Torn Earlobe Repair
& Earlobe Reduction
Cosmetic surgery of the face also deals with many issues other than aging. Those beautiful heavy, dangling earrings can damage your earlobe over time, stretching the skin and causing the earlobe to split. As the earring “hole” gets larger, it becomes harder to keep your earrings from falling out. You don’t need to wait until the lobe splits to repair this.
Have a QuestionIs it possible to restore a youthful smaller Earlobe?
As we age the body changes. This includes the face. There are many structural changes that occur deep in the tissue that cause a change in shape or appearance. The same is true for the ear. The earlobe can be restored to a more youthful size with a minor surgery performed in the comfort of our office under local anesthesia.
What causes a “torn Earlobe”?
Earrings are so beautiful, but potentially damaging. A torn lobe can be caused by trauma, or by the sheer weight of the jewelry pulling through the tissue over time. The earring can get caught on clothing or accidentally pulled. More recently we have been getting requests to repair the large holes caused by tunnel earrings . Regardless of the etiology, it is possible to create a normal looking lobe and even to re-pierce that lobe.
Is surgery needed to correct the problem?
Basically the answer is yes. It is possible to inject an HA filler into the lobe to reduce the size of the opening before it has completely pulled through, but this is temporary and need to be repeated annually to maintain the improvement. The surgery to correct the problem is performed under a local anesthesia in the comfort of the office, and is very similar to going to the dentist.
What is the surgery like?
The earlobe is numbed with a local anesthesia. Sedatives are not needed. After the damaged or excessive part is removed the contour of the ear is restored. There are 2 flaps, one on either side of the resection that are then sutured together. This results in a small vertical scar that is well hidden once it heals. The ear can be re-pierced after the area is completely healed, usually, in several months.
What is the recovery like?
There is no downtime. You can go about your normal activities the following day. It is best to cleanse the area daily and apply an antibiotic ointment such as Bacitracin or Neosporin. Since it is so small, it is difficult to apply bandages. You may get the area wet and shower as desired the following day.
Earlobe Reduction – Results on right shown 1 month after surgery
Schedule an Earlobe repair or Earlobe reduction consultation
For more details and to find out if you are a candidate for earlobe repair, please contact us to schedule a consultation or call our office at 973-524-7124.
