Going straight to a 12

[meowitsfausto]

Im pretty sure my gauge is an 18 or a 16 most likly 18 and Im gonna pierce myear and go straight to a 12 my friends say its a bad idea.what should Ido?

[corazon_de_oro]

Go up one size at a time. 18G-12G doesn't sound like too big of a jump, but you'd be making the hole twice as big as it is now.

[magalo le matelot]

If I was you i'd put 14g in before. (tongue barbell)

[corazon_de_oro]

They make 14G jewelry other than tongue barbells... most of those are way too long for lobes. I have 14G labret studs in my helix piercings, a 14G retainer in my septum, a 14G curved barbell in my VCH... there are even 14G plugs.
Unless your piercings have stretched themselves over time start at a 16G. There's a lot of jewelry available, just shop around. :]

[magalo le matelot]

Yeah but normal tongue piercing are always in 14g, and those you named are in 16g most of the time.

[corazon_de_oro]

To be honest, a VCH in 16G would be just asking for migration. I think if my eyebrow had been done at 14G it would have stayed it place longer than it did (although it was mostly due to me not having a defined brow). Septums are much easier to find 14G jewelry in most of the time, too. 14G is really the "standard" size for most piercings except nostrils, and many genital piercings need thicker jewelry.

[magalo le matelot]

I didnt said anything about what gauges is the best... I absolutely agree with what you say... I just said that most of the time, when you buy these jewelery they are in 16g. Even if 14g is always better.

[corazon_de_oro]

I actually see more 14G stuff where I'm from, even at malls and stuff. A labret stud would probably be the best thing to get in 14G. Most tongue bars would be way too long for an earlobe.
But to the person who posted this, I'd definitely recommend going to 16G first... 18G to 14G is increasing the size of the hole by 60% even though it's only a 0.6mm jump.

[Narci]

Well if the OP is going to stretch up to a 14g I wouldn't recommend stretching it using anything but a taper. Especially stretching it with an externally threaded piece of jewelry. Ouch.

[Uraniumhobo]

over time tissue stretches itself as well which is why at smaller sizes stretching with tapers is easier but not always necessary