[PhoenixAzul]

Well, some of us pierced and tattooed freaks turn out just fine and end up going to uni and doing pretty well in life (even photographing your 100k+ wedding). Most people think that kids just blindly go getting holes in their body. When I got my piercings, when I stretched my lobes, when I chose my plugs for said lobes, I knew the risks, I knew the consequences. I know that if I stretch past x gauge (usually 00), then my lobes probably won't shrink back. Conversely, if I decided to go that way, I could have them scapeled and stitched and re-healed that way. (Incidentally, my lobes started at 12ga, and I stretched up to 4ga currently, plus 2 18 ga cartilage piercings (Rook and anti-tragus)). I think that people don't give teenagers enough credit for understanding the consequences. Before I got any of my holes, I got a big long lecture from my very friendly piercer on the consequences of bad aftercare and the consequences of piercing in general...if non-regulated piercing parlours can do this, it shouldn't be too hard for a regulated, registered dental office to do it as well.

Pierced and proud,
Phoenix.