Why haven't pointed ears ever caught on?

[Amaris]

I think going into surgery and having implants and reconstruction done is a bit more intensive than going to the mall and having some teenager take a tool do your ears and pulling the handle closed.

I made no mention of the danger or pain involved, only that getting a tattoo or piercing done is something you go out and just do mostly on whim. With tats there may be more planning involved, time, and money depending on what the tat is or where it's going to be, etc. But it's still pretty much an impulsive purchase.

If you want cosmetic surgery done, implants, whatever? That's a procedure one the requires appointments, consultations, scans needing to be done, probably materials needing to be ordered/manufactured for the implant. It's not as much of an impulse buy which is why it hasn't "caught on" as much as tattoos or piercings have.

Have you explored the procedure, Trekker? You make it sound like it takes intensive surgery and that's terribly dangerous, somehow more dangerous than having ink grafted into your skin or holes punched in your body.

You can have a body modification artist do it in a single afternoon, with minimal surgery. No hospital, clinic or appointment required.

Here, check out a few artists who do this (some images are a bit explicit, so fair warning):

http://www.stevehaworth.com/wordpress/index.php/steve-haworth-portfolio/ear-pointing

http://russfoxx.com/gallery/ear-pointing

Here's a woman who had it done. She describes what happens: http://zephyr-elf.livejournal.com/729.html

 

[Trekker4747]

Have you explored the procedure, Trekker? You make it sound like it takes intensive surgery and that's terribly dangerous, somehow more dangerous than having ink grafted into your skin or holes punched in your body.

Who is saying anything about the danger of it?

It's dangerous getting your hair cut.

What I'm saying is that it's not as impulsive a thing to get done or as "in and out" as piercing or tattoos. Reading that blog post sounds a lot like most surgical procedures as it mentions anesthesia, codeine pain killers (prescription), throbbing pain, not being able to sleep until a full 12-hours after the procedure, sleep position restrictions due to fresh wounds and other things.

Yep. That's a lot like getting your ears pierced and being told to keep studs in, or putting a bandage over a tattoo and being told you just take some Tylenol or Aspirin for pain.

Any body modification procedure from pedicures (done incorrectly can cause an ingrown toe nail) to plastic surgery is going to have risks and dangerous. That's not the question here.

The question is why it has not "caught on" and it hasn't caught on because we live in a drive-thru society that wants results as soon as possible with as little inconvenience as possible. I've neither pierced ears nor tattoos but have friends who do, in the tattoo case they're just simple ones, and in both cases it was pretty much an "in and out" procedure where you go in, get it done, and you're out. Time, danger, etc. naturally is going to vary but I don't think we'll be seeing "ear pointing" shops in the mall any time soon considering "we'll do this to you under local anesthesia and give you a prescription for codeine for post-operative pain relief, and you'll be in agony for a day or two" aspects as described in that blog.

 

[Amaris]

Have you explored the procedure, Trekker? You make it sound like it takes intensive surgery and that's terribly dangerous, somehow more dangerous than having ink grafted into your skin or holes punched in your body.

Who is saying anything about the danger of it?

It's dangerous getting your hair cut.

What I'm saying is that it's not as impulsive a thing to get done or as "in and out" as piercing or tattoos. Reading that blog post sounds a lot like most surgical procedures as it mentions anesthesia, codeine pain killers (prescription), throbbing pain, not being able to sleep until a full 12-hours after the procedure, sleep position restrictions due to fresh wounds and other things.

Yep. That's a lot like getting your ears pierced and being told to keep studs in, or putting a bandage over a tattoo and being told you just take some Tylenol or Aspirin for pain.

Any body modification procedure from pedicures (done incorrectly can cause an ingrown toe nail) to plastic surgery is going to have risks and dangerous. That's not the question here.

The question is why it has not "caught on" and it hasn't caught on because we live in a drive-thru society that wants results as soon as possible with as little inconvenience as possible. I've neither pierced ears nor tattoos but have friends who do, in the tattoo case they're just simple ones, and in both cases it was pretty much an "in and out" procedure where you go in, get it done, and you're out. Time, danger, etc. naturally is going to vary but I don't think we'll be seeing "ear pointing" shops in the mall any time soon considering "we'll do this to you under local anesthesia and give you a prescription for codeine for post-operative pain relief, and you'll be in agony for a day or two" aspects as described in that blog.

Actually, body modification shops (an all inclusive for tattoo parlors, piercings, etc.) like these are on the rise. Granted, there still aren't a lot of them, but since we now have the capabilities to do a simple in and out procedure like ear pointing, I think it will become more common as people push for the more exotic, minimally-invasive surgeries like this.

 

[scotpens]

Yeah, I don't really find pointed ears attractive.

They look good on Will Smith.

 

[Canadave]

If I saw someone with pointed ears, I'd probably feel it's a little too much. Plus, unlike a piercing or a tattoo, it's not exactly a simple procedure, and I've got to imagine it screws up the circulation and stuff in the area. I just can't see the appeal.

I'm not sure it would mess with circulation, since it's mostly cartilage.

Doesn't change the fact that it's still bodily tissue, and altering it can damage the way it functions.

Hurt is right. Haworth, who charges $600 for both ears, can't use anesthetic on his pixie patients because he's not an actual doctor. Because actual doctors know that altering such important body parts can result in major deformities and infection that could entirely destroy the ear within days.

Huffington Post

 

[Amaris]

If I saw someone with pointed ears, I'd probably feel it's a little too much. Plus, unlike a piercing or a tattoo, it's not exactly a simple procedure, and I've got to imagine it screws up the circulation and stuff in the area. I just can't see the appeal.

I'm not sure it would mess with circulation, since it's mostly cartilage.

Doesn't change the fact that it's still bodily tissue, and altering it can damage the way it functions.

Hurt is right. Haworth, who charges $600 for both ears, can't use anesthetic on his pixie patients because he's not an actual doctor. Because actual doctors know that altering such important body parts can result in major deformities and infection that could entirely destroy the ear within days.

Huffington Post

People who get their ears pierced run the same risk.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

When I decided I wanted my ears pierced, that was actually a reason my mother insisted on having it done at a doctor's office, and not at the mall. She wasn't going to let a "teenager at Claire's" do it.

 

[RJDiogenes]

It will only catch on when it's a genetic modification that can be passed on to your children.

 

[ares93]

It will only catch on when it's a genetic modification that can be passed on to your children.

I feel sorry for your kids then, 'cause it looks horrible, mate. I've got nothin' against tats or cosmetic surgery. I'm planning to get tats myself. But this? No bloody way.

 

[Amaris]

It will only catch on when it's a genetic modification that can be passed on to your children.

I feel sorry for your kids then, 'cause it looks horrible, mate. I've got nothin' against tats or cosmetic surgery. I'm planning to get tats myself. But this? No bloody way.

That's your opinion, and that's fine. You're free to extol the virtues of tattoos and piercings while eschewing any other body modification. I disagree with you, though.

 

[ares93]

It will only catch on when it's a genetic modification that can be passed on to your children.

I feel sorry for your kids then, 'cause it looks horrible, mate. I've got nothin' against tats or cosmetic surgery. I'm planning to get tats myself. But this? No bloody way.

That's your opinion, and that's fine. You're free to extol the virtues of tattoos and piercings while eschewing any other body modification. I disagree with you, though.

And thats your prerogative. Just sayin'. A friend of mine was planning to do this procedure, but changed her mind a few days before. So I'm not totally unfamiliar with it. It just simply doesn't appeal to me. But I do understand why it would interest others.

 

[Amaris]

I feel sorry for your kids then, 'cause it looks horrible, mate. I've got nothin' against tats or cosmetic surgery. I'm planning to get tats myself. But this? No bloody way.

That's your opinion, and that's fine. You're free to extol the virtues of tattoos and piercings while eschewing any other body modification. I disagree with you, though.

And thats your prerogative. Just sayin'. A friend of mine was planning to do this procedure, but changed her mind a few days before. So I'm not totally unfamiliar with it. It just simply doesn't appeal to me. But I do understand why it would interest others.

Because pointed ears are teh sexy.

 

[BlobVanDam]

Those pointy ears look stupid and deformed. They will regret having it done later in life.

Mind you, I think most tattoos and piercings are pretty stupid too, but at least they're generally easier to remove or hide than getting your ears permanently altered.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

When I decided I wanted my ears pierced, that was actually a reason my mother insisted on having it done at a doctor's office, and not at the mall. She wasn't going to let a "teenager at Claire's" do it.

What! Assuming you weren't getting your upper ear pierced, it's a flappy bit of skin. I know at least 2 dozen people who did it themselves in their bedroom with a needle or safety pin. It is not something to go to a doctor for.

Your only danger from getting it done outside of the doctor's would be if they didn't use sterile equipment. You could easily check to see if they use a new, sealed, disposable needle for ever procedure.

 

[ITL]

When I decided I wanted my ears pierced, that was actually a reason my mother insisted on having it done at a doctor's office, and not at the mall. She wasn't going to let a "teenager at Claire's" do it.

What! Assuming you weren't getting your upper ear pierced, it's a flappy bit of skin. I know at least 2 dozen people who did it themselves in their bedroom with a needle or safety pin. It is not something to go to a doctor for.

Your only danger from getting it done outside of the doctor's would be if they didn't use sterile equipment. You could easily check to see if they use a new, sealed, disposable needle for ever procedure.

I had my left ear pierced three times many, many years ago - all three were done by a friend using self-piercing studs and an asthma inhaler to numb the earlobe. The second one was a bit tricky - her fingers slipped as she was doing the piercing, and the stud sort of went sideways into the earlobe instead of right through. I didn't feel a thing, and she got it right on the second go.

She was mortified to have made such a mistake, but as it didn't hurt or cause any lasting damage, I wasn't too bothered.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Some dude asked me to pierce his ear for him once.

I got half way through and freaked out and abandoned the task.



The passage of time makes this seem quite funny..

 

[Canadave]

I'm not sure it would mess with circulation, since it's mostly cartilage.

Doesn't change the fact that it's still bodily tissue, and altering it can damage the way it functions.

Hurt is right. Haworth, who charges $600 for both ears, can't use anesthetic on his pixie patients because he's not an actual doctor. Because actual doctors know that altering such important body parts can result in major deformities and infection that could entirely destroy the ear within days.

Huffington Post

People who get their ears pierced run the same risk.

Putting a sterile needle through the cartilage is much different from removing chunks of your ear.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Because they're dorky.

 

[Holdfast]

I think ear-sharpening is likely to remain the province of the truly eccentric for quite some time to come. Not quite as wacky as those who try to turn themselves into animals through plastic surgery, but we're in the vicinity of the same far end of the spectrum, I think.

 

[Mike Farley]

Because you can roll roll your sleeves down over tattoos and take out your nose rings and tongue studs but there's no way to hide pointed ears when you're going for an interview at Bank of America.