Earlobe Repair Surgery: Fixing Stretched or Ripped Earlobes

earlobe repair example

Most patients who come to united states of america with complaints about their earlobes have experienced one of three general issues: either the lobes accept been stretched, torn, or are sagging due to aging. Fortunately, earlobe repair surgery is a simple, safe, and constructive manner to restore the ear to a more a natural appearance.

If y'all are considering an earlobe fixing surgery, here are the basic things to know:

Common Cosmetic Earlobe Issues

Stretched Earlobes

stretched earlobe

Source: Mercury News

The earlobes are solely composed of skin and fatty; at that place is no underlying bone or cartilage to aid maintain its structure. This makes earlobes extremely susceptible to becoming stretched. Earlobe stretching can occur by accident, through either the constant wearing of heavy earrings or a positioning of piercings close to the edge of the lobe. Severe stretching tin can permanently modify the appearance of the ear.

Stretching can too be caused intentionally through ear gauging, which is the process of gradually expanding the pigsty created through traditional ear piercing by wearing gauges that increase in size. The practice, which results in a large pigsty in the lobe, has been practice by tribal cultures for many years but has become pop in Western cultures over the terminal decade. While the holes created by normal piercing tin can shut (heal) naturally, stretch holes created through gauging can only exist closed through surgical repair.

Torn Earlobes

torn earlobe

Source: Subnet.com

Occasionally we treat patients with some form of earlobe tears, oft the result of some form of trauma (either their earring got caught and tugged or it was pulled past a pocket-size child). Tearing of the earlobe can sometimes be severe, where the tear occurs from the pierce hole to the bottom of the lobe, literally splitting the lobe in half.

Earlobe Sagging

With normal aging, the earlobes (like the skin itself) begins to lose collagen and elasticity. This causes the lobes to sag, loose volume (appear thin), and become elongated. Aging can actually preclude the lobes from beingness able to back up the weight of even pocket-sized stud earrings.

What Is Earlobe Repair Surgery?

Earlobe repair surgery (also called earlobe restoration) is a simple in-office surgical procedure that can be performed to ready earlobe vehement, stretching, or sagging. The procedure begins with the ears being marked for surgical incision. Next, a local anesthetic is injected into the earlobe that makes the lobe numb for effectually two hours. Many patients state the only pain they feel is during this quick injection. The physician volition then make incisions to remove (trim) stretched tissue and/or cut the pare around a tear. Finally, the earlobe is repaired with stiches.

How Long Does the Procedure Take?

While procedure time tin differ based on patient need, most earlobe repair procedures have between fifteen minutes and 1 hr to perform from start to finish.

Is Earlobe Repair Painful?

Patients ordinarily state the but part of the procedure that is painful is the initial injection of a local anesthesia. Mail service procedure, most patients will only crave ice and acetaminophen (Tylenol) to manage discomfort.

What is recovery like?

Downtime is minimal for earlobe repair surgery. The ears will be wrapped and bandaged for the outset day post-procedure. Over the first calendar week, the earlobes should be cleaned daily and antibiotic ointment applied to prevent infection. The patient should also avoid sleeping on or applying pressure to the lobe until the stitches are removed. Stitches can get wet in the shower afterward three days. Inside a week, most patients will run across their surgeon and have their stitches removed. Patients may notice a vivid red scar where the incisions where made, which volition fade away with continued healing. The repaired lobes should be protected from the sun with sunscreen and a hat for 3 months.

Can I pierce my ears after surgery?

It is possible to pierce the ears after earlobe repair surgery, equally long every bit the new piercing does is not placed in the scar (to minimize the hazard of future stretching or tearing). Patients will have to wait iii months earlier re-piercing to allow for adequate healing.

Acquire more most earlobe repair and other cosmetic ear surgery procedures on our Otoplasty page.

Minas Constantinides, MD, FACS

Dr. Minas Constantinides is a board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon at Westlake Dermatology & Corrective Surgery in Austin, Texas. He is on the Executive Committee of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) and is a Senior Advisor of the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS).

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