At A Glance Author Smart&Tall Contact tallandsmart@hotmail.com When Six months ago Artist Brian Decker Location Pittsfield I started to stretch my ears at age thirteen. At age fifteen I finally got my lobes up to a 00 gauge and couldn't stretch my ears any further due to the thinness of my lower lobes. I tried returning to a 0 gauge and back again to a 00 gauge in hopes of strengthening my thin lobes, but after a month of trying with no results I gave up.
I stayed with my 00 gauge lobes for a few more years, and continued to search for alternatives for strengthening my lower lobes and stretching my ears. My search led me to a friend of mine Emrys Yetzs. Emrys examined my ears and we went over my choices. Scalpel ling quickly became an interest and Emys referred me to a well-known and extremely talented Brian Decker. Brian and I discussed my situation over the phone and we came to the decision to scalpel my lobes to five-eighths. It just so happened that Brian was visiting my town for a suscon BBQ event in Pittsfield Mass sometime in late November. A few eager weeks later the BBQ was underway and I was well ready to scalpel my lobes.
Brian brought down with him two sets of plugs; a five-eighths set and a half-inch set. Together we went over my situation, this time in person, and once again chose the five-eighths sized plugs. Now we were ready to move on and begin my ear modification.
I chose my right ear to go first and I placed myself nervously on the table. Brian began the procedure by measuring and marking the area that was being removed. He then set up his tray with all the necessary equipment as I investigated my ears in a mirror. Brian then placed a medical type of napkin, only exposing my ear, on the side of my face. He then rubbed tetna-care on my ear and then began placing forceps on the lobe. The forceps were used to hold my lobe in place and prevent me from getting hurt if I was to move suddenly.
The cutting began after a few slow breaths. The first cut was amazing. I've never felt anything like that before, but after a few seconds of enjoyment the pain set in and each cut with the scalpel tore through my whole body. Moments later, I felt the warmth of my blood dripping on the medical napkin which was lying on my face. The plug slid right in with no problem. With a sigh of relief my first ear was done.
With a slight turn of my head we began on the left ear. Brian once again measured and marked the area that was being removed. He placed the odd medical napkin over my face, once again, only exposing my ear. I investigated my ear once more in a mirror and laid back down with a smile. I was ready. Brian placed forceps on my lobes once again and began to proceed. After a few seconds of intense pain Brian removed the forceps and tried to slide the remaining plug into place. This time Brian wasn't as successful. The second plug did not want to fit. We had no choice but to re-cut the area once more.
My ear, which was bleeding heavily, was to be cut a second time. Once again Brian used forceps to hold my ear in place. At this point cutting my lobes had lost its initial fun and enjoyment. Placing forceps over an already cut area has a feeling in all its own. The forceps did have a good quality to it though. The bleeding slowed down tremendously due to the pressure of the forceps.
The second cut went a little smother. I could still feel every movement of the blade. The second cut didn't take as long as the first. But even after the second cut Brian still couldn't seem to fit in the remaining plug. Now here comes the hard part. Brian tried to convince me to just let him put in the half-inch plug so I wouldn't have to go through a third cutting. We discussed the possibility of just keeping my right lobe at five-eighths and my left lobe at a half-inch until they healed in about two weeks. Brian said I would eventually be able to gauge my left lobe to the size of the right lobe with no problem it just will take time. I personally don't have patients and would rather have both my lobes at the same size without a waiting period to have to worry about. So we decided to cut my stubborn lobe a third time.
Once again forceps were placed on my lobe and the third cut was soon underway. This time the cutting went by quickly. I barley felt the blade and I was slightly happy about that. The forceps were removed and with much astonishment the plug slid right in with no further problems. I guess who ever-said third times a charm was right. My ears looked great, a little sore but that was expected.
Healing my lobes was a slow and not so painful process. With in two weeks the swelling went down and sleeping on my ears now became possible. After about a month my ears were completely healed and I was able to change my jewelry. I'm very happy I went through with the many cuttings.
Completely satisfied I recommend any scalpel ling, implant, branding, or piercing modification to Brian Decker. He loves what he does and you'll love the results. I will forever return to Brian for any further body modification.
After care for my ears is basic. Everyday, if I remember, I remove my plugs in the shower and wash away all the nasty smelly crud that builds up from daily wear. Also when I'm no longer in the shower I rub lotion on my lobes so they wont dry out and become chapped. When winter is in effect I just change my jewelry to a type of plug other then steal. During the warmer months I wear plugs that are most comfortable at the present time.
Today I have half-inch lobes. I alternate between five-eighths and half-inch plugs to continue strengthening my lobes. I don't desire to have my lobes any bigger then they already are. I'm completely satisfied with what I have accomplished.