What is the Largest That I Can Safely Stretch my Ears Without Needing Surgery? (photo)

Question

So I'm looking to get gauges and I've decided that the largest I want to go is a size 6 (4.12mm) however I am wanting to know if they will close naturally and if not what is largest size that will close on its own. I also plan on going to a professional to get them pierced and only using high quality gauges.

Frank Agullo, MD · Answer

I think that 4.12mm should be a pretty safe size that will likely look like a slightly large piercing after taking the gauges off for a couple of months. This is also a pretty safe size to have the defect closed without much of a scar (5mm).

Michelle Spring, MD, FACS · Answer

The idea behind piercing ears (or any other skin) is that the wound initially created by the piercing heals around the edges with hole in the middle.   Skin holes from piercings do not ever "heal" in the sense that there is smooth skin without any evidence of a scar once you no longer desire the piercing.  Any full thickness skin incision, cut, or piercing will leave a scar.  You will always have a hole there, and the larger you stretch that hole, the more obvious it will be.   My advice - if you think you might someday not want large holes in your earlobes, don't stretch them unless you accept that you may need surgery.

What is the Largest That I Can Safely Stretch my Ears Without Needing Surgery? (photo)

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What is the Largest That I Can Safely Stretch my Ears Without Needing Surgery? (photo)

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Everything you need to know about Earlobe Repair

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.