This looks amazing (procedure by the always border-smashing Howie aka LunaCobra), but I had two concerns about these photos. First, that enough structural damage has been done by cutting broadly across the anti-helix (ie. where you’d place a rook), that it wouldn’t take a lot for the ear to collapse — Howie emphasizes that he’s done a large number of these removals and that this person’s ear was robust and strong enough to heal successfully.

My other concern was that with a removal of this sort that crosses several very easy to penetrate (by bacteria) cartilage folds that by wearing the industrial bar across it during healing that there is a fairly high chance of post-procedural infection.

That said, if you want this particular hole, it’s not like there’s really a better way to do it! Some things simply involve risk, and you either accept them or you don’t do it… In any case, other than accidentally dropping a heavy weight on his ear three days into the healing (yowch!), he’s healing well.

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.