Information AboutStretching (piercing) |
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Stretching is usually done in small increments to minimize the potential for damaging the healed fistula. In North America , most stretching methods stretch a single even-sized Gauge at a time. In Europe and most of the rest of the world, jewelry is Metric , but the increments between standard sizes are similar. STRETCHING METHODS There are several common methods used to enlarge piercings, of various origins and appropriate for different circumstances.
HEALTH ISSUES There are few health issues directly related to stretching piercings. Most stretching methods do not create a wound, properly stretched piercings do not need to heal after being stretched, although they are usually given a "rest" before further stretching. If an individual's skin Elasticity and Vascular ity allow, most piercings can be stretched far beyond their initial size. Piercings larger than 2 gauge rarely close up, regardless of the amount of time that passes, and even smaller piercings may be quite noticeable years after their removal. However, each person's tissue will differ, and many variables-such as a person's age, length of time taken to stretch, time fully healed at a particular size, skin elasticity, and scar tissue formation, amongst others-can affect the ability of the skin to not only stretch, but also to close up after jewelry has been removed. If taken beyond the body's ability to stretch, or if done improperly, damage caused can require surgery to repair, or may not be repairable. Blowouts from overstretching, especially ones caused by ''dead stretching'' can create scar tissue, which can lead to Keloid ing or hypertrophic scarring in some individuals. Stretching too quickly, can lead to a build up of Scar Tissue . This tissue can have an unsightly appearance, often described as the "cat butt" effect. Scar tissue is more difficult to stretch than regular skin, and can make further stretching difficult. JEWELERY FOR STRETCHED PIERCINGS There is a large variery of jewelry available for stretched piercings. As stretched piercings are healed piercings, many more jewelry materials can be used in the manufacture of jewelery for stretched piercings, also due to the size of some of the jewelery, especially Flesh Plug s and Tunnels , materials too delicate or brittle to be used for smaller gauge piercings can be used. Stone , Fossil ized materials, Wood s, Bone , Horn , amber, bamboo, and Glass are not uncommon in stretched piercings. Many of these materials "breathe" better than metals or plastics, preventing the build up of Sebum in the enlarged fistula. HISTORY AND CULTURE Stretched piercings are probably as old as piercing itself. More primitive versions of all modern stretching techniques are known to exist, in one degree or another. Evidence from statuary, especially in Asia, shows us that stretched earlobes were common thousands of years ago and the practices of many African and South American tribes today include stretched Lip Piercing s, some of phenomenal size. In contemporary times, the re-emergence of body piercing in the developed world has been accompanied in an interest in stretched piercings. Much of this activity was initially associated with the Modern Primitive movement, but like piercing in general, it has become a more mainstream activity, common amongst young people and many Subculture s. GAUGES AND OTHER MEASURING SYSTEMS Body jewellery is measured in Gauges from 20g up to 000g; sizes larger than that are measured in fractions of inches. In Europe they are measured in millimetres. The table below uses rounding; conversions are not precise. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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