I don't quite remember when I first became aware of body modifications... I just know that I became aware, and immediately fell in love with them. They're beautiful, personal, and a unique way to express yourself. I got very into mods, and started researching and learning as much about them as possible. I never knew there were so many. It was pretty much discovering a new world where there was a ton to learn. Of all body mods, lobe stretching was the most interesting and pretty form of modification, to me. I know there are a plethora of other mods, that I must say are also intriguing and amazing, but stretching just really caught my eye. It's simple, but stunning if managed nicely, and not overstretched. And there is such an array of beautiful jewelry for stretched ears. Of course, I wanted to start the process as soon as possible. I researched it, and decided it was definitely for me. I decided my goal size would be a 00g. I'm a small person, and I love larger sizes, but I think anything larger then a 00g would just look goofy on me, being so little.
At A Glance Author big dawg Contact big dawg@bme.anon When It just happened Artist me Studio bed The stretching begins! The first time I stretched my lobes, I bought some stretching tapers, and also got some new ones free from a friend working at Hot Topic. I was really careful and took my time stretching. I found the entire ordeal, moving all the way up to a 00g relatively painless. That surprised me a lot, because I was told, and read, that it did hurt quite a bit. After about 6 months (I think? Excuse me if my memory fails me) I was at a 00g! I absolutely loved my stretched ears. I thought they were beautiful and suited me, and showed people I wasn't just the tiny little girl I appeared to be at first glance. I kept my ears stretched for about a year. My funniest memories of my stretched ears are of working at a summer camp, and swimming, and the kids being absolutely amazed at my "really big ear holes!" My favorite question from a kid was, "Woaaah! How come those didn't kill you?" I don't know how he thought that would be possible, but what runs through the mind of a four year old when he sees holes in his counselor ears that he can stick his fingers through? Also my mom's reaction when she first noticed was funny, but now she loves my stretched ears almost as much as me. The best reactions though were people saying they loved my ears, especially when it came from other people with stretched ears.
The downfall of the first stretching period. My friend had a wire hanging from his ceiling above his bed with a hook attached to the end, where something, I think a mechanical plane, hung. I was jumping on his bed, wearing earskins. My ear got caught, perfectly in the hole. Ouch. The hook ripped my ear starting from inside the hole, going outwards. It didn't rip the entire hole, breaking my lobe, but it hurt like hell, and looked nasty. I figured it was time to take the plugs out, let my ear heal up, and my stretched lobes to shrink. It was a sad day, and difficult to resist the urge to put my plugs back in.
Re-stretching! Well, it's been a year almost since that incident, and I just couldn't handle not having stretched lobes anymore. Stupidly, I loaned out all my 8g, 6g, 4g, 2g, AND 0g tapers, plugs, and tunnels out to people, and never got any of them back. And none of those people have stretched ears anymore. So I ordered a stretching kit off eBay, including 8g-00g tapers. I just received the kit today! Immediately I rushed to my room, and opened the kit. I got some alcohol and cleaned all the tapers, and some antibiotic ointment to help make the stretch easier. (I actually don't know if it's smart to use antibiotic ointment in place of lube. Anyone know?) Anyway, 8g and 6g were to small a size, I was happy to discover. Straight to 4g. I cleaned the tapers and my ears again, put some ointment on my left ear, took my 4g taper, took a deep breath and pushed. I felt that AMAZING feeling as the taper reaches the gauge size where the taper becomes flat instead of tapered and the exhilarating rush as you feel your ear stretch. One of my favorite feelings in the world. It hurt for a few minutes, but now feels fine. The right ear went off the same way, without a hitch. That feeling again. O rings on the tapers and here I am now, ecstatic to be beginning this process again. When I think of myself, I picture myself with stretched lobes. They're me, and seem perfectly natural to me, just the way I'm supposed to be.
I look forward to more mods, hopefully a really nice tattoo of an octopus around my ankle, and a tragus piercing. And a dermal anchor either on my wrist or sternum.
Fin.