Tunnels in the ears: photos, in girls, how to make, small, large, in guys, sizes, stitching

Tunnels and plugs in the ears - this is one of the varieties of piercings. Many people consider such a way to decorate their bodies quite extravagant and even extreme. However, ear tunnels are not a new phenomenon in the world of body art. Originally, they were associated only with ear ornaments of African and Indonesian tribes. Then, large ear piercing became a hallmark of some musical subcultures. Tunnels re-entered modern fashion about a decade ago and have remained relevant to this day ever since.

How are tunnels made?

How ear tunnels are made depends directly on whether or not the ear has been pierced before. If the lobe has not been pierced, the procedure is as follows

The area of the puncture and the needle are disinfected, the place of the future hole is marked;
After agreement with the client, the lobe is pierced;
A temporary earring is inserted and the wound is allowed to heal;
In one or two weeks, a special stretch with a diameter of 1-2 mm is inserted into the hole and lubricated for better sliding and moisturizing the skin.

If the ear was pierced earlier, the first three steps are skipped, and stretch marks are inserted immediately. Next you can go several ways. For the first piercing, a gradual stretching of the hole in several steps will do. The size of the ear stretch gradually increases with each visit to the salon. Quickly stretching the tunnel in one go is quite a risky method, and is only suitable for an experienced piercer.

In addition to stretching, ear holes can be enlarged by incision or perforation with a scalpel. The method of piercing with a round tube with sharp edges is called puncturing. This method is faster, but also much more painful. Also, there is a risk of tearing the earlobe with this procedure.

Important! Ear piercing for tunnels should not be done during illness, because the body's immune system is weakened, and is susceptible to infections. It is also undesirable for girls to do piercings in the first days of the menstrual cycle - during this period, the pain threshold is especially lowered.

Types of tunnels in the ears

Tunnel earrings come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Conventionally, they can be divided into several groups:

small - no more than 5-8 mm: they are the least traumatic for the earlobe;
medium - 8-10 mm: this is the standard and most common size;
Big ones - more than 10 mm: such decorations attract attention and look rather extreme.

In terms of design, the choice of earrings is almost unlimited.

In terms of types, tunnel earrings are:

classic tunnels - designed for through holes in the ear;
Plugs - used if the hole is closed;
Pulls or pulls - earrings with a massive weighting jewelry. They are used to enlarge the ear hole or to prevent overgrowth.

If you want, you can buy both classic rings and more original jewelry made of various materials. But for the first piercing it is not recommended to use plastic or wooden stretch tunnels. It is best to choose jewelry made of titanium - they are safe and absolutely hypoallergenic.

Is it possible to tighten the holes?

The larger the tunnel, the more noticeable the scar remains. Modern cosmetology technologies and plastic surgery techniques allow to get rid of scars completely. Holes of minimal diameter (6-8 mm) in most cases heal on their own, leaving no trace of failed experiments of youth. The scars left behind look like an ordinary piercing for earrings.

Difficulties begin when it is necessary to get rid of a hole with a diameter of 40 mm or more. Its concealment requires the intervention of a plastic surgeon. The sagging part of the lobe is cut and biodegradable suture material is applied.

How much does it cost to make tunnels in the ears?

The price of tunnel piercings varies depending on several factors:

Whether the earlobe has been pierced or only a stretch is needed to be inserted;
The method chosen to make the tunnel - using a reamer, surgical incision or perforation;
The need for anesthesia and the cost of the anesthetic;
The cost of the dilator and the primary earring, if they are purchased in the salon.

The pricing policy of each individual salon also plays an important role. But you should not save on this procedure, because health is more expensive than dubious "savings" on piercings from unlicensed professionals.

How to take care of tunnels in the ears?

The hole in the lobe is an open wound, in it can easily get pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, the puncture site should be treated several times a day with disinfectants - chlorhexidine or furacilin solution. Do not use iodine, alcohol or hydrogen peroxide - they cause burns and irritate the wound surface. Treatment is performed only with clean hands and a sterile tampon.

Caring for ear tunnels is not an easy task, which must be treated responsibly.

In addition, the following precautions should be observed:

The ears after the tunnels need to be protected from dust and dirt. Therefore, when going out in the first week it is better to tape the lobe with an antibacterial plaster;
For the first couple of weeks, hair should be gathered into a ponytail or braid to protect the puncture in the ear. You should not wear too thick hats or hats made of coarse wool - they traumatize the ears;
In the first few days it is advisable to sleep on your back. If you can not do this, you need to change the pillowcase every day;
within a month you should not visit bathhouses and saunas, sunbathe on the beach;
do not abuse self-stretching - if stretching the holes in the lobe is done in several stages, it is better to do it under the supervision of a specialist;
Do not wear earrings with a weighting agent: even though they will accelerate the process of stretching, they can traumatize your lobe and even cause its rupture.

Pay attention! A small translucent or slightly yellowish discharge in the first days after the piercing is a normal phenomenon. But if pus appears, or the discharge lasts more than two weeks, you need to consult a specialist.

Rehabilitation

The first time after the surgical procedure, an inflammatory process may develop, hyperemia and swelling of the tissues surrounding the tunnel. There is an increase in temperature in the surgical intervention zone. Lymph nodes behind the ears and on the neck may slightly increase. Such manifestations serve as the body's protective response to damage to the integrity of biological tissues.

If infection or contamination occurs, purulent exudate is secreted to accompany the inflammation. The condition of the damaged tissues should be monitored carefully. If the body temperature rises, it is advisable to consult a physician. Necrosis and peeling of the superficial layers of the epidermis are possible during the healing process. Such a process lasts no more than 10 days.

Usually the body of young people can easily cope with it. The dead skin is removed with a medical knife and antiseptic treatment in cosmetic salons where such operations are performed.

During the initial stage of the rehabilitation period, the skin exudate is actively secreted. Such exudate, if there are no complications, should be transparent, with a slight yellowish cast. When purulent secretions appear, Levomikol is used - an ointment with regenerating, anti-inflammatory and bactericidal properties.

During healing, keloids, which are tumorous overgrowths consisting of connective fibers of the skin, may appear near the injured tissues. The appearance of these tissue outgrowths is caused by individual physiological features of the body. Keloid formations are easily removed by cosmetologists.

During the rehabilitation period, it is forbidden:

Dissolve hair, which will be in contact with the injured tissues and can infect the wound surface;
touch the surgical area with foreign objects or hands;
Wear a head covering;
Use alcohol solutions, verdigris, and iodine to treat the wound.

To avoid complications and severe pain, it is recommended to have patience and stretch the tunnel slowly. Such a process may take 12-18 months, but the risk of negative effects and constant discomfort is greatly reduced.

Tunnels in the ears: consequences

Piercing tunnels look spectacular, but with improper care, not the most favorable consequences can occur. The most common are the following:

Allergic reaction - itching, burning, swelling of the lobe, peeling of the skin. In the case of allergies, you need to urgently consult a doctor to recommend an antihistamine, and then to the piercer - to replace the ear jewelry. Titanium is considered the most hypoallergenic material. Surgical steel is inferior because it is coated with nickel.
Lobe rupture - occurs when too heavy jewelry is abused, as well as when a piercer is hastily stretched without control of the piercer;
kelloid scars - distinguished from normal scars by being denser and brighter in color. This is quite common when rushed while stretching the ear. Scars are surgically removed;
Necrosis (necrosis) of tissue - if the blood circulation in an area of the auricle is disturbed, the tissue begins to gradually die off. In severe cases, even amputation of the affected part is necessary;
Sepsis (blood poisoning) - this is indicated by swelling of the lobe and an increase in temperature. If you do not immediately consult a doctor, and do not start a course of antibiotics, the consequences can be most disastrous;
A growth on the ear (blo-wout) - it appears when the lobe is hastily stretched. The outgrowth can only be removed by a surgeon. After removing the growth, you should wait about six months and only then start stretching the tunnels.
Facial nerve palsy is one of the most serious possible consequences of an incorrectly performed puncture and improper care. It can be caused by an infection that has entered the wound. If you have pain and heaviness behind the ear, decreased sensitivity to the taste of food, or numbness around the pinna, you should seek immediate medical attention.
Impaired hearing - If the puncture is not properly performed, the pinna of the ear may be injured. If your hearing is impaired after the procedure, it is recommended that you see an otolaryngologist.

All complications can be easily avoided if you follow all the rules for the care of tunnels, and apply for piercing only to a qualified technician.

Possible complications

Improper, negligent care causes complications. Some of them can be easily treated, in complicated cases, you have to resort to the help of a surgeon:

If the wrong material is chosen for the tunnelsIf you choose the wrong material for your tunnels, you may experience peeling, which can be easily remedied by changing your plugs to steel or wood and by constantly lubricating your lobe with tea tree oil and treating it with a non-drying antiseptic.
If the earlobe is stretched too quicklyThis can cause a lump to form, which can only be removed surgically under local anesthesia.
Infection is one of the most unpleasant complications of improper care. As a result of infection, in the best case a course of treatment with antibiotics, and in the worst case - removal of part of the earlobe. However, this can be avoided by following all of the master's instructions.
Rapid stretching of the tunnel leads to the growth of rough connective tissue - keloid. It is removed by surgery.
Some materials can cause an allergic reactionwhich results in swelling of the ear. In this case, you just need to replace the material with a hypoallergenic one.

Photos of tunnels in the ears

Tunnels in the ears look original and always attract attention. Guided by the photo, you can choose the desired size and shape of the ear jewelry - the classic version of the ring, or more restrained small plugs with a minimum of decoration. A more extravagant variant is ultra-large tunnels, which are suitable for decisive and unconventional personalities.