New Teen Trend: Elf Ears

New Teen Trend: Elf Ears

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Listen up moms: The next big teen trend might be "elf ears."

There was a time way back when the worst thing a teen could do was get her ears pierced maybe even (gasp!) multiple times. That's so old school--and each generation must up the ante when it comes to shocking their parents.

The latest shocking trend? Ear sculpting! Why is this bizarre practice getting so popular? According to Dr. Lajos Nagy, a New York plastic surgeon: "Sculpted ears not only enhance the attractiveness of the face, but also improve the experience of listening to music." Maybe the doctor needs to buy himself some Bose speakers.

Whatever the reason, the surgical procedure has been slowly catching on with the young and daring. Body modification artist Russ Foxx has been sculpting ears for years and will only perform the operation on 18-year-olds or older, according to Shaughnessy Keely, a rep from his piercing shop, The Fall. "He'll do a few sessions and he'll sculpt your ear and make it pointy."

Put more graphically, elf ears are created by slicing the top of the cartilage on the ear and then sewing it back together. Hmm, suddenly "tramp stamps" aren't looking that bad.

As with a tattoo, reversing the process isn't always that easy, "It wouldn't ever look exactly the same as it used to if reversed," Shaughnessy warns. "The folds would never be the same."

Would your kid get an earful if he or she came home sporting elf ears?

Trends We Wish Would Go Away

44 comments so far | Post a comment now >>

that looks hella sick

- Anonymous

Posted 01/11/09 11:13 PM

I think that’s pretty awesome. This is something you would do to be different and unique. Great for people who love fantasy things also.

- CelticElf

Posted 01/29/09 02:48 AM

What an interesting trend, if trend it is (I have my doubts). I have to say that there’s something sexy about it. Can’t say the procedure itself sounds like any fun, but love the thought of dating her after everything is done.

- Tim

Posted 02/02/09 07:55 PM

Ka64gN hi! hooli?

- hoolio

Posted 02/10/09 02:33 AM

Haha. These people won’t do this until someone is 18 and at that point parental authority ends. It isn’t dangerous - these people have medical training and are licensed - and it’s MUCH less obvious than a tramp stamp with the ‘clothing’ girls are wearing now. Besides, this is a fantasy/fairytale inspired thing, while a tramp stamp is intended to draw attention to a girl’s rear (for obvious reasons I would think). I would MUCH rather my daughter do this. At least she can hide it under her hair. Besides, I have known people whose ears looked pretty much like that naturally. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s no different than getting permanent makeup (anyone here have it?) or braces or a breast lift/enhancement. Jeez. And, yeah, RPGod, the problem is the regret. But that’s their problem and the real parental duty here is talking like a friend to your kid, not judging or freaking out, and making sure they understand the permanence of it and that they will grow and change with age, possibly coming to regret this sort of thing. But hey, I’m tempted to do it myself. It’s kind of neat. I think it looks really pretty on this girl.

- Cat

Posted 02/13/09 10:05 PM

Is this a chat room for mentally ~challenged~ people? [If so I wish you only well]. Otherwise, your comments are a best odd wish fulfillment and obvious anger at parents/authority and the well adjusted…Did I mention rude and counter-productive and silly? [Dimruthien?] Zippy

- zip

Posted 02/26/09 03:58 PM

Honestly, this does not happen to be a “fad” and 95% of the people who are getting the elven ears are over twenty years of age. Most do not tread on such a thing without extensive thought. And I find it immensely amusing how closed minded people seem to be about this; honestly, at least it’s not a horn in the middle of their foreheads like some body modification.

- Rebekah

Posted 03/30/09 12:57 PM

I wouldn’t do it, but I like it. I go to faerie festivals often and I haven’t knowingly seen these, though people generally use the fake ones or molding and some look real. This takes ALOT of planning and mostly only people who are serious about it will do it. I don’t see this becoming the next fad. Seriously if it did, I’d be disgusted by how fantasy, faeries, etc would be exploited by mainstream teen fashion in such a way. It would ruin it. Peace!

- Iri

Posted 04/19/09 07:03 AM

methinks i’ll just stick with my plastic ones that go OVER mah ears thank you

- Anonymous

Posted 07/20/09 10:44 PM

KEWL I like them Gotta pass this around my groups elves

- Zorgon

Posted 08/02/09 06:52 PM

grosss :D

- Anonymous

Posted 08/10/09 12:25 PM

Fads are all well and good, and every generation has them and some are more obnoxious than others. However, permanent changes to features were not typical previously and that’s the problem. Whether those of you who are choosing to alter your appearances like this like it or not, you will be dealing with the previous generation(s) in positions of authority for at least another twenty years. My concern as a mother (I was cool before I had kids of my own) is that these fads are leaving holes and scars in visible places and may not seem like such a hot idea when you hit adulthood and the realities of trying to find a “real” job (the kind you want to keep for more than a few months) sets in. Many, many employers are going to look closely at how you present yourself (clean, neat, professional appearance) and weigh that along with whatever education and experience you bring to the table. It’s easy to take off jewelry and hope that the visible scars heal. It’s not always easy to hide ears or holes enlarged by unusual piercings. You do not want your appearance to be the reason you are not hired for your dream job. So unless you’ve got a plan to be independently wealthy, or you’re already a rock star, you’d better be thinking about your future when you make this decision.

- mary paddock

Posted 08/15/09 05:56 PM

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Anonymous

Posted 08/22/09 05:28 PM

I’ve got to say, I’m 28, I work with children between the ages of 15 and 18 and I have never once heard any of them talking about “elf ears”.. As for TMD, I respect what you said and I hope your children don’t go down that wrong path.

- cr

Posted 09/08/09 09:39 PM

If I wasn’t in the military I would totally do this.

- Clara

Posted 09/08/09 09:39 PM

Geez people, overreact much? The body is the one thing you are given that you can honestly claim ownership of with few if any particular legal or moral issues in my opinion. It’s the home for your consciousness for the next 60-80 odd years give or take a few decades. You should be happy with it. If split tongues and elf ears will make the person who inhabits that body happy, more power to them. The people who are so shocked, dismayed, or angered at this should really think about why they feel that way. How much does someone have to be like you to be acceptable?

- Cripes

Posted 09/09/09 04:56 PM

I’ve seen lots of questions about why people would do this… and what the point is… all of that rubbish. I just want to ask: Why should ANYONE care what someone wants to do to their own body? Are we not yet evolved enough to understand free will and the right to choose what to do with our own skins? Honestly, this is just like people that get mad about tattoos… it’s a choice. Bloody well learn to deal.

- Roland

Posted 09/09/09 11:17 PM

That’s so cool.

- Drax

Posted 09/16/09 10:10 PM

That’s worst! We’re all getting stupider and stupider!

- Mihai

Posted 10/15/09 08:31 AM

i cant understand why someone would want to point there ears…i was born with pointed ears…im used to it now but people used to make fun of me in elementary school

- Johnathan

Posted 10/21/09 06:36 PM