Piercing Stretching

The practice of enlarging ear and body piercings can be seen in many cultures throughout history. The look of enlarged holes can be achieved by doing initial piercings with large gauge jewelry (gauge=size), or by stretching piercings gradually over time. We offer both large-gauge piercings and stretching at Evolution, but this information is specific to stretching your piercings.

Timing

If you want to stretch an existing piercing it is important to wait until it is well healed. If you want to enlarge the hole significantly it will take some time and patience. You will need to go one size (gauge) at a time, and keep the following in mind:

  • Every time you stretch a piercing you create microscopic tears in the collagen layer, and it often takes a minimum of 6 weeks for that tissue to heal properly.

  • Each stretch to a larger gauge is bigger than the last, so the larger you go, the longer you may need to wait between sizes.

  • Some piercings are easier to stretch than others.

  • Stretching too quickly can result in uneven tearing, scarring, or thinning of the tissue, all of which can limit future stretching.

Everyone's body is different, so there is no magic answer to the question "How big can I stretch until it won't go back?" Following the guidelines below to keep the tissue healthy is the best thing you can do to maintain elasticity, but you should never stretch a piercing if you are unwilling to accept the possibility that it will be a permanent modification.

Materials

While organic or natural jewelry such as wood, horn or bone is very popular for wear in stretched piercings, it is safer to do the initial stretch with jewelry that is non-porous and can be sterilized. We suggest surgical implant-grade stainless steel, surgical implant grade titanium, niobium, 14k or 18k gold, or Pyrex for stretching. Once healed, you can start wearing organic jewelry or more decorative styles.

Caring for Your Stretching Piercing

You will need to treat a newly stretched piercing like a fresh piercing, so follow the same aftercare guidelines that you did when your piercing was new. Once the jewelry can be comfortably removed, tissue massage (with or without oil) will improve circulation, speed healing, and reduce scar tissue. This is especially important if you experience a "blow out" or tissue damage when stretching. Should this happen, consider dropping to a smaller size to reduce pressure and increase circulation until the tissue is healed.