re-piercing closed ear lobes

Hi,
I've had my ear lobes pierced 10years ago. About 2 years ago they got
very very infected so in the end i let them heal and close up. I would
now like them re-pierced but they have small hard balls (about 3mm in
diameter) where the hole used to be. I absolutely want my re-piercing
to be through the same hole. Can anyone tell me if having these balls
will cause any problems. Thanks

ellie_bailey@hotmail.com schreef:

> Hi,
> I've had my ear lobes pierced 10years ago. About 2 years ago they got
> very very infected so in the end i let them heal and close up. I would
> now like them re-pierced but they have small hard balls (about 3mm in
> diameter) where the hole used to be. I absolutely want my re-piercing
> to be through the same hole. Can anyone tell me if having these balls
> will cause any problems. Thanks

*What kind of jewelry were you wearing back then?
Go show your lobes to a good piercer and he'll tell you weither what
you want is possible and how he will do it.
Consider titanium (very stabile metal->less chance of infection) for
your new jerwelry and be happy with it :)

Corine

Hi thanks for that. I was wearing cheap earings which I think was why
my ears got so infected- i wont be doing that again! i just hope that
the ear-piercer will let me have them re-pierced, as the lumps are
definitely present!




smiling-frog@home.nl wrote:
> ellie_bailey@hotmail.com schreef:
>
> > Hi,
> > I've had my ear lobes pierced 10years ago. About 2 years ago they got
> > very very infected so in the end i let them heal and close up. I would
> > now like them re-pierced but they have small hard balls (about 3mm in
> > diameter) where the hole used to be. I absolutely want my re-piercing
> > to be through the same hole. Can anyone tell me if having these balls
> > will cause any problems. Thanks
>
> *What kind of jewelry were you wearing back then?
> Go show your lobes to a good piercer and he'll tell you weither what
> you want is possible and how he will do it.
> Consider titanium (very stabile metal->less chance of infection) for
> your new jerwelry and be happy with it :)
>
> Corine

ellie_bailey@hotmail.com wrote:
> Hi,
> I've had my ear lobes pierced 10years ago. About 2 years
> ago they got very very infected

Red, angry, weeping, sore lobes are NOT fun. I know.

> so in the end i let them heal and close up. I would now like
> them re-pierced but they have small hard balls

Scar tissue would be my guess. The scar tissue in my left ear was a
minor sticking spot - literally - when I had my ears dermal punched.

http://www.geocities.com/curt_james/dermal.html

I'd guess it compares to digging in soft sand at the beach and then
hitting a big rock with your shovel. Of course, my experience is of a
punch and not a piercing.

> (about 3mm in diameter) where the hole used to be. I absolutely
> want my re-piercing to be through the same hole. Can anyone
> tell me if having these balls will cause any problems.

Define problems.

There's no way to tell if you'll develop another infection or
additional scar tissue. I would bet that the balls you describe will
make the piercing more difficult to accomplish, but even that is not a
given. Your experience may prove different from others who have had the
same or similar procedure. Having said that, however...

"Piercing through the scar tissue is usually difficult, painful, and
can lead to more scar tissue growth," according to text found in the
rec.arts.bodyart: Piercing FAQ, but those words were found in a section
unrelated to earlobes.

More reassuring, I suspect, would be the following words from an
experience posted to BME's website: "He checked that I was comfortable
and he had me breathe in and out and popped the needle through quickly
and easily. Practically painlessly through the scar tissue and all. I'd
read in other people's experiences that piercing scar tissue is more
painful than through regular tissue but I did NOT find this to be
true." See: http://www.bmezine.com/pierce/01-ear.../earsimpl.html

And someone posting as Daphne offered what might be helpful/related
information @ http://www.nspforum.com/bbs.cgi?read=15399

Best of luck with your re-piercing. Please post a follow-up.

> Thanks

I hope some of that was useful or leads you to additional questions.

--
Curt
http://curtjames.com/

Hi,
Thanks that was a great response. I read the articles you gave links
to. From my research it seems people have had different experiences
with re-piercing. Some say the piercers refuse to do it because of the
scar tissue, and others say there has been no problem at all. I think i
will go in search of a tattoo/piercing parlour where the piercers are
more experiences, as haridressing salons and shops like Claires dont
have the knowledge i dont think. Thanks for your help, and wish me luck
that someone will agree to re-pierce them! I got diamond earings for my
birthday recently and i am desperate to wear them!

me wrote:
><snip> Thanks for your help, and wish me luck that
> someone will agree to re-pierce them!

Good luck! And, yes, I wouldn't expect to find an expert at a Piercing
Pagoda or a Claire's however I never had any major problems with my
"Pagoda-pierced" cartilage. Just didn't like the piercing.

> I got diamond earings for my birthday recently
> and i am desperate to wear them!

Happy (belated) Birthday and congrats on the so sweet gift. :o)

--
Curt
http://curtjames.com/

me wrote:
>I got diamond earings for my
> birthday recently and i am desperate to wear them!

And they will probably cause the same problems if they aren't platinum,
titanium or glass.

Thought you'd like to know.


Kavin