Ear reconstruction is getting more common all the time. I’m not sure how I feel about it, because to me it says one of two things: either a lot of people don’t consider the long term implications of permanent body modification, or ear stretching has a lot more physical complications than I believe it has. Anyway, even though removal is an option (be it with lobes or tattoos), I hope people go into body modification experiences with the idea that they’re a life-long commitment. As with most things, it’s a lot harder to climb down than it is to climb up!
That said, if you find yourself in Iquique, Chile, and you’re in need of smaller lobes, visit Felipe Silva at Crew Tattoo. Below is a 2″ ear loop that he removed, both before, and healed.
PS. See also: ear stretching disaster results in removal, another 50mm to 0mm lobe reduction, and of course BME’s lobe reconstruction/removal gallery.
Comments
98 responses to “From 2″ to 0″ in a few minutes…”
why does it say 0″ in the title?
i’m guessing many people don’t take it as life-long commitment, i know some people who deliberately start stretching things knowing that they will have to remove it eventually…
why does it say 0″ in the title?
i’m guessing many people don’t take it as life-long commitment, i know some people who deliberately start stretching things knowing that they will have to remove it eventually…
this is amzing! really amaxing, it looks like she never stretched at all.
this is amzing! really amaxing, it looks like she never stretched at all.
My old piercer had dreams of going to med school and being a doctor, and he had 3/4″ earlobes. He always said that when it came time to look professional, he’d be happy to get them cut off. Not my attitude, but there are plenty out there like that.
My old piercer had dreams of going to med school and being a doctor, and he had 3/4″ earlobes. He always said that when it came time to look professional, he’d be happy to get them cut off. Not my attitude, but there are plenty out there like that.
“I’m not sure how I feel about it”
I’m not sure either. I know I notice a lot of people I interact with talking about stretching as a sort of hobby or urge or something to do when bored — and well, on the one hand, “an urge” may be a drive in a person who really *needs* to continue modifying her body. So for that person, it’s good to listen to whatever pull she feels.
But on the other — it makes me wonder when I see all these people going “oh yeah, I never meant to but now I gotta stretch up!” and then four months later “I want to wear dangly earrings again WAAAAAAAAAH how do I shrink this?” Clearly in those cases “the urge” wasn’t that same kind of need.
Eh. I stretched up further than I thought I would (which wasn’t much at all) too — but to this day I’m still at 8ga more than half a year after stretching to that size precisely because I’m not sure what more I want, and I’m not just going to do something because I can.
“I’m not sure how I feel about it”
I’m not sure either. I know I notice a lot of people I interact with talking about stretching as a sort of hobby or urge or something to do when bored — and well, on the one hand, “an urge” may be a drive in a person who really *needs* to continue modifying her body. So for that person, it’s good to listen to whatever pull she feels.
But on the other — it makes me wonder when I see all these people going “oh yeah, I never meant to but now I gotta stretch up!” and then four months later “I want to wear dangly earrings again WAAAAAAAAAH how do I shrink this?” Clearly in those cases “the urge” wasn’t that same kind of need.
Eh. I stretched up further than I thought I would (which wasn’t much at all) too — but to this day I’m still at 8ga more than half a year after stretching to that size precisely because I’m not sure what more I want, and I’m not just going to do something because I can.
It’s done very well. I don’t know how I feel about it either, but at the very least, this is good work.
It’s done very well. I don’t know how I feel about it either, but at the very least, this is good work.
The removal work is amazing, however I can’t help but think WTF when I see them with pierced lobes again.
The removal work is amazing, however I can’t help but think WTF when I see them with pierced lobes again.
i think it’s actually very reflective of a lot of the idea behind body mods—the fluidity and changeability of the body. it’s sad to see someone’s hard work at a body mod seemingly thrown away when someone gets a stretched lobe removed or a tattoo covered up or what have you, but i don’t think it is by default a sign that someone didn’t plan around permanence like they perhaps should have; permanence may never have been the plan.
i can see the defensiveness though that might come up when one person is holding off for years on choosing the perfect mod for them to have the rest of their life and seeing someone just jump in blindly and get whatever it is removed a year later; it is a different approach to body mods that is very similar in approach to casual disregard for the meaning behind body mods. i just think it’s problematic to assume that that’s always what is going on.
particularly as many bod mods have specific cultural signifiers that a person may not learn about till after they have been modded.
i think it’s actually very reflective of a lot of the idea behind body mods—the fluidity and changeability of the body. it’s sad to see someone’s hard work at a body mod seemingly thrown away when someone gets a stretched lobe removed or a tattoo covered up or what have you, but i don’t think it is by default a sign that someone didn’t plan around permanence like they perhaps should have; permanence may never have been the plan.
i can see the defensiveness though that might come up when one person is holding off for years on choosing the perfect mod for them to have the rest of their life and seeing someone just jump in blindly and get whatever it is removed a year later; it is a different approach to body mods that is very similar in approach to casual disregard for the meaning behind body mods. i just think it’s problematic to assume that that’s always what is going on.
particularly as many bod mods have specific cultural signifiers that a person may not learn about till after they have been modded.
I didn’t read the title and seriously thought someone had their ear removed…
Someone tell me that first pic doesn’t look disembodied.
I didn’t read the title and seriously thought someone had their ear removed…
Someone tell me that first pic doesn’t look disembodied.
Shannon wrote:
“either a lot of people don’t consider the long term implications of permanent body modification, or ear stretching has a lot more physical complications than I believe it has.”
I think these are related issues, insofar as it appears to me that many of the complications from stretching result from people not learning enough about or thinking through the ways in which they try to stretch their lobes, resulting in these complications. The current fashionability of stretched lobes only exacerbates the situation, especially when it inspires people to try stretching too far too fast in the interest of getting ‘the look’ quicker. I think the same could probably be said of tattoos and other piercings as well. A possible answer? Outreach and education!
Shannon wrote:
“either a lot of people don’t consider the long term implications of permanent body modification, or ear stretching has a lot more physical complications than I believe it has.”
I think these are related issues, insofar as it appears to me that many of the complications from stretching result from people not learning enough about or thinking through the ways in which they try to stretch their lobes, resulting in these complications. The current fashionability of stretched lobes only exacerbates the situation, especially when it inspires people to try stretching too far too fast in the interest of getting ‘the look’ quicker. I think the same could probably be said of tattoos and other piercings as well. A possible answer? Outreach and education!
you know what, this is just totally messed up. and that’s putting it nicely. do people not think? can we all say – instant gratification. patience people, really. you know, like gnr once preached. have a little of it, please.
you know what, this is just totally messed up. and that’s putting it nicely. do people not think? can we all say – instant gratification. patience people, really. you know, like gnr once preached. have a little of it, please.
Yeah, it did look like someone got their ear removed at first, lol. I was like, “WTF???? ……wait. That can’t be right.” Then I read it, and looked closer, lol.
Yeah, it did look like someone got their ear removed at first, lol. I was like, “WTF???? ……wait. That can’t be right.” Then I read it, and looked closer, lol.
Changes happen.
I think her reconstructed ear looks great.
I’m in the process of naturally shrinking mine, at about a 6 from 7/8ths of an inch less than 4 months ago.
Changes happen.
I think her reconstructed ear looks great.
I’m in the process of naturally shrinking mine, at about a 6 from 7/8ths of an inch less than 4 months ago.
Damn, I could never get rid of my 2″ babies 🙁 I find it to look strange when people get there lobes reconstructed to go back to “normal”…I mean, after stretching to 2″, doesn’t that seem weird to just look in the mirror and have whole lobes again? I couldn’t do it. I guess some people see modification in a different light than others. It’s hard to understand the perspective of other people[I mean, most of us have been asked by other people why we do this to our bodies, yah know?] But it’s that persons lobes, not mine, so im not worried about it.
Damn, I could never get rid of my 2″ babies 🙁 I find it to look strange when people get there lobes reconstructed to go back to “normal”…I mean, after stretching to 2″, doesn’t that seem weird to just look in the mirror and have whole lobes again? I couldn’t do it. I guess some people see modification in a different light than others. It’s hard to understand the perspective of other people[I mean, most of us have been asked by other people why we do this to our bodies, yah know?] But it’s that persons lobes, not mine, so im not worried about it.
I can that I partially understand the woman in the picture.
I’m in college right now, and I love piercings. However, I’m studying to become a teacher – one of the more conservative careers out there.
I’m just beginning to stretch, and I’m at 14g. I’ve talked to my piercer and done my research – I know that I’m not going beyond 2 or 0g, and I’m going very, very slow. I know near the end of my final year at college, I’ll be taking it out and letting it heal.
Yes, right now, I’m intending to stretch for the next few years and then letting them heal back. But isn’t it amazing that our body can heal back after all that?
I don’t think I could go so far as reconstruction surgery, but good for this girl for doing what she feels. Her ear looks just great!
I can that I partially understand the woman in the picture.
I’m in college right now, and I love piercings. However, I’m studying to become a teacher – one of the more conservative careers out there.
I’m just beginning to stretch, and I’m at 14g. I’ve talked to my piercer and done my research – I know that I’m not going beyond 2 or 0g, and I’m going very, very slow. I know near the end of my final year at college, I’ll be taking it out and letting it heal.
Yes, right now, I’m intending to stretch for the next few years and then letting them heal back. But isn’t it amazing that our body can heal back after all that?
I don’t think I could go so far as reconstruction surgery, but good for this girl for doing what she feels. Her ear looks just great!
Man, those ears are 2 very different colors.
Man, those ears are 2 very different colors.
my camara does not have flash, one was taken with artificial light and the other with solar light, it is the same ear, in my iam watches the right ear too.
saludos
Felipe Silva
my camara does not have flash, one was taken with artificial light and the other with solar light, it is the same ear, in my iam watches the right ear too.
saludos
Felipe Silva
the removal and reconstruction here looks MUCH better then the other reconstruction that was posted before in another modblog entry.
the removal and reconstruction here looks MUCH better then the other reconstruction that was posted before in another modblog entry.
this ear is the same one
https://www.bme.com/news/2007/01/12/50mm-to-0mm-scalpelling/
saludos
this ear is the same one
https://www.bme.com/news/2007/01/12/50mm-to-0mm-scalpelling/
saludos
Sadly I am sure in a few years I am going to have to remove my lobes as well. Not that I want to, but going through college and grad school is going require changes. Its not impossible to fight the odds and get a job with stretched lobes but it is complicated.
As far as I am concerned the reconstruction is a touchy subject. If we could all be as modified as we want and get the jobs we deserve it would be ideal.
Maybe years down the road there will be a more acceptable view of modifaction, but as for now its too much for some to handle.
Sadly I am sure in a few years I am going to have to remove my lobes as well. Not that I want to, but going through college and grad school is going require changes. Its not impossible to fight the odds and get a job with stretched lobes but it is complicated.
As far as I am concerned the reconstruction is a touchy subject. If we could all be as modified as we want and get the jobs we deserve it would be ideal.
Maybe years down the road there will be a more acceptable view of modifaction, but as for now its too much for some to handle.
Felipe – It looks better than much of the work from doctors 🙂
Felipe – It looks better than much of the work from doctors 🙂
Poor girl.
I must say very nice neat repair job, looks nice with the ear rings in.
Poor girl.
I must say very nice neat repair job, looks nice with the ear rings in.
Ummm funny.. Id give to have my lobes at least at an inch and a half and she fixed em lol… but it is an amazing job and as long as she is happy all good
Ummm funny.. Id give to have my lobes at least at an inch and a half and she fixed em lol… but it is an amazing job and as long as she is happy all good
wickedgame6 yes it is weird to go from beautifully stretched ears to next to nothing. Especially when it happens rapidly. But you know… everyone has their reasons.
I’ve been stretching mine since I was 18 (am 22 now) and just decided one day that it wasn’t right anymore.
wickedgame6 yes it is weird to go from beautifully stretched ears to next to nothing. Especially when it happens rapidly. But you know… everyone has their reasons.
I’ve been stretching mine since I was 18 (am 22 now) and just decided one day that it wasn’t right anymore.
What an excellent job!
Although I can’t say that I’m not a little disappointed by all the earlobe reductions going on, I’m basically okay with it. Life goes on.
Sometimes, life takes us where we least expect it. Often, I’ve found that it’s not societal expectations that drive these reverse-modifications, but just a change in perspective with life. Thankfully, most of us don’t act on every impulse and urge, but some people do, and they find themselves with 2″ ears and no idea how they got there. Removal is an option.
As you said, Shannon, if a body part offends you, chop it off! I don’t think there should be a double-standard between a part we were born with, and a part that we created ourselves artificially.
At my largest, my ears were about 1+1/8″ – not huge, but well past being able to shrink back entirely. For no particular reason, I haven’t worn jewelry in years. I don’t find that I miss having stretched ears or wearing jewelry at all! I mean, my ears are a part of me, but at the same time, they don’t define me, and I am not my modifications.
What an excellent job!
Although I can’t say that I’m not a little disappointed by all the earlobe reductions going on, I’m basically okay with it. Life goes on.
Sometimes, life takes us where we least expect it. Often, I’ve found that it’s not societal expectations that drive these reverse-modifications, but just a change in perspective with life. Thankfully, most of us don’t act on every impulse and urge, but some people do, and they find themselves with 2″ ears and no idea how they got there. Removal is an option.
As you said, Shannon, if a body part offends you, chop it off! I don’t think there should be a double-standard between a part we were born with, and a part that we created ourselves artificially.
At my largest, my ears were about 1+1/8″ – not huge, but well past being able to shrink back entirely. For no particular reason, I haven’t worn jewelry in years. I don’t find that I miss having stretched ears or wearing jewelry at all! I mean, my ears are a part of me, but at the same time, they don’t define me, and I am not my modifications.
My tattoos mark particular moments, or how I was feeling at particular times – and I’ve always known that if one becomes irrelevant (not just in the past, entirely irrelevant) I’ll feel happy as I get it covered up. Why can’t a reversal be a mod just like a stretching?
For example, I have a tattoo commemorating a weekend when I felt able to easily control my OCD (which is ordinarily in the “very severe” bracket apparently). The weekend happened to be a heavy metal festival. If, by 30, I’m miraculously cured of OCD, I’ll cover it. If I’m not so keen on metal by 30, I’ll cover it with another tat that’s positive about my mental state.
People shouldn’t be so uptight – reversed lobes/covered tattoos only need to have made the wearer happy for a while to be worth it.
My tattoos mark particular moments, or how I was feeling at particular times – and I’ve always known that if one becomes irrelevant (not just in the past, entirely irrelevant) I’ll feel happy as I get it covered up. Why can’t a reversal be a mod just like a stretching?
For example, I have a tattoo commemorating a weekend when I felt able to easily control my OCD (which is ordinarily in the “very severe” bracket apparently). The weekend happened to be a heavy metal festival. If, by 30, I’m miraculously cured of OCD, I’ll cover it. If I’m not so keen on metal by 30, I’ll cover it with another tat that’s positive about my mental state.
People shouldn’t be so uptight – reversed lobes/covered tattoos only need to have made the wearer happy for a while to be worth it.