Dear Alley is our weekly advice column for pierced, inked, and amazing individuals (and everyone else too!) who might need a nudge in the right direction. Relationships, mods, or whatever, Alley's got you covered :).

Do you have a question for Alley, submit it to DearAlley@bodycandy.com for your chance to get featured!

Disclaimer: Body Candy is only here to give you fun and helpful advice and information when it comes to getting pierced. Always consult a professional piercer to make sure a new piercing is right for you!

Dear Alley:

I’ve had my nipples pierced for a couple years now, and since day one, they’ve been super crooked. I love my piercings but I’d be lying if I said I was completely happy with how they look. Is there something I can do to fix them/hide the crookedness or should I just let them close and re-pierce in the future? Thanks!

- Emily

Alley: Hi Emily!

Sorry to hear about your crookedness :(! I would typically say this one is tough to truly diagnose because I haven't seen your anatomy in person, but I think I have the right answer for you.

If you had just recently gotten pierced and your nipple jewelry was sitting a bit crooked, I'd tell you to chill. Sometimes swelling can affect the way your piercing looks... But it sounds like you've had these piercings for a couple of years, in which case they should be completely healed up. If that's the case, I think if they are still crooked now, they're going to look crooked for as long as you have them.

Some people like the look of a "diagonal" or "offset" piercing... But from the way you're talking about your piercings, they are sitting asymmetrically on your body. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do to "hide" or "fix" this crookedness as-is. Nipple piercings aren't something you should want to hide anyways!

If you're truly unhappy with the way they look, it's time to take them out, let the piercings close, and get re-pierced at a later date. When you're healed up, find a studio you're interested in and be up-front with them about the experience you had last time. If you can find an APP-certified piercer in your area, that would be ideal for extra security. Just make sure you're not planning on getting pregnant anytime soon.

FYI - Since the piercer will be pushing through scar tissue, it might hurt a bit more than it did last time.

Love,
- Alley

Dear Alley:

My mom is letting me get my belly button pierced, but I don't know if I’m able to since my stomach folds in when I sit. Is that gonna affect the piercing? What can I do?

- JJ 22

Alley: Hi JJ (and JJ's mom)!

Just like with any piercing, this one all comes down to individual anatomy. Your navel crease certainly isn't going to help your chances of healing without complication, but it also isn't going to prevent you from having a successful piercing either. Lots of people have various degrees of belly rolls, and it hasn't stopped them from being able to wear a belly button ring!

On this topic though - this issue has nothing to do with weight. Big, little, skinny, thicc - it doesn't matter what size you are. If you're worried about getting a piercing because of your weight, let me dispel that rumor... ANYONE can be pierced and ANYONE can look great with a piercing.

But back to your original question - this one is for a reputable piercer to diagnose. Since you have a unique case, head in for a consultation and let them know exactly what you're worried about - they'll take a look at your navel and let you know whether or not your anatomy is suited for a belly piercing.

Good luck, bb!

Love,

- Alley

Heyyyyy Alley:

I am a 51 year old woman. I have enjoyed getting multiple piercings over the years.

Just last year, my earlobe piercings started to split. I believe due to wearing heavy earrings and sometimes even putting two earrings in one hole... My question to you is, is there any way to fix a split earlobe due the reasons I mentioned?

I used to have five holes in one ear and seven in the other. Now I only have three in one ear and I still have seven in the other. I feel naked without my earrings in! HELP!

Please and thank you,

- Shawn

Alley: Hey Shawn!

Yikes! Ear blow out and lobe splitting is for sure a real thing - sounds like you really pushed your lobes to the limit.

There are definitely procedures you can get to have your lobes sewn up, but it is more than likely going to have to be an actual, surgical procedure. In most cases, you'll need to contact a plastic surgeon (or potentially an ear/nose/throat doctor) to perform the procedure.

While a doctor/plastic surgeon might be able to fix your split lobes, they might not look the same as you remember them in your younger days... You might also have to lose your three current holes for a period of time to get back to a "normal" lobe.

I'm not a doctor though... Your best bet here is to talk to a plastic surgeon and let them know that you want your seven-piercing-look back afterwards. Make sure you consult with someone reputable - only a licensed medical professional is going to be able to give you the result you're looking for.