Hi, I'm new to the forum...great site! I am a 35 y.o. professional, presently stay at home mom of two boys. I have my nose and belly pierced. I have taken a real keen interest to fashion, particularly with a "slight" rock 'n roll/punk edge (e.g., studded belt, platform boots, rock shirt), over the last 5 years.

Seven months ago I would of never dreamed of stretching my ears...to be honest, back then, I would have probably thought stretched ears were gross or extreme. How things have changed. My story is simple. Most of my life my ears have become infected wearing standard 18/16 gauge earrings. 18K gold and better metals made no difference. I couldn't wear trendy hoop earrings or anything of that sort without a red/inflated ear! After years of frustration my husband showed me pictures of plugs. I initiatially liked the tunnels with medium/large hoops that went through the tunnel; however, I was never aware that the tunnel actually meant a piece of my ear would be missing...when I found this out I got scared and dismissed the idea.

My husband continued to show me pictures of stretched ears (I think deep down he is very attracted to women with significantly stretched ears...like tunnels at 1/2"). I like the look of certain solid plugs (e.g., gem plugs, solid glass, organics). I really like the Anatometal solid gem plug in size 0g, 00g and maybe even 1/2" from the pictures I have seen.

After some thought, I stretched my ears to a present 8g with temporary gem plugs with the goal of going down to 4g (just before the point of no return). I made it clear to my husband I wouldn't wear tunnels. I guess I can't face what people would say or think of me at this time. No, I don't have self esteem issues, I live in "pleasantville" where nobody here has stretched ears (my age group anyway as I don't come across any teenagers as my boys are younger. The most people venture to have pierced here is their navel...maybe.

My questions:

1) I am 35 years old...lot's of the forum members are in their late teens/early adulthood (and above) and I have 10-15 years over you. Am I too old to start stretching? Wouldn't someone get tired of stretched ears after 10, 15 or 20 years and maybe take them out, get their ears repaired at my present age?

2) Are their current members that are in their 30's that have stretched ears? When did you start?

3) Considering that I will return to work in a few years in a professional setting am I crazy to potentially have 4g ears or maybe even as far as 1/2"?

4) Am I dumb to feel uncomfortable at potentially wearing 4g or even up to 1/2" Anatometal bling tunnels at my age?

Many thanks folks...all replies are very appreciated!

BTW, I don't want anyone to be offended. I like people with tunnels; however, I realise that the look suits some people and not everyone.

I think both Quinn and Adwoa are closer to your age than others here(please correct me if I'm wrong ladies!), and I think Adwoa just started stretching in the past year or two. 

I'm only 24, but here's my 2 cents...

You're never too old to start stretching, but please remember that as you age your skin loses elasticity.  If you tire of your stretched lobes down the road they may not close back up much.  Similar to how a very young woman can bounce back from pregnancy(and have a flat stomach) much faster than a woman who is in her 30's or 40's. 

It is entirely possible to have stretched ears in a professional setting, as long as your jewelery choices are appropriate.

If you want to do it, do it.  Unless you are wearing plugs that make your stretched ears obvious, it's possible your neighbors/friends won't even notice.  Same with any look, if you can rock it with confidence you'll pull it off.

My only advice, do not let your age determine who you are.

I cant stand it when people say "oh im to old to do that".  If it is something you like, go for it.  

i don't think you're ever too old to stretch your ears! i live in the Bay Area and i do see people of all ages with thier ears stretched [ mostly"older" men, though. ] but there's a women that comes into my work and she has a teenage son, a beautiful full Lily tattoo sleeve and 00g lobes. as long as youre in good health i don't see why not.

 of course the social stigma of body modifications show up everywhere, it doesn't matter if you're young or not-as-young. people will always have things to say about your mods. as if it's their business.

 Mama Quinnn has HUGE pretty lobes and shes gonna 40 next summer! Adwoah is at 4g I think. One of the owners of BAF is in her 30's and has 1/2" lobes, I say go for it! 

 I'd say, if you are still breathing, you aren't too old.

I started stretching at about 34. I will be 40 next year. I just made it to 1/2".

There will always be those who don't accept stretched lobes - or anything else they deem "different" . You have to lve for you. Most places have n easier time accepting stretched lobes if you wear solid jewelry. I've been very fortunate to have bosses that didn't care what I did with my lobes. So long as my jewelry choices are tasteful there is no problem. ( No spikes or skulls) LOL!

I can even wear earskins! 

Don't feel like your age will hold you back - it shouldn't.

Good luck!

 I don't think you can ever be too old to stretch!  I will have my stretched lobes when I'm a 70 year old grandmother, and I hope I still love them like I do now.   I'm only 18, so I don't know how much my opinion counts, but I think if it would make you happy, and you know you'll want it for a long time, go for it.  Its all for you, and people will get used to it.  My grandma always comments on how cute my plugs/tunnels are, but at first she did not approve.  The size I'm at now (0g, or 8mm) is great for me because I'm going to be a nurse, and hospitals around here seem to be strict about piercings.  I could hide them if I need to.  Color fronts in that size can look like normal earrings with big disks on the front. 0g blings look really cute in my opinion too, so no, you're not crazy. My mom wears big flashy CZ earrings sometimes, which look more crazy that bling tunnels, and no one thinks shes nuts for it.

I wish I saw more older women with stretched lobes. 

Age is nothing but a number, do what you want. 

Girl!  I turned 40 in April and just started stretching this year.  And yes, I am presently at 4g with a goal size of 0g.  (Thanks for the shout out all!)

This year, I also got the mohawk I'd been wanting since I was 15.  All of this while working as a fundraising professional in Washington, DC.  So no... you're not to old to stretchor do whatever else you wish. In fact, IMO, I get away with more because I am older and have established my credibility. Granted I work in a very progressive organization but still.  No one will think you are following foolish youthful whims.  They MIGHT thnk you are having a mid-life crisis tho.. if you wait to long.  I like to think of it as a mid-life emergence into self without all of the insecurities and angst of being a kid.  (Sorry to generalize dearies)

 Lastly, if you are into it and it does something for your mate, why would you NOT go for it!?

 I'm at the tail end of my twenties and I am also a professional in an office setting, but I wouldn't trade my 0ga lobes for anything! I wear solid plugs or hanging styles most of the time, but occasionally on a Friday I'll wear my earskins. I stretched my lobes for the same reason as the OP and I ended up addicted to stretching. I really have arrived at my destination size, though, as I have invested WAYYY too much $$ in 0ga jewelry!

your age shouldn't stop you from doing what you want to do :]

just because your age provokes you from choosing your own sense of style or accessories, that shouldn't matter at all whatsoever.

i say you continue what you are doing and feel confident in what you are doing. The only downfall is that you will have a harder healing than anyone younger. Also, please don't feel as if you should stop stretching after that last statement. Don't think about what others will think of you. Obviously, not everyone will like it, but at the end of it all, it's the fact that you like it. That works out right? You're doing it for yourself, not for anyone else. Have self-confidence in that area. Age is nothing :]

Since you've started, let's reach your goal size in a slow and safe pace!

P.S. I wish my mother had piercings like you. haha.

[off topic] let's celebrate mother's day everyday right?

 I started getting pierced and stretching and getting tattooed in my late 20s.  Nearing 40 now.  still getting pierced and streching and getting tattooed. 

I found out that it was something that I really enjoyed.  Sadly my exhusband hated it.  Luckily my current husband can't get enough of it.  :)    He is happiest when *I* am happy.

 I can't imagine ever not wanting my ears how they are now.  The things that I loved about standard pierced ears still applies, just in a bigger scale.  I love the weight of jewelry.  I love how it feels when jewelry hits my neck :)  still happens with larger sizes.

I work in a school setting with mostly autistic students.   My boss has said "I'd rather have a bunch of you with all that shit in your face than someone wiithout any of it who didn't care or didn't want to work.  Do you job well and nobody will notice you       

I also don't like wearing tunnels.  the kaos I had under 1" was almost exclusively design fronts.  and the kaos I have now I put other plugs inside them.   mostly because of work, but I just don't think tunnels look good at my size.

Enjoy your journey.  It's a fun one.

16 for me, i dont think you can be too old... yah dig

 I don't think age should matter when it comes to stretching your lobes. If you want to do it, then go for it! Just make sure you're doing it because you want to, not because somebody else wants you to.

 I'm 29 and am stretching my lobes to 0g. I'm at 6g at the moment.