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Gauging Earlobes for Flesh Tunnels by Mark Wilson
Gauging earlobes is stretching earlobe piercings one step at a time until they are of a large enough diameter to suit your choice of ear jewellery. That might be no more than a simple stud, with a pin a gauge down from your current piercing, or it might be a 25 mm or 1 inch hole more suited to a large diameter flesh tunnel.
In fact, gauging earlobes to suit flesh tunnels can be quite a lengthy process, depending upon the diameter of the flesh tunnel. If you have had your ears pierced with a gun in a shopping mall or hairdresser, then they are likely at 20g or 18g, whereas a professional can needle-pierce your ears to 16 gauge. Use a professional if you have yet to have the initial piercing carried out, and ask for a 16g needle piercing (the lower the gauge, the greater the hole diameter).
Take note of how long it takes for your piercing to completely heal, and don't try any ear lobe gauging until it has healed with no pain and no scabs. Each stage below will take 3 times the time it took the initial piercing to heal.
If you are using the insertion taper method, choose a taper marked with your target gauge. One end will be the thinner starting gauge and the other the target gauge at one step down (one size up). Never try to cut corners by skipping a size. Then follow these steps:
1. Clean the taper and/or jewellery: Wash the taper and jewellery in sea-salted water (about 3 tablespoons to about a quarter pint). If you are friendly with your professional piercer he or she might autoclave them for you.
2. Clean Your Ear Lobes: Have a shower or warm up your earlobes with warm water. This softens them so that there is less chance of tearing when the ear lobe gauging is increased. Then use a plain, unscented anti-bacterial soap to wash your hands and ears clean.
3. Lubricate the Equipment: Lubricate the taper and jewellery pin to make it easier to work through the existing earlobe piercing gauge. Use either jojoba oil, emu oil or a water-based lubricant, but never Vaseline or any other petroleum-based oil that can contain bacteria.
4. Insert the Taper: Slowly work the thinner end of the taper into your piercing, going through the front, and work it through until the thicker end is level with your skin. Now place the new ear jewellery with the thicker pin against the end of the taper, and continue pushing both, so the jewellery enters your ear right behind the taper. Close off the ear jewellery you chose and that's it.
5. Now Wait: Now wait for about three times as long as it took the original piercing to heal. Don't be tempted to cut corners when gauging earlobes, because if the stretched skin has not thickened properly then you will likely damage it when you try to repeat this with a thicker gauge.
6. Rinse and Repeat: repeat the entire process each time your earlobes have been left the correct length of time to heal, going down a gauge or up a size until you have reached your desired diameter.
7. Teflon Method: This involves adding successive layers of Teflon tape to the pin of your ear jewellery, and is easier than above but not so precise, and can take longer.
Aftercare for Your New Gauged Earlobes
Gauging earlobes does not require as much after care as piercing, but you should still wash them daily with sea salt solution, made as above. Alcohol can dry out your skin, and you are better not to use it even though some recommend it.
Jewellery for Stretched Piercings
There is a vast range of jewellery for stretched piercings of any kind, but earlobes are particularly suited to all forms of pinned ear jewellery, rings, hoops, barbells, plugs and particularly flesh tunnels. Because your ear lobe gauging has provided a large diameter hole in the lobe, you can use materials that would have been too fragile for use in standard gauge piercings of 20g - 16g or even lower.
You can use any metal, but particularly gold, platinum, stainless steel and titanium, and also stone, bone, wood, horn, shells, glass, crystal and even amber. Flesh tunnels can be decorated with crystal, amber or precious stones such as diamonds, and be decorated themselves and used for holding other hanging jewellery from silver or gold chains and beaded decorations.
The sky is the limit, as long as you take your time to follow the instructions exactly and not cut corners. Gauging earlobes is not difficult, but it does take time and patience, but it is all worth it in the end.
More tips and information on gauging ear lobes for flesh tunnels are avialable on Flesh Tunnel where you will also find a selection of Ear Stretching Tools to help you do it yourself.
Article Source: http://www.earticlesonline.com/Article/Gauging-Earlobes-for-Flesh-Tunnels/1103315
How long is the healing process for a newly pierced lip piercing (stud)?
Just wondering does the piercing hurt for more than a few days.. is it hard to eat?
and do you have any suggestions for the best ways to keep away an infection?
by the way.. I'm thinking of getting a (lower lip piercing) on my left side if that helps..
Lip Piercing Care: Lip piercing generally takes 6-10 weeks to heal. It is Very Rare to develop an infection because the mouth has the natural ability to fight off bacteria.
Lip piercing signs of infection: You may experience some swelling, redness, scabbing, tenderness, and possibly bleeding. But don’t worry about all this. These are all natural occurrences in the lip piercing healing process.
Here are some basic tips about aftercare of lip piercing:
Avoid eating, smoking and drinking within the first three hours of the piercing.
Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and drugs before and after getting pierced, and till the wound is completely healed.
Wash your hands frequently, and any time if you are going to touch the piercing. This will significantly reduce your chances of getting an infection.
Do saline soak twice a day.
Use a new soft-bristled toothbrush and keep it clean.
You should brush twice a day to remove food particles that could get into the wound and cause an infection.
Always keep your mouth sanitized. This should be done after eating, smoking and drinking.
Avoid oral sexual till the wound is completely healed.
Do rinse your mouth with a mouthwash after meals or eating. For the first 2 weeks you should suck on antibacterial/anti-inflammatory throat lozenges (Difflam-C), these reduce the chance of infection and reduce swelling.
Ibuprofen will help keep the swelling and tenderness to a minimum, and can be taken when needed for pain.
Avoid sharing plates, cups, and eating utensils.
Vitamin B with Zinc helps in quick healing process. It is better, if you start taking this vitamin a few months before you get the piercing done.
Do eat things such as frozen yogurt, ice cream, cold foods, or suck on chipped or crushed ice, or very small ice blocks for the first 2 weeks. Cold things help the healing, alleviate pain and reduce swelling.
Dry with disposable paper products such as gauze or tissues, because cloth towels can harbor bacteria and catch on new piercing causing injury.
Avoid submerging in bodies of water such as lakes, pools, etc.
Don’t remove or replace the jewellery during the healing period, as the hole closes up very quickly and it’s painful to reinsert the jewellery once this happens.
If it becomes necessary for you to remove the piercing, then the best thing to do is to go to your piercer to have it taken out.
How to Keep the Area Clean:
Wash your hands thoroughly before cleaning the area. Gently and completely cleanse the area with antibacterial soap and water first. Using a, cotton ball or tissue, gently remove any debris have formed around the piercing. This should be done twice a day.
How to Keep Your Lip Piercing Jewelry Clean:
Your jewelry can also carry bacteria and needs to be cleaned properly. Lather the piercing with your fingers thoroughly and rinse completely with warm water. Turn the piercing carefully up and down. Avoid cleaning the area or piercing with alcohol or peroxide. This could harm or kill the tissue that needs to heal. Simply use an antibacterial soap with warm water.
Follow a Standard Oral Hygeine:
Following a standard oral hygeine is more important in the after care of lip piercing. Brush and floss twice a day. This will prevent the food particles from getting into the piercing and causing an infection. Rinsing your mouth with salt water can also help in keeping your mouth clean and sanitized.
Avoid Touching the Piercing without Washing Your Hands:
Avoid touching the lip piercing jewelry without washing your hands. This will greatly reduce the risk of an infection. This also applies to your friends if they are interested in touching the piercing jewelry. It is recommended to refrain from kissing during this time.
If you have any problems with the piercing, do consult your dentist. Your dentist can check your lips, tongue, teeth and see if you have any problem. He/she can also suggest you the after care of lip piercing.
The key to have a good lip piercing is to select a good studio. If your friends or colleagues have had a safe lip piercing, do enquire about the studio from where they have got the piercing from. After making the list of studios, do visit the studios personally. See if the studio is clean, and if the needles are sterilized. You can also ask for a health certificate of the studio. Select the studio only if it satisfies you and if they people are willing to answer all your questions. As lip piercing can lead to complications if not properly done, selecting a good studio is important.
