Earlobe Repair

Since it consists of soft tissue, the earlobe is generally vulnerable. Men and women with pierced ears are particularly susceptible to earlobe disfigurement.

While the natural loss of skin elasticity with age can affect the size of ear piercing holes and the appearance of the earlobe, earlobe enlargement often results from a patient’s taste in fashion. Frequently wearing heavy earrings can elongate the piercing hole and cause the earlobe to stretch.

Ear gauging is another reason patients seek a repair procedure. Wearing large ear gauges increases the size of the piercing hole and radically changes the earlobe contours.

Earlobe tears and splits are relatively common. They can be caused by something as seemingly innocuous as catching an earring on your clothing. We have treated patients whose earlobe tears resulted from a curious child tugging on the earring, incidental contact while playing sports, traumatic injury, and a number of other situations.

Earlobe tear repair is an outpatient procedure that is performed in-office. Every earlobe injury is unique, which means every torn earlobe repair surgery is different. In general, the procedure can be completed within an hour with the use of local anesthesia.

Once the earlobe is numb, the irregular edges of the tear will be removed. After the scar tissue has been excised, sutures will be used to close the tear and secure the new earlobe contours.

Ear gauging involves intentionally expanding a piercing hole by inserting progressively bigger gauges, or plugs, over time. This process stretches the earlobe further and further to accommodate larger plugs until the patient has achieved his or her cosmetic goals.

In recent decades, ear gauging has become a more mainstream practice, with greater numbers of men and women incorporating ear plugs of substantial size into their personal style. However, as their lifestyles, careers, and/or aesthetic tastes evolve, many people find that gauged ears are no longer practical or appealing for them.

When the skin of the earlobe is stretched beyond a certain point, it loses its elasticity. This means that when a patient chooses to stop wearing gauges, the holes may shrink slightly, but they will never close.

Since the skin cannot retract back into its previous shape, the earlobe tissue around the opening will hang loosely. The earlobe contours will remain abnormal unless they are surgically reshaped.

Gauged earlobe repair is an outpatient treatment performed after the ear is numbed with local anesthesia. Repairing large earlobe gauges is more complex than other earlobe recontouring procedures. For this procedure, the loop of skin that lines the inside of the hole will be removed. Some of the outer earlobe skin may also be excised.

Reconstructive surgical techniques are then used to arrange the earlobe tissue into a normal shape. Small, fine sutures will be used to close the incisions.

WILL GAUGED EARS CLOSE NATURALLY?

When the skin of the earlobe is stretched beyond a certain point, it loses its elasticity. This means that when a patient chooses to stop wearing gauges, the holes may shrink slightly, but they will never close.

Since the skin cannot retract back into its previous shape, the earlobe tissue around the opening will hang loosely. The earlobe contours will remain abnormal unless they are surgically reshaped.

GAUGED EARLOBE REPAIR PROCEDURE

Gauged earlobe repair is an outpatient treatment performed after the ear is numbed with local anesthesia. Repairing large earlobe gauges is more complex than other earlobe recontouring procedures. For this procedure, the loop of skin that lines the inside of the hole will be removed. Some of the outer earlobe skin may also be excised.

Reconstructive surgical techniques are then used to arrange the earlobe tissue into a normal shape. Small, fine sutures will be used to close the incisions.

Whether you no longer want your ear piercings or you are unhappy with piercing holes that have stretched, we can minimize the appearance of the piercing scar with a quick, minimal-downtime procedure. A local anesthetic will be used to keep you comfortable for this treatment.

This procedure typically requires excising a small amount of skin surrounding the piercing hole. Normal-sized ear piercings may only require a single suture on each side of the ear to close the hole and complete the procedure.

Recovery from earlobe repair is brief and does not involve downtime. In many cases, you can leave your appointment and continue on with your day, as usual. Some patients even have the procedure over their lunch hour, so they don’t have to take any time off work.

You will be instructed on how to clean the incision sites and support an optimal outcome. It is important to avoid rubbing the ears and/or exposing the treatment areas to excessive force or pressure in the initial days of your recovery. You may also need to apply a topical antibiotic ointment.

Earlobe repair results will be apparent right away and will continue to improve as healing progresses. Patients who follow their aftercare instructions typically find that their incision lines fade significantly in the months following the procedure.

If desired, repaired earlobes can be pierced after about two months, though they should not be pierced in the exact same spot as they were initially. Choosing small, lightweight earrings over bigger, heavy earrings can reduce the likelihood of another earlobe tear.

We take care to provide personalized care at every step of the earlobe repair treatment process. This commitment begins with your initial consultation.

Your earlobe tear repair consultation will include an in-depth discussion about your treatment goals and a thorough physical examination of the damaged earlobe tissue. You will be asked about your relevant medical conditions that could complicate this minor surgery.

We are fastidious about planning earlobe repair procedures down to the detail, so the necessary changes can be executed with the utmost accuracy. Once your earlobe repair treatment has been mapped out, we will explain what you can expect during your procedure. We want patients to feel as comfortable and prepared as possible going into the treatment.

We also take the time to ensure that you have a clear understanding of what can be achieved with your procedure. Additionally, you will be given customized aftercare guidelines to assist you in promoting the best possible outcome.

The complexity of your specific procedure will affect the price of earlobe repair. A treatment plan will be designed for your needs during your consultation. Cost details will be provided once the optimal treatment approach for you has been determined.