Sorry for not posting more yesterday, but I had my head slammed in a car door (don’t ask!) and got a concussion and didn’t feel like writing. Let me start off today with a pictorial story from “a young lady from Chicago-land” and her earlobe tearing misadventures in the Ukraine involving stitching… I’m actually not convinced this needed to be stitched (I think it would have healed on its own, personally), but I’m not about to look a gift horse in the mouth!
This story is in her own words — continue reading to see what happened.
“Adventures in doing laundry: As I hopped down from the chair I was standing on to hang laundry, my rounded horse-shoe piercing (it had one smallish ball and one biggish ball on it) got caught on the wire clothes-line on my Ukrainian balcony. My ear was tearing as the piercing was actually bending (skin is strong!) and then the back ball (luckily, the smaller ball!) exploded through my ear and out came the piercing. The tear was only in the front of the lobe. The ball took a tiny ring of flesh with it, but otherwise the back was undamaged.”
Inset: “What the ring looked like before it bent on the wire, and after… I can’t believe how strong human flesh is! Oh, and don’t mind the little bit of my flesh.”
“Ew, a bit of grit in there!”
“Yeah, um, Ukranian hospitals? No thanks. I’d heard nothing but horror stories all week from my students, and then this. I went with what my dad taught me: Superglue fixes everything. The arrow indicates the end of the tear. It looks good, but actually, I screwed up by getting glue into the tear too, so, eventually, it would all come out in a plug and I’d be back to square one. The piercing is tilted up, btw, to maintain the hole without possibly getting pulled on and opening the tear again. Smart, huh?”
“Sure enough, three days later, the superglue all came out and off, leaving the cut wide open again. Nope, still, not going to a Ukrainian hospital. You know, the one time I was in one, an angry nurse chastised me for my piercings and told me that because I had piercings, I would have deformed children! Time for self-done stitches.”
“I actually didn’t mean to make the stitch so wide like that. In retrospect, I think it was good though, because the first and middle stitch was really secure and then the top and bottom stitches didn’t go through as much flesh.”
“Three stitches (the top and the bottom weren’t as deep as the middle). It looks irritated but it’s just camera contrast — it looked great. My roommates were impressed.”
Left: “Immediately after removing the stitches (left them in for six days)” and Right: “Three days after removing the stitches. Yay! I’m a doctor now. It’s not the first time I’ve given myself stitches in fact…”
Comments
168 responses to “Torn Earlobe and DIY stitch repair”
Impressive, nice one.
Also, I think I remember being told that super glue was used in WWII to close up wounds or something like that.
Impressive, nice one.
Also, I think I remember being told that super glue was used in WWII to close up wounds or something like that.
I wonder if the superglue stung when she applied it. It just seems like something I’d want to keep an open wound away from.
I wonder if the superglue stung when she applied it. It just seems like something I’d want to keep an open wound away from.
I wonder if the superglue stung when she applied it. It just seems like something I’d want to keep an open wound away from.
I’ve used superglue for smaller cuts on my hands before, my mom used to use it my brothers and I when we had small cuts as kids. When a family friend tore some skin off the bottom of his foot in our pool (not sure how that happened :/ ), she covered the patch of missing skin with superglue. No problems.
@lamexcore: It never stung any more than placing a band-aid over the cut.
I’ve used superglue for smaller cuts on my hands before, my mom used to use it my brothers and I when we had small cuts as kids. When a family friend tore some skin off the bottom of his foot in our pool (not sure how that happened :/ ), she covered the patch of missing skin with superglue. No problems.
@lamexcore: It never stung any more than placing a band-aid over the cut.
I’ve used superglue for smaller cuts on my hands before, my mom used to use it my brothers and I when we had small cuts as kids. When a family friend tore some skin off the bottom of his foot in our pool (not sure how that happened :/ ), she covered the patch of missing skin with superglue. No problems.
@lamexcore: It never stung any more than placing a band-aid over the cut.
# 5, super glue works fine, if you don’t get it into the cut or tear..hell sometimes it even works if you get it into the cut, depending on the severity of it. I’ve done it several times, to help seal the edges so it won’t expand or reopen.
# 5, super glue works fine, if you don’t get it into the cut or tear..hell sometimes it even works if you get it into the cut, depending on the severity of it. I’ve done it several times, to help seal the edges so it won’t expand or reopen.
# 5, super glue works fine, if you don’t get it into the cut or tear..hell sometimes it even works if you get it into the cut, depending on the severity of it. I’ve done it several times, to help seal the edges so it won’t expand or reopen.
#7 I was about to say the same…
#7 I was about to say the same…
#7 I was about to say the same…
uhm to all of the above, the horse thing in spanish: “a caballo regalado no se le ve el diente”
uhm to all of the above, the horse thing in spanish: “a caballo regalado no se le ve el diente”
uhm to all of the above, the horse thing in spanish: “a caballo regalado no se le ve el diente”
superglue was used in at least two american wars, but it proved to be carcinogenic, i believe, on top of the mild irritation. it did save many lives, and if you use it on small lacerations instead of deep flesh wounds you should be fine. the body can process a surprising amount of toxin.
nowadays it is a lot weaker (safer) than it was back then; they changed the formula a couple of times. unfortunately, this means it doesn’t bond as well and won’t stick your arm back on.
🙂
superglue was used in at least two american wars, but it proved to be carcinogenic, i believe, on top of the mild irritation. it did save many lives, and if you use it on small lacerations instead of deep flesh wounds you should be fine. the body can process a surprising amount of toxin.
nowadays it is a lot weaker (safer) than it was back then; they changed the formula a couple of times. unfortunately, this means it doesn’t bond as well and won’t stick your arm back on.
🙂
superglue was used in at least two american wars, but it proved to be carcinogenic, i believe, on top of the mild irritation. it did save many lives, and if you use it on small lacerations instead of deep flesh wounds you should be fine. the body can process a surprising amount of toxin.
nowadays it is a lot weaker (safer) than it was back then; they changed the formula a couple of times. unfortunately, this means it doesn’t bond as well and won’t stick your arm back on.
🙂
@11 My first reaction was that one of those butterfly bandaids would have been useful.
That said, I’m all about DIY wound repair for injuries on this level. Bravo on the nice stiches. I’ve managed to avoid needing them, though I had one finger slice that I was later told could’ve used a couple. I used to use electrical tape to cover up my cuts while doing car repair, but I later learned that the adhesive isn’t really something you should expose open wounds to. I haven’t had the opportunity to try out superglue yet. My cuts tend to heal best using the LITFA method.
@11 My first reaction was that one of those butterfly bandaids would have been useful.
That said, I’m all about DIY wound repair for injuries on this level. Bravo on the nice stiches. I’ve managed to avoid needing them, though I had one finger slice that I was later told could’ve used a couple. I used to use electrical tape to cover up my cuts while doing car repair, but I later learned that the adhesive isn’t really something you should expose open wounds to. I haven’t had the opportunity to try out superglue yet. My cuts tend to heal best using the LITFA method.
@11 My first reaction was that one of those butterfly bandaids would have been useful.
That said, I’m all about DIY wound repair for injuries on this level. Bravo on the nice stiches. I’ve managed to avoid needing them, though I had one finger slice that I was later told could’ve used a couple. I used to use electrical tape to cover up my cuts while doing car repair, but I later learned that the adhesive isn’t really something you should expose open wounds to. I haven’t had the opportunity to try out superglue yet. My cuts tend to heal best using the LITFA method.
Something I want to point out is that this is why people should wear 14g jewelry or larger in their ears. Thats why the CB bent like that before tearing the flesh. It had to be pulled in REALLY hard to do that kind of damage.
People with non stretched ear piercings who wear “normal” earings usually wear such tiny gauge stuff. Like a freaking 20g. My mom does and I tell her she should stretch to 14g to prevent from tearing her lobes. But years of wearing dangly “cheese cutter” earings made the holes in her ears quite low. And one of the holes is a lot lower than the other because it got yanked and torn. They dont even look like small holes anymore. They look like long slits. Its too bad because I see so many people with the same problem. earings at least 14g would solve that problem.
Something I want to point out is that this is why people should wear 14g jewelry or larger in their ears. Thats why the CB bent like that before tearing the flesh. It had to be pulled in REALLY hard to do that kind of damage.
People with non stretched ear piercings who wear “normal” earings usually wear such tiny gauge stuff. Like a freaking 20g. My mom does and I tell her she should stretch to 14g to prevent from tearing her lobes. But years of wearing dangly “cheese cutter” earings made the holes in her ears quite low. And one of the holes is a lot lower than the other because it got yanked and torn. They dont even look like small holes anymore. They look like long slits. Its too bad because I see so many people with the same problem. earings at least 14g would solve that problem.
Something I want to point out is that this is why people should wear 14g jewelry or larger in their ears. Thats why the CB bent like that before tearing the flesh. It had to be pulled in REALLY hard to do that kind of damage.
People with non stretched ear piercings who wear “normal” earings usually wear such tiny gauge stuff. Like a freaking 20g. My mom does and I tell her she should stretch to 14g to prevent from tearing her lobes. But years of wearing dangly “cheese cutter” earings made the holes in her ears quite low. And one of the holes is a lot lower than the other because it got yanked and torn. They dont even look like small holes anymore. They look like long slits. Its too bad because I see so many people with the same problem. earings at least 14g would solve that problem.
Very impressive.
Once my mum superglued a gash together when I was a kid.
Sure that’s what they used in wars to quickly suture a wound.
Great needle work tho.
Very impressive.
Once my mum superglued a gash together when I was a kid.
Sure that’s what they used in wars to quickly suture a wound.
Great needle work tho.
Very impressive.
Once my mum superglued a gash together when I was a kid.
Sure that’s what they used in wars to quickly suture a wound.
Great needle work tho.
daaaamn dont think i could stitch myself! thats quite impressive, especially since it was on the ear, which wouldnt be the easiest area to do something like that to!
daaaamn dont think i could stitch myself! thats quite impressive, especially since it was on the ear, which wouldnt be the easiest area to do something like that to!
daaaamn dont think i could stitch myself! thats quite impressive, especially since it was on the ear, which wouldnt be the easiest area to do something like that to!
wow.. impressive…
and um… i wish you the best with your concussion, shannon.
i had a mild one from a wreck here a while back.. i hope you feel better!
wow.. impressive…
and um… i wish you the best with your concussion, shannon.
i had a mild one from a wreck here a while back.. i hope you feel better!
wow.. impressive…
and um… i wish you the best with your concussion, shannon.
i had a mild one from a wreck here a while back.. i hope you feel better!
I <3 people’s home surgery stories.
Stephen Strange swears by honey to close his wounds. I say superglue and butterflies.
I <3 people’s home surgery stories.
Stephen Strange swears by honey to close his wounds. I say superglue and butterflies.
I <3 people’s home surgery stories.
Stephen Strange swears by honey to close his wounds. I say superglue and butterflies.
I had glue used on some injuries to the top of my writst that they couldnt stitch but it ended up splitting oopen again and having to be redone.
Very nice work though 🙂 The ear looks good crazy how bent the jewelery was!
I had glue used on some injuries to the top of my writst that they couldnt stitch but it ended up splitting oopen again and having to be redone.
Very nice work though 🙂 The ear looks good crazy how bent the jewelery was!
I had glue used on some injuries to the top of my writst that they couldnt stitch but it ended up splitting oopen again and having to be redone.
Very nice work though 🙂 The ear looks good crazy how bent the jewelery was!
hit me up @ [email protected]. I did a peace corps stint in Ukraine and know some PHENOMENAL body piercers in Kiev who can suture VERY WELL….no less, it would be a fun connection for you…they are all great guys! 🙂
hit me up @ [email protected]. I did a peace corps stint in Ukraine and know some PHENOMENAL body piercers in Kiev who can suture VERY WELL….no less, it would be a fun connection for you…they are all great guys! 🙂
hit me up @ [email protected]. I did a peace corps stint in Ukraine and know some PHENOMENAL body piercers in Kiev who can suture VERY WELL….no less, it would be a fun connection for you…they are all great guys! 🙂
Neat story and all, but what interests me is that horizontal orbital piercing that appeared from the first day she did the stitching until the day she took the sticthing off! Is it just me or I just dont see any scars from the temporary orbital?
Also, im trying to get the story straight and figure out why she kept switching piercings throughout healing.. I’m assuming the ‘horse-shoe’ piercing is that inner conch vert piercing that she placed back into the superglued hole?
Neat story and all, but what interests me is that horizontal orbital piercing that appeared from the first day she did the stitching until the day she took the sticthing off! Is it just me or I just dont see any scars from the temporary orbital?
Also, im trying to get the story straight and figure out why she kept switching piercings throughout healing.. I’m assuming the ‘horse-shoe’ piercing is that inner conch vert piercing that she placed back into the superglued hole?
Neat story and all, but what interests me is that horizontal orbital piercing that appeared from the first day she did the stitching until the day she took the sticthing off! Is it just me or I just dont see any scars from the temporary orbital?
Also, im trying to get the story straight and figure out why she kept switching piercings throughout healing.. I’m assuming the ‘horse-shoe’ piercing is that inner conch vert piercing that she placed back into the superglued hole?
Woah! that would be tricky to do in the mirror.
Woah! that would be tricky to do in the mirror.
Woah! that would be tricky to do in the mirror.