by corazon_de_oro » Thu Oct 07, 2010 12:22 pm
Going back to 18G would still be downsizing...
Anyway, the damage is not "done" at all; it's probably only just beginning. When you stretch your ears, you're not automatically in the clear because your lobe didn't rip in half when you skipped a ton of sizes. Skipping that many sizes means the lobe is under a tremendous amount of pressure, which is how blowouts happen. This doesn't have to happen right when you stretch, it can happen a few days later or even a few weeks later depending on how fast you stretched and what jewelry you're wearing.
Also, damage can be corrected. People who have a history of stretching horribly can correct problems and go on to have healthy-looking lobes. That's where downsizing, sea salt soaks, and oil massages come in. If you just say "Oh, the damage is done, I'll just leave it at this size" you may face a huge amount of scar tissue which will make stretching very, very difficult or you may end up with a blowout. On the other hand, if you go ahead and downsize drastically, give your ears time to heal, and massage them, you may end up stopping the scar tissue from happening and you eliminate the possibility of a blowout.
I'm Lindsay.
I have 1/2" lobes and 11 piercings: left helix x2, both conches, both nostrils, septum, navel, and VCH.
My lobes are small but I know a lot about stretching and how to do it safely, so message me if you have any questions!