There are many people who want to stretch the earlobe; however, this process known as ear gauging can cause pain. While no method can completely eliminate pain and discomfort while doing this, there are steps you can take to minimize pain and potential complications during the stretching process.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Choosing the Right Method
Step 1. Gently pull the ear
Before deciding on a method for stretching your ears, consider how far you want to stretch them. If it's just a little, it's best to pull the ear lobes apart enough to allow for a new piercing. If you want to stretch your lobes far enough, use another method.
Step 2. Use a taper
The use of a taper is the most common method of stretching the ear. If done correctly, this method is relatively painless.
- A taper is a kind of stick whose diameter increases gradually. To stretch the lobe, prepare a taper, then press it through the piercing hole and attach a cover that is the same size as the tip of the taper. When you're done, your earlobes will be as stretched out as you want them to be.
- never ever wear tapers as jewelry. This will make the ear healing uneven due to the unbalanced weight.
- Some people wear a spiral piercing cover as a taper. This object can be worn for a long time so that the ear stretching period is longer
Step 3. Use tape to gradually adjust the size of the piercing
If you want to gradually stretch the earlobe, use tape. This method allows you to gradually stretch your lobe without too much pain, but it's a slightly longer process than using a taper.
- If you want to use this method, use non-adhesive tape. Wrap this ribbon around the part of the earring that goes into the ear. Add a layer or two at a time until the ears are stretched to the desired diameter.
- Wash the bandaged earrings to prevent infection.
Step 4. Avoid using silicone jewelry and double flared jewelry
You should not wear silicone earrings until the ear is completely stretched and healed. If used during stretching, silicone can tear the ear fibers and potentially cause infection. Double flared jewelry is often large enough to be painful and can leave permanent scars on your ears.
Method 2 of 3: Taking Safety Measures to Prevent Pain
Step 1. Don't stretch your ears too fast
Stretching the ear too quickly is one of the causes of pain. Regardless of the method you choose, you should wait for the ear to heal completely before stretching it again. Stretching the ear too quickly has serious consequences, such as an "explosion" wound, in which the inside of the piercing hole is pushed out by too much pressure. This can cause permanent deformity and damage to the earlobe.
- Another complication of enlargement of the piercing that is too fast or the enlargement of the hole that is too extreme to pass through the blood vessels is tearing of the ear skin to the tip. You will have to perform surgery to fix this problem.
- Enlarging the lobe too quickly can increase the risk of infection.
- How long it takes to raise a piercing with a taper varies widely. Everyone recovers at a different time. In addition, this is also influenced by the size of the stretch performed. However, it's best to give the ear at least a month to heal before stretching it again.
- Increase the size by only 1 millimeter (for example, from 1 mm to 2 mm).
- Never jump to a size that is too large when stretching the lobes. If it doesn't hurt, you may feel overconfident and want to increase the size of your piercing in a hurry. However, this method can actually increase the permanent damage to the ear. Even if you feel confident, suddenly increasing the size is a bad idea.
Step 2. Stop if it hurts
Pain when increasing the size of the lobe is a sign of danger. If you experience intense pain, resistance, or bleeding when a new taper is inserted or when you add layers of tape, stop immediately. Your ear has not healed and increasing its size can cause damage. Allow the ear to heal and wait a week before trying to increase its size.
Step 3. Stretch the lobes at different speeds, if necessary
Even if it looks and feels awkward, your ear may heal at a different rate. If one ear heals more slowly, there is no medical reason not to stretch the other ear. In fact, if one ear feels softer than the other, it's best to take the stretching process more slowly to prevent further damage.
Method 3 of 3: Preventing Pain During Treatment
Step 1. Massage the ear with oil regularly
Once the earlobe is stretched as desired, you will usually feel a little sore and sore. This pain can be reduced by massaging the ears regularly. Wait a few days after the initial stretch before massaging it to reduce infection. Use a massage oil of your choice, which is sold online or at your nearest beauty shop, and gently apply it to your ear. Do this regularly several times a day until the discomfort subsides. This can help increase blood flow to speed healing.
Step 2. Use a salt water solution
You can buy saline solution at most drugstores, and it's great for relieving pain in stretched lobes. Apply a saline solution or spray evenly once or twice a day. If you notice any side effects, such as increased pain, stop using it.
- You can make your own brine solution by mixing 1/8 teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water.
- Rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide should be avoided during ear healing.
Step 3. Immediately stop stretching if there is bleeding or intense pain
If you experience extreme pain or bleeding after stretching the earlobe, stop the process immediately. Pain or bleeding is a bad sign. Pain or pain in the ear will not go away by itself. You'll need to use a smaller taper or tape. If you still feel pain and the bleeding does not subside, contact your doctor immediately for a check-up.
Step 4. Put your jewelry back on a few weeks after the stretch
Once you have stretched your ears as desired, wait a few weeks. If you are not in severe pain or are bleeding, you can put the piercing back on. For the first few weeks, wear jewelry made of silicone or organic materials. If no problems arise after wearing the jewelry, you can wear double-flared jewelry.
Warning
- At some point, the stretched ear cannot return to its original state. If you decide not to wear a piercing cover, the hole will not close on its own and you will need surgery.
- After stretching, let your earlobe rest. Do not allow others or yourself to touch the area being stretched and make sure your hands are clean when touching. Loop stretch is the same as a fresh wound; This area is very susceptible to infection.
