Since I sadly don't know any pierced people in ny (yet?), I thought I could get some advice on my final ear mods. I'm just so concerned to make it look balanced and not too close to existing piercings. Also I want the type of piercings to be balanced, 3 basic lobes on each side, 2 basic upper cartilage (helix, orbital), 2 not so basic cartilage (tragus, fwd. helix)  and 2 def. not basic cartilage (rook, snug).. sorry, could not describe it better. When I got my past ear mods I did not think about future ones, which makes it a bit tough placing things well. I also considered the anatomy of my ear.

Anyway, here is the plan: 

(Orbital could be a ring too but thats hard to paint, might place it further away from the fwd helix)

I don't know much about orbital piercings and I wonder how many choices of jewelry I would have? Could anyone fill me in?

Emi

 im assumin for an orbital, captives only, and maybe possibly circular barbells

the closer the points on the orbital, the smaller the diameter

 A d-ring could be a little tricky, because the diameter will kinda change as you rotate it around to actually put the jewelry in, so you'd be better just using round rings (esp for cartilage).

I had a helix orbital in each ear for several years and pretty much found them to be the biggest pain in the butt ever! You're pretty much stuck with two jewelry options - something circular (at whatever size works for the spacing you have) or two straight somethings (I used short labret studs or baby barbells). Getting a CBR in and out of the holes is not fun, since you have to scrunch and manipulate your ear to work it through. I didn't change things often because it was annoying and uncomfortable.

I tried to heal with CBRs but it seemed to put too much stress on the holes and they didn't want to heal. So I switched to labret studs for the rest of healing. Unfortunately, they didn't heal as well-aligned as I had hoped... and then I needed a weird off-size CBR to make them an orbital again. Like I said, what a pain! Aesthetically, very cool, but eventually I switched to just wearing separate jewelry and then I finally retired all four holes altogether.

I think your ear mock-up is cute, even without an orbital. Anything that connects more than one piercing is going to be harder to heal and more limited in terms of jewelry.

Saramwrap, that sounds like a lot of trouble. I suspected a cBR to be uncomfortable since everytime you lay on that side it gets dispositioned and twisted. Thats why I thought that maybe a barbell or D-ring could be used. I will talk to a Piercer about your experience, see if it would be avoidable.

But if not I could go for a standard helix  of course...or is there anything else interesting that might fit in that spot?

I was going to say the same thing - if you get a punch, you can wear tons of different jewelry!

Punch sounds awesome.  If you DO do the orbital, I'd do it a little lower on your ear...like not right up in the fold, ya know?  You could also do an inner conch in there somewhere...if the snug or orbital don't work out, ya know?

 And a punch doesnt have to be large.. a tiny one would match the other holes...Anyways the benefit of punching over piercing is to relieve the pressure by removing tissue... 

Hm, I never considered a punch. Is it possible to punch at 16g or 14g? That small because I only wanted something big for the bottom lobes and the rest rather understated (work). Also when I get pierced I always want the option to be able to retire the piercing without much scarring. I have in 11 yrs. of being pierced never retired anything, but its nice to know you have this option.

Quick question: can orbitals be punched? That might help the issue a bit..

The snug I'm pretty sure I want, I was just thinking that later on I would like to fill that last empty spot, my first thought was helix, but since I already have one I'm looking for something different.

~Tons of different jewelry would only work with a larger punch right?

Punch sounds awesome.  If you DO do the orbital, I'd do it a little lower on your ear...like not right up in the fold, ya know?  You could also do an inner conch in there somewhere...if the snug or orbital don't work out, ya know?

If I decide to do the orbital not horizontally that is a possibility yes, I understood there is 2 ways an orbital can be placed. Do you mean the inner conch instead or where I place the snug or where I placed the orbital? I will have to look that up..^^ "inner conch"

 Im pretty sure punches do come that small... so yes its an option! 

Marumi:

Also when I get pierced I always want the option to be able to retire the piercing without much scarring.

Just remember that you never know how a piercing is going to heal, therefore you don't know how it will scar.  Some people have piercings that heal with no problems, whatsoever, and other piercings that get bumps, etc. 

Marumi:

The snug I'm pretty sure I want, I was just thinking that later on I would like to fill that last empty spot, my first thought was helix, but since I already have one I'm looking for something different.

I've always wanted this, too, but I've just heard so much about how hard it is to heal and the high rejection rate.

wissabo:

Just remember that you never know how a piercing is going to heal, therefore you don't know how it will scar.  Some people have piercings that heal with no problems, whatsoever, and other piercings that get bumps, etc. 

I know, I meant that a larger punch would leave a big hole that would def. not close easily. A small scar would not be the problem, really just fearing the hole. ;)

I've always wanted this, too, but I've just heard so much about how hard it is to heal and the high rejection rate.

Oh the rejection is that high?

Marumi:

Oh the rejection is that high?