Lobe piercing is by far the popular piercing in modern culture. Its origin is, for the most part, unknown. A great deal of folklore and history surrounds the lobe, including the practice of sailors from the 16th and 17th centuries getting a lobe piercing each time they crossed the equator, and using gold rings as a means to save up and pay for their funerals.

In modern times, until the late sixties, it was mainly performed on females as a sign of coming of age. Then, in the mid to late 60s, Males involved in various subcultures, such as the hippy and outlaw biker culture, began to have the left ear pierced. it was used as a way of stating them apart from the primary culture. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the piercing movement began to spread into mainstream culture, emerging from the punk and "new wave" movements.

Why the Left Ear? For the most part, it was believed that the left represented heterosexuality and the right homosexuality. No one is sure just where this started, but maybe it has something to do with the Gay S&M subculture that uses left for top and right for the bottom.

In this day and age, males often get both sides done, and borrowing from many primitive cultures, the act of stretching the piercing and/or piercing at larger gauges is common.

• Healing time is 8-12 weeks.
• Common Piercing jewelry 20g to 14g 1/4 - 3/8
• Axiom Base with 18-16g Labret Studs - $65.00 and $55.00 for the second
• Pain level on a scale of 1-10 is between 2 and 3