Should I go for the 0g? (ear stretching)

[Lolo76]

I've been stretching my ears for a while, and have managed to get from a 12g to a 2g plug... I was originally aiming for the 0g, one more size up, but now I'm wondering if I should bother? I heard that's the "point of no return," where you will probably have trouble shrinking back to normal - if I decide in the future I don't want them anymore. Is that true, and does that mean a 2g would shrink back? Furthermore, do you think the 0g would look good on me? Here's how it looks now, with a 2g steel tunnel (and 12g circular barbells in the other holes):

[jason_ladouceur]

I've been stretching my ears for a while, and have managed to get from a 12g to a 2g plug... I was originally aiming for the 0g, one more size up, but now I'm wondering if I should bother? I heard that's the "point of no return," where you will probably have trouble shrinking back to normal - if I decide in the future I don't want them anymore. Is that true, and does that mean a 2g would shrink back? Furthermore, do you think the 0g would look good on me? Here's how it looks now, with a 2g steel tunnel (and 12g circular barbells in the other holes):

i personally have my ears at 3/4" and i think they would go back just fine. it's not the size that matters so much it's scar tissue that mainly presents problems for closing this type of piercing. my tounge was at 00 and it closed completly after i took it out

[shelliebear]

I gauged my ears from an 18 to a 0 relatively fast...compared to what I originally thought I was going to use as a timeline.
I love being at a 0 gauge. It's a lot bigger than a 2. I think it looks cooler.
I also think if you have a job (if you work, if not, cool--i understand some people dont or can't) that allows for larger gauging it makes it 10x more cool. No point in gauging your ears huge if it'll ruin your interview hopes. :/ (I think it is wrong of employers to judge based on ear gauges, but you know they will.)
After you stretch it to a 0 it could DEFINITELY stretch back if you wanted to--it could probably even close up all the way. My fiance had a 2 gauge hole in his earlobe, and right below that a 13/16 gauge. (bigger than 3/4 of an inch) He just decided to take the jewelry out of the larger size on the bottom and it has nearly closed all the way now. So don't you listen to that "it won't heal" stuff. It can.
Actually, stretching your ear down a size every so often helps maintain its elasticity. Then you can stretch it up larger with noticeably less pain (that's what I did). I would wear 2g double flared plugs and those stretch your ear out to a 0 when you first put them in, and then the middle is a size 2. When I went to a 0 it hurt a good bit less than it might have if I hadn't done that. Weighted barbells work just as well, I think, but I choose not to wear those. (I prefer the girly, diamond stuff or brightly colored UV acrylics.)
I think it is badass that you are older than teen years and have chosen to gauge your ears, and continue to gauge them. I wish you could talk to my mom about it--she thinks it is "destroying" your body. When she first saw my 6's, she said, "You were so beautiful--what did you do???"
Clearly, I still think I look pretty good. Well, I don't think gauging my ears takes away from my looks, anyway.
So I would encourage you to go to whatever size you feel comfortable, and, most importantly, YOU like. Hopefully there will be a time soon when we won't have to include the "Don't forget about what your boss wants!" part. :/
Nice gauges. :] :]
Shellie

[Lolo76]

Thanks for the input! I am leaning towards going bigger, for sure. As for employment, I was recently laid off and am job-searching... but I'm in a professional degree-based field (librarianship), and live in an area where even lawyers have full-sleeve tattoos and plugs. So it's never been an issue, and I usually just "clean it up" for interviews & meetings - take out the upper piercings, replace the steel with neutral plastic, etc. Once you get the job it doesn't matter, since no library I've worked in had a strict policy on piercings/tats.

P.S. I had a recent interview where I wore 4g plastic plugs, and they put me on the "eligible list" - meaning I'm on the short list (usually 3-5 people) for any job openings in the next year. Guess they didn't notice or care about the piercings!

[Lolo76]

Haha... so far it's 2 votes for going bigger than a 0g! Hmmmmmm.

[Camarokidz28]

I stretched to a 00 pretty fast, ended up removing them because I was looking at jobs that it was frowned on even though long hair covered them. 0 is kind of the typical point of no return as far as closing on AVERAGE although every person is different. I personally say do it and go to 0g.

[Camarokidz28]

I stretched to a 00 pretty fast, ended up removing them because I was looking at jobs that it was frowned on even though long hair covered them. 0 is kind of the typical point of no return as far as closing on AVERAGE although every person is different. I personally say do it and go to 0g.

Oh, and I had flesh colored plugs that weren't very noticeable especially with hair about to the bottom of my ears that worked temporarily when I was going to elementary schools for work.

[NotaMallard]

I say go bigger than 0g. Your lobes look nice and healthy, pierced higher up, so there's a lot of tissue to work with, which means no gross thin lobes. There's so much gorgeous organic jewelry at larger sizes (stone plugs, and even bone and horn hanging designs) that are just drool-worthy. Of course, if you'll be looking for a job any time soon, it's best to stick small.
2g is actually usually seen as the point of no return, but that just means shrinking back to 18g--you can still stretch larger and it'll probably return to the double-digits, if not 18 or 20g.
To ask any more questions, I suggest the BodyArtForms.com forum. Everyone there is helpful and it's a great place to gain information. The website itself sells amazing jewelry too.

[ChuckSM]

I think it looks great now.

Your 2g might shrink a little but never back to normal. People will always see something different about your ear.

A 0g might also shrink back to almost normal but it is less likely. It really depends on the person and how well they heal/scar.

[mattyboymr]

Im personally at a 00g and sadly Im going to have to let them close up because Im in the medical field now..but IMO 00g is a perfect size for most. It tends to fit the lobe well.