A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

At The Max


Oh, hello! Slightly irregular ear project operative “Marcellus” checks in from Carmarthen, UK, with this slightly irregular ear project by Mike Davies at Nobbys Tattoo Parlour. Sure, transverse lobes may just wash up on the beach these days, but we thought stretching it to 8 mm. was a unique touch we don’t see too often. Also, in the attached e-mail, the industrial is referred to as a “scaffold”—is this a common regional thing? Maybe we are out of the loop (we are almost definitely out of the loop), but this is new to us.

See more in Transverse and Vertical Lobes (Ear Piercing)

Comments

90 responses to “At The Max”

  1. hate_is_man Avatar
    hate_is_man

    awesome you dont see many of those around

  2. hate_is_man Avatar
    hate_is_man

    awesome you dont see many of those around

  3. bobbinsgalore Avatar
    bobbinsgalore

    a) The 8mm transverse lobe is awesome.
    b) I’ve heard scaffold used before, but I’m from New Zealand, so this may just confuse the issue further.

  4. bobbinsgalore Avatar
    bobbinsgalore

    a) The 8mm transverse lobe is awesome.
    b) I’ve heard scaffold used before, but I’m from New Zealand, so this may just confuse the issue further.

  5. Corvin Avatar
    Corvin

    I’d just like to thank jordan for posting something interesting and without a lame attempt at a joke. This and the video rachel posted gives me hope that modblog can get back on track.

  6. Corvin Avatar
    Corvin

    I’d just like to thank jordan for posting something interesting and without a lame attempt at a joke. This and the video rachel posted gives me hope that modblog can get back on track.

  7. John H. Avatar
    John H.

    THAT is tight. Completely “modblog worthy” and not half bad looking. The upper end of the industrial looks a bit funky though.

  8. John H. Avatar
    John H.

    THAT is tight. Completely “modblog worthy” and not half bad looking. The upper end of the industrial looks a bit funky though.

  9. Scott Avatar
    Scott

    When the page loaded I could only see the top half of the ear and was wondering why there was a shot of an industrial. then came the transverse lobe. holy crap. not something i’ve ever seen before. and it looks *relatively* healthy too.

  10. Scott Avatar
    Scott

    When the page loaded I could only see the top half of the ear and was wondering why there was a shot of an industrial. then came the transverse lobe. holy crap. not something i’ve ever seen before. and it looks *relatively* healthy too.

  11. possessed Avatar

    Scaffold is the usual term for it in the UK, at least as far as I know. I had never heard it called an industrial when I got mine before I discovered BME. I’m from Scotland and most people say ‘scaffold’ here.

    This looks really cool. I really like the relative simplicity and the fact that there’s something slightly unusual about each of the piercings; it works in a really understated way. The transverse lobe looks great!

  12. possessed Avatar

    Scaffold is the usual term for it in the UK, at least as far as I know. I had never heard it called an industrial when I got mine before I discovered BME. I’m from Scotland and most people say ‘scaffold’ here.

    This looks really cool. I really like the relative simplicity and the fact that there’s something slightly unusual about each of the piercings; it works in a really understated way. The transverse lobe looks great!

  13. John H. Avatar
    John H.

    I’ve also not seen a stretched tragus that was of a size or sporting jewelry that I would notice. Is that excruciatingly painful to do?

  14. John H. Avatar
    John H.

    I’ve also not seen a stretched tragus that was of a size or sporting jewelry that I would notice. Is that excruciatingly painful to do?

  15. Scotlaand the brave! Avatar
    Scotlaand the brave!

    Agreed with possessed. Never heard it being called an industrial until hearing it online. Always known it as a scaffold

    Stretched tragus is awesome though!x

  16. Scotlaand the brave! Avatar
    Scotlaand the brave!

    Agreed with possessed. Never heard it being called an industrial until hearing it online. Always known it as a scaffold

    Stretched tragus is awesome though!x

  17. Angilius Avatar
    Angilius

    #7, I’d like to know about the tragus as well!

  18. Angilius Avatar
    Angilius

    #7, I’d like to know about the tragus as well!

  19. Cris Black Avatar
    Cris Black

    i must admit, that i didn’t even recognize the lobe project as being a transverse lobe stretch until after i read the description… it just didn’t ‘click’ in my mind as being something that was pierced…

    really, very interesting….

    my first thought, before reading, was

    “wow, look at the indention made by the industrial (scaffold) bar on the back of the ear and the bit of scar tissue on the front, lower side…. and why are there two differently sized balls on the bar?”

  20. Cris Black Avatar
    Cris Black

    i must admit, that i didn’t even recognize the lobe project as being a transverse lobe stretch until after i read the description… it just didn’t ‘click’ in my mind as being something that was pierced…

    really, very interesting….

    my first thought, before reading, was

    “wow, look at the indention made by the industrial (scaffold) bar on the back of the ear and the bit of scar tissue on the front, lower side…. and why are there two differently sized balls on the bar?”

  21. Ru Avatar

    I really want to cut that blow out off. Really badly.

  22. Ru Avatar

    I really want to cut that blow out off. Really badly.

  23. beans Avatar

    Scaffold is common in Australia and NZ too, but Industrial is probably used just as often (at least in Australia). I always knew it as an industrial piercing but that’s probably because I grew up reading BME, before I was of the age to be walking into actual piercing shops.

  24. beans Avatar

    Scaffold is common in Australia and NZ too, but Industrial is probably used just as often (at least in Australia). I always knew it as an industrial piercing but that’s probably because I grew up reading BME, before I was of the age to be walking into actual piercing shops.

  25. SeeeingRed Avatar

    Thats fucking cool! I have never seen it before actually. I don’t think id really want it for my lobes, but still cool dude!

  26. SeeeingRed Avatar

    Thats fucking cool! I have never seen it before actually. I don’t think id really want it for my lobes, but still cool dude!

  27. li Avatar
    li

    Yea, scaffold is pretty common in Aust, but i’d say industrial is probably used more. How did this person stretch their tragus, i’m really interested, as i plan on doing this as soon as mine has been in a little longer.

  28. li Avatar
    li

    Yea, scaffold is pretty common in Aust, but i’d say industrial is probably used more. How did this person stretch their tragus, i’m really interested, as i plan on doing this as soon as mine has been in a little longer.

  29. adam Avatar
    adam

    is there dried up blood or crusties on his transverse lobe, eek. very unique tho first good post in a while.

  30. adam Avatar
    adam

    is there dried up blood or crusties on his transverse lobe, eek. very unique tho first good post in a while.

  31. Dimruthien Avatar
    Dimruthien

    I’m in Australia and I’ve never heard anyone call it a “scaffold” before. I’ve seen the term used online, but never “in real life”.

    Is that a blowout on the lobe or just blur?
    Put a tea bag on that industrial!

  32. Dimruthien Avatar
    Dimruthien

    I’m in Australia and I’ve never heard anyone call it a “scaffold” before. I’ve seen the term used online, but never “in real life”.

    Is that a blowout on the lobe or just blur?
    Put a tea bag on that industrial!

  33. Nadi Avatar
    Nadi

    I’d love to see a picture of this straight on, or at least with a little more of his face/body in it, just to get a sense of the overall aesthetics.

    Very cool idea though.

  34. Nadi Avatar
    Nadi

    I’d love to see a picture of this straight on, or at least with a little more of his face/body in it, just to get a sense of the overall aesthetics.

    Very cool idea though.

  35. Aric Avatar
    Aric

    Scaffold every now and again here in Michigan, but still better than the Jacob’s Ladder requests.

  36. Aric Avatar
    Aric

    Scaffold every now and again here in Michigan, but still better than the Jacob’s Ladder requests.

  37. Joshua Avatar
    Joshua

    Since when is scaffolding ‘new to us’? I remember reading the site back in the mid-late 90s and seeing industrials ONLY referred to as scaffolding.

  38. Joshua Avatar
    Joshua

    Since when is scaffolding ‘new to us’? I remember reading the site back in the mid-late 90s and seeing industrials ONLY referred to as scaffolding.

  39. Dangerbitch Avatar
    Dangerbitch

    That looks so cool!

  40. Dangerbitch Avatar
    Dangerbitch

    That looks so cool!

  41. hellesvront Avatar
    hellesvront

    Incredibly unhealthy as his ear looks, the stretched transverse idea is still pretty cool.

  42. hellesvront Avatar
    hellesvront

    Incredibly unhealthy as his ear looks, the stretched transverse idea is still pretty cool.

  43. goldust Avatar

    I don’t like it…(((

  44. goldust Avatar

    I don’t like it…(((

  45. Sitara Avatar
    Sitara

    I’m in the UK, and most places I go have it on the pricing board as “Scaffold / Industrial” now, but before it used to vary from shop to shop whether they called it one or the other.

    I have to agree with Joshua (#19) that I’m sure I’ve seen to it referred to as scaffolding on BME too =)

    But back on the more intersting topic – I haven’t seen a stretched transverse lobe before and I think it looks great ^^

  46. Sitara Avatar
    Sitara

    I’m in the UK, and most places I go have it on the pricing board as “Scaffold / Industrial” now, but before it used to vary from shop to shop whether they called it one or the other.

    I have to agree with Joshua (#19) that I’m sure I’ve seen to it referred to as scaffolding on BME too =)

    But back on the more intersting topic – I haven’t seen a stretched transverse lobe before and I think it looks great ^^

  47. Don Avatar

    Scaffold is certainly the term which is normally used in the UK: experiences submitted to BME by UK authors almost always refer to their “scaffold” rather than ‘industrial’.

  48. Don Avatar

    Scaffold is certainly the term which is normally used in the UK: experiences submitted to BME by UK authors almost always refer to their “scaffold” rather than ‘industrial’.

  49. dean Avatar
    dean

    iv alllways wonderd a side view of a streched ear would look like try get it to 30mm if u can would look awesome keep it up

  50. dean Avatar
    dean

    iv alllways wonderd a side view of a streched ear would look like try get it to 30mm if u can would look awesome keep it up

Latest Tattoo, Piercing, and Body Modification News

  • Twelve Points to the Sky
    There’s a particular kind of magic that happens at your first big suspension gathering when you arrive with nerves, an open heart, and the quiet hope of flight. Guided by the encouragement of mentor Lynn Loheide and driven by the quiet confidence of belonging, Alex… Read more: Twelve Points to the Sky
  • Ontario SusCon 2025
    In March 2025, BME attended the Ontario Suspension Convention in Hamilton, hosted by the Kevin Donaghy and the Ontario Suspension Collective. We had the pleasure to take part and help document the event, but also run a booth to sell a bunch of old (but… Read more: Ontario SusCon 2025
  • Welcome Back to Body Modification Ezine
    Dear BME Community, We’ve been gone far too long, but BME is back to give people a voice, a space, a community. With time everything evolves, and BME may be different than you remember. Our goal is to stay true to Shannon and Rachel’s values… Read more: Welcome Back to Body Modification Ezine
  • BME Social Media
    Word of mouth has been our method of reuniting the community, and it has brought a substantial amount of us together. I am inspired by your loyalty and I want to remind more people of BME’s existence. In 2020 we gained control over @bmezine on… Read more: BME Social Media
  • BMEShop
    Despite the hurricanes in 2015 which destroyed almost all of what Rachel owned, she managed to save the original inventory from BME. We have relisted some of the stock on BMEShop.com with the hopes you may be interested.  Our first drop includes a selection of… Read more: BMEShop
  • Rachel Larratt 1980-2022
    Unfortunately, when we lost some of the ModBlog content, it included the post about Rachel’s passing. (Original Post) Rachel passed away on June 22, 2022. She died in her sleep. Even now, it’s extremely difficult to write this post. Rachel meant so much to so… Read more: Rachel Larratt 1980-2022