depends on your skin everyone is different i was a 10mm and i took mine out and within 2 days it closed up its currently all scabby atm but it depends like i say on your skin if you heal quickly and have stretchy skin youll be fine, as long as you stretch yours ears slowly n start off small n get big they will heal my mate had 22mm in his ears and they have healed dwn to about a 2mm atm it just the biger you go the longer it takes, what ever you do tho do it slowly so u dnt rip ur ears and also dnt get it punched out at a tattooists/boduy shop if not it wont grow back and heal