Earlobe repair is a common procedure for men and women, children and adults. Years of wearing heavy earrings can stretch the earlobe, making it difficult to wear studs. Also, traumatic tears of the earlobe can result in an unattractive cosmetic appearance.
Who is a good candidate?
- Stretched earlobe
- Torn earlobe
- Can be performed in children or adults
How is the procedure performed?
Earlobe repair is performed under local anesthesia in the office. It takes about 20 minutes per ear. A small bandage is worn for one week. Sutures are removed on day seven for adults, day five for kids. Ears can be re-pierced in 6 weeks. Our experienced facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Jess Prischmann, strongly recommends that repaired earlobes be re-pierced in a location other than the suture line.
Stretched (Gauged) Earlobe Repair
Stretched earlobe repair (sometimes referred to as gauged earlobe repair) is common in our practice. We often see patients who have stretched their ears with plugs or gauges for years. As a result, the skin is stretched and the earlobe can appear distorted. Some patients feel that they are negatively judged and often may face professional obstacles due to the appearance of their ears.
The process for repairing stretched earlobes is different from repairing torn earlobes. The stretched skin must first be removed. Then, the remaining skin can be reconstructed to give the earlobe a more natural shape. To minimize discomfort during the procedure, stretched earlobe repair is performed under local anesthesia. The procedure often takes only about 30 minutes per ear. Ears can usually be re-pierced once the earlobe is fully healed. We recommend avoiding the use of large, heavy earrings to prevent tears to the earlobe.
What is the recovery?
There is minimal downtime associated with an earlobe repair. Most patients drive themselves home and go to school or work the next day. We recommend that patients take over-the-counter pain medications for 24 hours after the procedure. A small bandage is worn for one week and care is taken to avoid getting the bandage wet. Sutures are removed on day 6 or 7 and ears are re-pierced 6 weeks after the procedure.
Before and After
Before
After
Before
After
*Individual Results May Vary
Dr. Prischmann will be happy to meet with you in a confidential consultation to talk about earlobe repair procedures and how they can help you meet your needs. Please contact us today for more information.