So when you took your lobe piercings out what happened? Did they heal or did you have to have them fixed surgically? I've always wondered about that. I tried to gauge my ears from 16 to 14 and OMG it hurt so bad.....LOL
My lobes used to be stretched to 1/2" and I had to downsize them. They were just getting irritated a lot and I couldn't stand it anymore. I took them out and they shrank down to a 4g naturally, which is perfect. I actually find that there is just as much beautiful jewelry for stretched ears as there is for "normal" ones now. But maybe I just see more of it because a friend of mine owns an upscale body piercing shop.
I'm currently rocking a MUCH cheaper pair of plugs that look like the ones in the link below, and I think they're just as pretty as any jewel stud earrings you would find http://shop.bmezine.com/product/rdc-bling/