How to stretch a piercing?
STRETCH GUIDE
There is no perfect way to stretch your piercings, but there are certainly plenty of wrong ways to do it. Together we will try to make this practice as safe as possible.
Stretching a piercing requires a long conversation with your body. You will need to be able to recognize and respect your limits and those of your skin. Going too fast can not only damage your skin, but also limit your ability to stretch later, due to injury or excessive skin thinning. The slower you stretch, the easier it will be, more comfortable and the further you can go.
It is not recommended to stretch the cartilage. It is a surface with its own constraints. If you wish to enlarge your cartilage, it is recommended to go to a qualified bodmodeur to carry out a “punch” (piercing in a very large diameter using a special tool) in complete safety.
The most important thing to remember is this: be patient.
Experienced piercers observe varied results which seem to depend on several factors, including the type of jewelry worn, the quality and the manner in which the piercing was stretched. Once the jewelry has been removed, many people notice a reduction in size that can range from 6 to 8mm (for example, if you were in 10mm, you can hope for a return to 2mm). Beware ! This information is theoretical and may vary from one person to another.
Stretching too quickly can lead to excess scar tissue which can prevent as much return as desired, or even create a complete tearing of the lobe. In any case, be prepared for the possibility that it will not return to its original appearance when you take this step.
However, there is a solution: surgery, to erase all traces of the stretch. Regardless of the size, contact a bodmodeur (preferably) – be careful in France and Belgium it is illegal – or a competent aesthetic surgeon to find out the procedure to follow, their prices etc.
Excessive stretching tends to lead to a buildup of scar tissue and reduced blood flow, delaying healing. It can also damage your tissues, causing thinning of the skin, sometimes leading to breakage. It is recommended not to stretch more than one size at a time. Half sizes should be used when you feel the need or in more sensitive areas that are specific to each person. The skin can only handle small, gradual stretches without the delicate “cover” of the pierced hole being stressed, torn or completely damaged.
A common complication of stretching is the “blowout”. It occurs when a hole in the skin is stretched too quickly or incorrectly. The skin at the back of the lobe turns over and forms a ring or bulge of scar tissue that is very unsightly and painful. To avoid a blowout, follow the instructions in this guide, use the right materials, the right jewelry and the right products.
Let’s repeat it again, your body needs enough time to regenerate, to produce new healthy tissues. If you have gone too far or too fast and created a tear or blowout, immediately go back to the size below, rinse with saline regularly and wait for the skin to heal. If the damage is too great, consult a bodmodeur who has experience in stretching and will be able to advise you.
If you choose to stretch your piercing (skin like 1st or 2nd lobe, not cartilage) yourself, the safest method is to wait until it has completely healed. Your piercing should not show any signs of sensitivity, discharge, or general irritation. The skin must be healthy. You will then be able to place a piece of jewelry the size (1mm) or half size (0.5mm) above the one you are currently wearing, properly cleaned or sterilized, in a safe material such as titanium or gold (minimum 14k grade) . E.g. if you are pierced in 1.2mm, start by putting on a 1.6mm labret (buy a labret). Then switch to a 2mm tunnel or plug (buy tunnels). Then 1 month or more later, when you no longer have any pain and you can handle it easily go to 3mm, etc… up to the desired size.
Insert the appropriate jewelry (see “jewelry and precautions” section) using an insertion cone gently into your piercing. You can help yourself with an oil such as jojoba to facilitate this maneuver. The tool called insertion cone (purchase cones) is necessary to properly insert the jewelry without injury (provided in the stretch kit). These cones are not intended to force excessively large jewelry into a piercing but simply to facilitate insertion of the jewelry. They are also not intended to remain in the stretch and must be removed after wearing the jewelry.
If the jewelry does not fit, if you experience discomfort or significant bleeding, stop immediately. This may mean that your piercing is not ready to be stretched or that you want to stretch too large a diameter.
With soft tissue piercings such as the earlobe, there should be little or no discomfort (heat) during a stretch. Stretching some more sensitive piercings, like the nose or genital area can be uncomfortable even when done correctly. The discomfort should never be too great, your piercing should never bleed or appear torn, or this is a sign of excessive stretching. If these problems occur, you may need to resize down and wait, sometimes longer, to stretch again.
During the stretch phase, we strongly suggest wearing jewelry in a material approved by the APP (Association of Professional Piercers). It is really important to avoid poor quality jewelry or materials that are not suitable for “first-time” piercings, such as acrylic, silicone, organic materials (wood, bone, stone or horn), stainless steel or even surgical steel (except ASTM-F138).
The recommendation will therefore concern ASTM-F136 titanium (allergen-free and with a surgical finish) and ASTM-F138 surgical steel for identical reasons. It is important for you to know that most surgical or 316L steels sold are not ASTM-F138 and are low-end metals.
To upgrade to a larger size, it is recommended to use simple flare (photo 1) or no flare (photo 2) plugs, preferably without a groove for the O-rings (photo 3). Warning: It can be dangerous to put a double flare jewelry (whose edges are wider or concave) in a freshly stretched piercing. In the event of swelling, it will be complicated, if not impossible, to remove it without injuring yourself (photo 4).
This does not apply to internally threaded double flare tunnels which are made to function as single flares but give the aesthetic illusion of double flare. Test them now!
Do not use externally threaded jewelry (photo 5) for stretch as they can easily damage your skin. Many large or heavy ornaments, especially hanging pieces, hangers and saddle hangers (photo 6), are not suitable for stretch. Heavy rings can put excessive pressure on the base of the lobe and cause irregular stretching and/or thinning of the tissues. Once the area has healed, wearing this heavier jewelry is entirely possible. If you really want to wear them during the stretch period, wear them in your tunnels and not directly on the skin in order to better distribute their weight.
Do not wear “expanding” jewelry such as cones or spirals (photo 7) to stretch. These are intended for use as ornamental jewelry once you are fully healed and often damage tissue due to expanding much too quickly.
Wash or rinse your stretch piercing under lukewarm water in the shower as part of your hygiene routine. Once healed, if the jewelry comes off easily, take it out from time to time during the shower for more thorough cleaning of the tissue and jewelry with pH neutral soap or just water.
Beware ! During the healing phase, it may be difficult or impossible to reinsert the jewelry if it is removed too soon, even briefly, as the scar canal could shrink very quickly. Avoid removing jewelry from a recently stretched piercing for several days or even weeks. You can relieve dryness with the oils suggested in the “Massage and Moisturization” section.
A newly stretched piercing may experience some sensitivity and inflammation. It is generally mild and disappears within a few days. It is nevertheless prudent to follow the care suggested for first-time piercings.
This is the practice of regularly removing large jewelry (8mm or larger) over a period of time to help keep the piercing healthy. This relieves the tissues of the weight, pressure of the jewelry and increases blood circulation, especially at the bottom of the piercing which bears most of the burden. Only do this once your stretch is healthy and it is easy to remove the jewelry for a few minutes. Experiment to determine how long your jewelry can be removed without the hole shrinking. The longer you have worn a size, the easier this process will be. Go there gradually. When you have stabilized your stretch (you are no longer trying to increase it) for several years, you can even afford to no longer wear jewelry at night, if that is more comfortable for you.
Massage helps scar tissue and stimulates blood circulation to promote healthy skin. A natural oil like jojoba enriched with vitamin E should be used to nourish and prevent skin dehydration. Gently massage the tissues often during your stretching periods and during your rest periods, if you have them (especially in winter when the cold dries your skin).
Experienced piercers observe varied results which seem to depend on several factors, including the type of jewelry worn, the quality and the manner in which the piercing was stretched. Once the jewelry has been removed, many people notice a reduction in size that can range from 6 to 8mm (for example, if you were in 10mm, you can hope for a return to 2mm). Beware ! This information is theoretical and may vary from one person to another.
Stretching too quickly can lead to excess scar tissue which can prevent as much return as desired, or even create a complete tearing of the lobe. In any case, be prepared for the possibility that it will not return to its original appearance when you take this step.
However, there is a solution: surgery, to erase all traces of the stretch. Regardless of the size, contact a bodmodeur (preferably) – be careful in France and Belgium it is illegal – or a competent aesthetic surgeon to find out the procedure to follow, their prices etc.
Excessive stretching tends to lead to a buildup of scar tissue and reduced blood flow, delaying healing. It can also damage your tissues, causing thinning of the skin, sometimes leading to breakage. It is recommended not to stretch more than one size at a time. Half sizes should be used when you feel the need or in more sensitive areas that are specific to each person. The skin can only handle small, gradual stretches without the delicate “cover” of the pierced hole being stressed, torn or completely damaged.
A common complication of stretching is the “blowout”. It occurs when a hole in the skin is stretched too quickly or incorrectly. The skin at the back of the lobe turns over and forms a ring or bulge of scar tissue that is very unsightly and painful. To avoid a blowout, follow the instructions in this guide, use the right materials, the right jewelry and the right products.
Let’s repeat it again, your body needs enough time to regenerate, to produce new healthy tissues. If you have gone too far or too fast and created a tear or blowout, immediately go back to the size below, rinse with saline regularly and wait for the skin to heal. If the damage is too great, consult a bodmodeur who has experience in stretching and will be able to advise you.
If you choose to stretch your piercing (skin like 1st or 2nd lobe, not cartilage) yourself, the safest method is to wait until it has completely healed. Your piercing should not show any signs of sensitivity, discharge, or general irritation. The skin must be healthy. You will then be able to place a piece of jewelry the size (1mm) or half size (0.5mm) above the one you are currently wearing, properly cleaned or sterilized, in a safe material such as titanium or gold (minimum 14k grade) . E.g. if you are pierced in 1.2mm, start by putting on a 1.6mm labret (buy a labret). Then switch to a 2mm tunnel or plug (buy tunnels). Then 1 month or more later, when you no longer have any pain and you can handle it easily go to 3mm, etc… up to the desired size.
Insert the appropriate jewelry (see “jewelry and precautions” section) using an insertion cone gently into your piercing. You can help yourself with an oil such as jojoba to facilitate this maneuver. The tool called insertion cone (purchase cones) is necessary to properly insert the jewelry without injury (provided in the stretch kit). These cones are not intended to force excessively large jewelry into a piercing but simply to facilitate insertion of the jewelry. They are also not intended to remain in the stretch and must be removed after wearing the jewelry.
If the jewelry does not fit, if you experience discomfort or significant bleeding, stop immediately. This may mean that your piercing is not ready to be stretched or that you want to stretch too large a diameter.
With soft tissue piercings such as the earlobe, there should be little or no discomfort (heat) during a stretch. Stretching some more sensitive piercings, like the nose or genital area can be uncomfortable even when done correctly. The discomfort should never be too great, your piercing should never bleed or appear torn, or this is a sign of excessive stretching. If these problems occur, you may need to resize down and wait, sometimes longer, to stretch again.
During the stretch phase, we strongly suggest wearing jewelry in a material approved by the APP (Association of Professional Piercers). It is really important to avoid poor quality jewelry or materials that are not suitable for “first-time” piercings, such as acrylic, silicone, organic materials (wood, bone, stone or horn), stainless steel or even surgical steel (except ASTM-F138).
The recommendation will therefore concern ASTM-F136 titanium (allergen-free and with a surgical finish) and ASTM-F138 surgical steel for identical reasons. It is important for you to know that most surgical or 316L steels sold are not ASTM-F138 and are low-end metals.
To upgrade to a larger size, it is recommended to use simple flare (photo 1) or no flare (photo 2) plugs, preferably without a groove for the O-rings (photo 3). Warning: It can be dangerous to put a double flare jewelry (whose edges are wider or concave) in a freshly stretched piercing. In the event of swelling, it will be complicated, if not impossible, to remove it without injuring yourself (photo 4).
This does not apply to internally threaded double flare tunnels which are made to function as single flares but give the aesthetic illusion of double flare. Test them now!
Do not use externally threaded jewelry (photo 5) for stretch as they can easily damage your skin. Many large or heavy ornaments, especially hanging pieces, hangers and saddle hangers (photo 6), are not suitable for stretch. Heavy rings can put excessive pressure on the base of the lobe and cause irregular stretching and/or thinning of the tissues. Once the area has healed, wearing this heavier jewelry is entirely possible. If you really want to wear them during the stretch period, wear them in your tunnels and not directly on the skin in order to better distribute their weight.
Do not wear “expanding” jewelry such as cones or spirals (photo 7) to stretch. These are intended for use as ornamental jewelry once you are fully healed and often damage tissue due to expanding much too quickly.
Wash or rinse your stretch piercing under lukewarm water in the shower as part of your hygiene routine. Once healed, if the jewelry comes off easily, take it out from time to time during the shower for more thorough cleaning of the tissue and jewelry with pH neutral soap or just water.
Beware ! During the healing phase, it may be difficult or impossible to reinsert the jewelry if it is removed too soon, even briefly, as the scar canal could shrink very quickly. Avoid removing jewelry from a recently stretched piercing for several days or even weeks. You can relieve dryness with the oils suggested in the “Massage and Moisturization” section.
A newly stretched piercing may experience some sensitivity and inflammation. It is generally mild and disappears within a few days. It is nevertheless prudent to follow the care suggested for first-time piercings.
This is the practice of regularly removing large jewelry (8mm or larger) over a period of time to help keep the piercing healthy. This relieves the tissues of the weight, pressure of the jewelry and increases blood circulation, especially at the bottom of the piercing which bears most of the burden. Only do this once your stretch is healthy and it is easy to remove the jewelry for a few minutes. Experiment to determine how long your jewelry can be removed without the hole shrinking. The longer you have worn a size, the easier this process will be. Go there gradually. When you have stabilized your stretch (you are no longer trying to increase it) for several years, you can even afford to no longer wear jewelry at night, if that is more comfortable for you.
Massage helps scar tissue and stimulates blood circulation to promote healthy skin. A natural oil like jojoba enriched with vitamin E should be used to nourish and prevent skin dehydration. Gently massage the tissues often during your stretching periods and during your rest periods, if you have them (especially in winter when the cold dries your skin).