At A Glance
Author	Scott
Contact	Scott@bme.anon
IAM	Plan B
When	A month ago
Artist	Tom Brazda
Studio	Stainless Studios
Location	Toronto

Preamble

The best way to begin this experience is probably with a little bit of personal history. I should note that I became interested in body modification very early on, and began having my body professionally altered as soon as it was legally possible. One modification that had always intrigued me was, of course, ear lobe stretching, - not only did the look of substantially stretched ears appeal to my eye, but I found the spiritual and philosophical underpinnings of the practice to be fascinating as well. Over a lengthy period of time I gradually and safely stretched my own lobes from 10g to 3/4" and was entirely happy with them.

Unfortunately, I eventually gave in to the influence of family members (and an exceedingly shallow female that is no longer a part of my life) and abandoned my 3/4" lobes, letting them shrivel to approximately 4g. It was at this point that I realized just how strongly linked self-image and body modification can be; I just didn't feel that I looked like myself. In fact, over time I became certain that I wasn't really myself without stretched lobes.

In the intervening months, I made some half-hearted attempts at stretching my lobes once more, but found that jewelry in smaller gauges just didn't look or feel right. I also noticed that the position of the piercing itself wasn't really optimal for jewelry in excess of 1/2" (as several piercers had correctly indicated in the past). I persevered, however, and patiently expanded my lobes to 0g – and it was at this size that I decided scalpelling might be a good option for me.

I hopped back on BME, browsed the galleries and read some scalpelling experiences. Although I was a little bit freaked-out about the whole process, I ultimately decided that is was something I could handle, given that I've had my fair share of peircings and tattoos. As I later learned, scalpelling is a whole different ballgame...

The Procedure

Eventually, the opportunity to scalpel arrived: I was in Toronto staying with some friends and managed to get an evening appointment with Tom Brazda of Stainless Studios. I spoke with Tom well before the procedure in order to discuss the size, placement and implications of scalpelling ones lobes. It was my initial intent to jump from 0g to 9/16" of an inch, but after assessing the situation Tom indicated that 1/2" would probably be better initially, as it would result in better-positioned jewelry later on. Having complete faith in Tom, I agreed to the suggested size and went about my day.

I returned at 7:00pm for my appointment, nervous but totally ready to go. After all, I was curious beyond belief and very anxious to have my stretched lobes back. Tom was finishing-up with another client, which afforded me some extra time to prepare with a few extra sips of juice and a little bit of concentration. After a short wait, I was invited into Tom's piercing room to begin the festivities.

Before getting started, Tom explained a bit more about the procedure itself and expounded a bit on scapelling-specific aftercare, which I will elaborate on shortly. Amongst the gauze, scalpel blades, clamps, surgical scissors and other supplies on the sterile field, I spotted the custom tunnels that Keary had machined for my ears earlier that day: 1/2" single flared tunnels – just one of the benefits of frequenting a studio with on-site machining capabilities. Tom explained that this jewelry was best for the procedure, as it reduced the amount of fiddling with o-rings that I would need to do. He also pointed out that the tunnels were substantially longer than usual, in order to accommodate potential swelling and ease healing in general.

Tom asked if I was ready to get started, and began opening the autoclave pouches that contained the supplies necessary to complete the procedure. After setting-up, Tom took another look at my lobes marking, checking and remarking my lobes several times before he was satisfied with the placement. At this point he let me know that in order to achieve optimal placement, a small v-shaped notch of lobe would be removed (we had initially thought that a straight incision would suffice for my lobes, but I was fine with some flesh removal – especially if it would enhance the final placement).

Having finished marking my lobes, Tom handed me a small hand mirror and visually explained what was about to happen: the thin marker lines on my lobes would become incisions, flesh would be removed and insertion tapers would be used to stretch my ears to the proper size. I thought is sounded like a great time, and gave Tom the ok to get started.

As the clamp was applied to my right ear, the first one to be done, my heart began racing and I mentioned to Tom that I always seem to get nervous right before any procedure, regardless of how many I have done. In typical fashion, Tom calmly explained that this reaction was completely healthy, and that I should only worry if it stops happening. As always, his bedside manner was extraordinary – when it comes to handling would be modders, Tom is simply the best. In any case, as this conversation took place the clamp was fully applied: gently at first, so that my lobes could be stretched out for cleaner incisions, and then tightly in order to minimize bleeding and hold everything in place. Tom then carefully let go of the clamp, took up his scalpel, and asked me if I was ready to go. I nodded, said "yes", and the first cut was made.

Now I must admit that I find the sensation of scalpelling a bit hard to describe. It's completely unlike anything else I have experienced. In my opinion, it is far less painful than large-gauge piercing or even tattooing - I suppose it might be best described as a vaguely painful sense of tension in the area that it is taking place.

The first cut was made, and Tom asked how it was as he started on the second and I related something similar to the preceding description. It felt interesting, if not amazing, and I decided to simply tune into to the sensations of the procedure in a sort of pseudo-meditative state. Before I new it, Tom had removed the marked area from my ear with the help of his surgical scissors (a small section of skin, obscured by blood, had to be snipped before the section of lobe could be fully removed).

At this point, the blood came flooding out and I distinctly felt it pattering on the absorbent pad secured to my shoulder. While this understandably upset me a little bit, I was far from panicked, and simply accepted it as apart of the experience. I'm a bleeder at the best of times, and I fully expected it to happen anyway.

Immediately after removing the tissue, Tom inserted the first taper, which was just less than 1/2" and chased it with another taper at 1/2", the size of the tunnel to be inserted. Jewelry followed, and my first ear was done. Tom once again asked how I was doing, and I indicated that I felt great – I was truly loving the whole procedure. But then something unexpected happened, another novel experience in an evening of novel experiences: something just felt wrong. Despite my jubilation, I felt hot, and I started sweating. I then noticed that I couldn't hear properly, and reported to Tom what was going on.

Tom carefully reclined me and gave me a cup of water to sip on. As the blood rushed back to my head, I quickly regained my composure – I was a bit shaky but felt good enough to move on to the left ear. Tom however, insisted that I recline for a few more minutes and drink some more water before he would proceed. A few minutes passed and I felt even better, so Tom moved on to the second ear, which was completed without incident.

I remained seated for a few moments as congealing blood was dabbed of my lobes, and Tom explained that I shouldn't do anything at all to my ears for at least two or three days afterwards, as it would likely result in more bleeding. He also provided some additional info that would be useful in reducing bleeding, including the use of ice and in an extreme situation some lemon juice.

After paying and tipping him for a fabulously executed procedure, I left the shop with Tom and headed to the nearest drug store in order to pick up some q-tips, mild soap and some stress vitamins to accelerate healing. I said my final goodbye and thank-you to Tom for the day, and hopped on a streetcar headed home.

I suddenly realized that I felt completely drained. I had a bit of a headache, and more or less felt like I had been hit by a truck. Perhaps it was just that I needed a good meal, more likely it was the fact that I had just had a brush with mild shock. Either way, I made it home safely to find that Jill, Jen and J.C. had prepared an amazing BBQ for dinner – asparagus, veggie-kabobs, salad and an assortment of other delicious things. After stuffing my face and loading up on some orange juice, I felt rejuvenated and decided to accompany everyone to the bar for some socializing, although I had no intentions of consuming any alcohol myself. My lobes had been fine all night, but I stashed some paper towel in my courier pack just in case I started bleeding unexpectedly, which I did after about 40 minutes at the bar.

The problem was that the bleeding didn't want to stop – my right ear just kept on leaking. It was by no means a gushing torrent, but there was enough blood to give me a nifty red chinstrap. I did my best to clean up and announced that I was going home to lick my proverbial wounds.

Several hours later, my right ear was still bleeding. I did my best to stop the flow of blood with some carefully applied ice, and eventually had things under control enough to get some sleep. I wrapped my pillow in a towel as Tom had instructed, and attempted to get some uncomfortable sleep – on my back (I'm a side sleeper, so this REALLY sucked). I might have managed about 5 hours of interrupted sleep before found myself wide-awake and eager to check my ears.

Day 1

I timidly approached the mirror, and turned on the light. My left ear was still blood-free and looking fine, but my right ear was a huge mess. It kept bleeding all night, and looked as though it were a cooled blood volcano – the entire tunnel was filled with dry and crusty blood, and much of my ear and neck were similarly encrusted. After almost an hour of careful cleaning the mess was minimized, but I was sad to discover that my ear was still weeping. Given that Jill and I had planned a day downtown, I elected to apply some non-adherent gauze to my right ear so as to avoid being too revolting to the general public. I was very surprised to find that my ears were pain-free. Immediately after the procedure there was some unpleasant throbbing, but beyond that my scalpelled lobes were entirely pain-free.

The day passed without incident and I eventually found my way home for an early night – I was rather tired due to a nearly sleepless night and acknowledged that I would need to get some rest if I was to heal properly. I wrapped my pillow in a towel once again, and headed off to dreamland.

Day 2

I awoke and it was time for another morning mirror check. I was pleased to discover that my right ear had finally stopped bleeding. Even after cleaning, it was fine and didn't produce even the slightest bit of blood. My left ear however, decided to spontaneously erupt, and eventually required some gauze just as the right did on the previous day. My ears were still pain-free, but were beginning to show some signs of trauma: they were mildly swollen and bruises in the direction of the cuts were beginning to appear.

Day 3 and Beyond

By the third post-procedure day my ears had completely stabilized. I was able to clean and soak them normally without producing any blood. Over the first week or so, I was very careful to avoid bumping or traumatizing my ears in any way. I made sure that I ate well, got plenty of sleep, followed Tom's LITHA aftercare instructions and just listened to my body in general. In fact, aside from the initial bleeding I haven't had a single problem with my scalpelled ears.

After about 10 days, I was traumatized to discover that I had lost a tunnel in my sleep! The flare had just pulled right through the piercing at some point during the night. Fortunately, however, my lobe wasn't scabby or stiff and the jewelry was easily re-inserted. It was at this point that I discovered how stretchy my new lobes were, and I suspect that this is why Tom insisted on an initial size of 1/2". Up to this point I had entirely avoided touching my lobes, but noticed upon reinserting the wayward tunnel that my ears could likely accommodate tunnels significantly larger than the ones presently installed – I guessed that 5/8" would be an appropriate size, but somehow managed to fight the temptation to pre-emptively start stretching.

Over the ensuing days, the lengthy 1/2" tunnels continued to eject themselves as I slept, so I replaced them with some 9/16" double flares that I had on hand, and they initially seemed a good fit. Soon enough though, these too started finding their way into my bedding over the course of the night, so I decided to insert some 5/8" tunnels with some thick o-rings, which I am still wearing as of writing this experience.

My ears are 95% healed now, and I'm looking forward to some new 5/8" wood plugs and silicone eyelets that I have ordered from BMEshop. I have decided to remain at this size for the time being, as I feel that I have finally re-aligned my external appearance with my inner blueprint. I'm afraid that sizes any larger than 5/8" might be too big to suit my own personal preference, so here I shall stay.

In general, I am incredibly pleased with the whole experience. I learned a great deal about myself, and was humbled in the process – I feel that all parts of the process happened for a reason, and I appreciate the work that much more as a result. The fact that I was unhappy without big-ish lobes made my desire to have them even more concrete and personally significant, and the unexpected trauma of the cutting itself renewed my respect and interest in body modification. Aesthetically speaking, I couldn't be happier with the final result. My lobes look fantastic, are well balanced and sit in a very comfortable position relative to my head.

Footnote

While scalpelling isn't necessary, or even appropriate in most situations, it worked well for me on all levels. I want to stress to anyone that might be interested in scalpelling that it is not really appropriate as a shortcut to large lobes, and should not be approached lightly. I came to the procedure only after conducting substantial research on it, and I am fully aware of the implications that it may have on my life. At the time of the procedure, I was just shy of 25 years old, and as such I'm confident that I have acted in my own best interests. I feel better about myself now that the procedure is done, and I know that this will buoy me through any discrimination or negativity that I may come across as time goes on. I would also like to stress that I have previously had stretched lobes, and as such my ears had more than enough extra tissue to carry out the procedure safely. Please don't undergo this procedure if you are not 100% sure that it is what you want – it' s much harder to reverse than a piercing that is simply stretched, and your naked lobe (i.e. jewelry-free) is actually pretty weird looking once it has been cut. Just take your time, and put your health and safety first.