also sells 11mm tunnels and tapers.



To help minimize scar tissue, make sure you wait at least three months between stretches.

Massage your ears (as mentioned previously) with the appropriate oil. (Emu oil can actually help to soften scar tissue.)

Make sure to lubricate all tapers and jewelry with oil before insertion.

If you’re inserting a taper and it feels painful, stop. Remove the taper and replace the old jewelry. Wait another two weeks before trying to stretch again.


you'll have to give my thanks to your daughter, piebaldpython. Ive copied all this to notepad and saved it. i have been waiting 3 months between stretches, but maybe stretching too much at once. I know people who use 'dead stretching' which i think is a stupid idea, i always used tapers.

thanks for all the input! =]