I have had the worst luck with my earlobes. The problem? GUNS. I have had my poor lobes tortured 3 (count 'em, folks!) 3 times in my short 20 years, never knowing the damage that was being done until about 5 months ago, when I was talking a friend to get her tongue pierced.
At A Glance Author kisstheviolets Contact kisstheviolets@bme.anon When Three months ago Artist Jason and Henry Studio 23rd Street Body Piercing Location OKC, OK Why I was waiting for her to have aftercare explained to her, I asked one of the girls at the desk (Dawn, I think) to take a look at my ears and see if they could pierce them or not. She looked at me funny as if to say, "Well, yes, genius, if you have lobes they can be pierced"... but then she felt them. I have extensive scar tissue and, as I found out later, a years-old sac of infection and dead tissue because of the damage that I had dome to my ears by getting them gunned. She told me they could be pierced, but it might hurt me a bit more than the average person.
I went back to my dorm and asked my friends, all of whom have had their ears pierced at someplace like Wal-mart or Claire's for years, if they had ever had problems like I had – no one had this happen. So I went back to the piercers about 2 months later and explained that I couldn't find anyone else in my predicament. They said most likely the gun had torn my skin and had provided the environment for my skin to soak up the real damage – crappy metal. I was allergic to everything I had ever tried in my ears.
I decided to see if a couple of 14g needles and some implant grade steel were the ticket, and when they called my name I went back and met my piercer, Jason King. I told him my situation and he marked me... right in the same spot I had the other 3 done. (By the way, these people were crazy clean- better than my doctor's office!!!) When he was ready he told me to inhale and he pushed the needle through on my exhale. It was so nasty! I could hear and feel the crunch as the needle passed through my scar tissue, but it didn't hurt as bad as I thought it would. He did the same to my other ear and I was told to keep my ears super clean and to strictly follow their aftercare regimen (which consisted of sea salt and Provon). I was also told that if I had any problems, or even thought I had a problem, to call or come by and ask.
A few days went by, my ears oozing all that odorous, infected tissue, and one morning I woke up and my ear was stuck to my head! YUCKO! I jumped in the shower and didn't notice till I was out and drying off that my ear, which had previously been nice and lumpy, was now flat as if I had never had the scar tissue. I was elated! I dropped back by the shop later that week on a triple purpose run- to buy some new jewelry for my lip ring (also fabulously done by Jason), to hold a friend's hand as her daiths were pierced, and to show them how they saved my ears!
About a month and a half later I went back to get my first stretch. Due to my interesting condition, I decided that one size jump was as fast as I wanted to go this first time. I was nervous! I didn't know anyone with their ears stretched even the tiniest bit, and I grilled the girl up front about if it would hurt, if I could sleep on them, and all kinds of other stuff that I asked because I was uneducated. She told me it wouldn't hurt at all. I hoped she was right. Then they called my name and I went back. Henry Rubin stretched my lobes to a 12g, which I surprisingly didn't feel at all. I thought, "This is no big deal!" I asked how big I could go and if my remaining scar tissue would be a problem, and he said that as long as I went slow and stretched one size at a time that I shouldn't have any problems.
Well, apparently I didn't wait quite long enough (only a month) to stretch to a 10g. I went in about a week ago to have them stretched, again by Henry, and this time my left ear stung pretty badly – and I wasn't prepared at all! Now that I have them stretched even this tiny bit, I am so addicted. I plan on waiting about 2 more months before I go to an 8g (for which I purchased some lovely jewelry from BMESHOP). I'm not really sure how large I'll go, maybe to half an inch... but probably as far as my poor little ears will allow!
If anyone else has scar tissue like I did, just go for it! If it is a reputable studio they should be able to help you get your ears back!