What Is Earlobe Repair Surgery?
Earlobe repair surgery (also called earlobe restoration) is a simple in-office surgical procedure that can be performed to fix earlobe tearing, 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 around two hours. Many patients state the only pain they feel is during this quick injection. The physician will then make incisions to remove (trim) stretched tissue and/or cut the skin around a tear. Finally, the earlobe is repaired with stiches.
Why do my earlobes sag?
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 prevent the lobes from being able to support the weight of even small stud earrings.
How Long Does the Procedure Take?
While procedure time can differ based on patient need, most earlobe repair procedures take between 15 minutes and 1 hour to perform from start to finish.
How long does it take for stitches to get out of the lobe?
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 after three days. Within a week, most patients will see their surgeon and have their stitches removed.
Can earlobes be stretched?
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 can permanently alter the appearance of the ear. Stretching can also be caused intentionally ...
Is it safe to repair the earlobe?
Fortunately, earlobe repair surgery is a simple, safe, and effective way to restore the ear to a more a natural appearance. If you are considering an earlobe fixing surgery, here are the basic things to know:
Can I pierce my ears after surgery?
It is possible to pierce the ears after earlobe repair surgery, as long as the new piercing does is not placed in the scar (to minimize the chance of future stretching or tearing). Patients will have to wait 3 months before re-piercing to allow for adequate healing.
How to care for earlobes after surgery?
Care for your earlobes properly following the repair surgery. Wash the lobes with water and soap three times a day to avoid infection . If your doctor instructs, apply a light layer of antibiotic ointment to the earlobes.
Can you wear heavy earrings after ear surgery?
Avoid wearing large, heavy earrings that dangle. After ear-repair surgery, it's best to stick to lightweight earrings.
Can you stretch your earlobes?
Earlobes can be stretched intentionally or unintentionally. Some people choose to stretch their earlobes through the use of large-gauge ear rings, creating large holes in the lobes. Other people find that years of wearing heavy earrings results in stretched earlobes. You can repair stretched earlobes, but extreme stretching will require medical intervention to correct.
How to repair earlobes?
Are you a good candidate for this quick and easy procedure? Earlobe repair surgery can be used to: 1 Repair tears caused by improper piercing or trauma (an earring being tugged on or caught on something) 2 Close up wide holes stretched out by wearing heavy earrings or gauges 3 Reshape earlobes that sag due to old age
What is earlobe repair surgery?
Earlobe repair surgery can be used to: Repair tears caused by improper piercing or trauma (an earring being tugged on or caught on something) Close up wide holes stretched out by wearing heavy earrings or gauges. Reshape earlobes that sag due to old age.
How to keep earrings from pulling down?
To keep heavy earrings from pulling down on your skin, consider swapping out your regular earring backs with stabilizing backs. While stabilizers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, they all serve the same purpose – providing extra support for your dangling accessories. 2. Take Out Your Earrings Before Bed.
How to plump up earlobes?
Surgery isn’t the only way to plump up thinning earlobes. Volume can also be added to the earlobe with dermal fillers. These fillers give your ears a more youthful appearance and provide a better stage to display your earrings.
Do you have to clean your earrings before turning them in?
So before you turn in, be sure to remove and clean your earrings to keep your ears in the best condition possible .
Who is the surgeon that repairs the earlobe?
Ask facial plastic surgeon Dr. Edward Farrior about earlobe repair, a simple procedure that can be performed at the time of a facelift, rhinoplasty or other facial surgery or separately under local anesthesia.
Can a piercing cause ear tornness?
The scar tissue in that area isn’t as strong as the surrounding skin, so piercing it can cause your ears to become torn and stretched all over again. Instead, facial plastic surgeon Dr. Edward Farrior will re-pierce the ears a few millimeters away from the site of the earlobe repair to ensure lasting results.
How much does it cost to repair earlobes?
In fact, some people decide not to get their earlobes repaired because of the price tag, which can range between $300 and $1,000 based on where you live, the type of repair you want, and whether you need both earlobes mended, Dr. Henderson says. “It completely depends on the institution or physician,” Dr. Giordano adds.
What to do if your earring is stretched?
If your earring holes are stretched because of small gauges, ask your doctor about using a punch tool for repair. This nifty machine punches out a hole that’s just a shred larger than the piercing, creating fresh, wounded skin that is then sutured together.
How to heal earlobes with petroleum jelly?
Giordano advises her patients to clean the wound daily with mild soap and water, cover it with a bandage, and apply petroleum jelly for the week or so that the stitches are in place. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, petroleum jelly helps wounds stay moist so that the injured skin can heal. A scab might form if the wound dries out, which may result in a longer healing period and scarring.
How long does it take for earlobe stitches to come out?
After about five to seven days, the stitches are typically ready to come out so you can revel in your fancy new earlobes, Dr. Giordano says. The wound should close up in a few weeks, and it may take around a year for the scarring to fade, Dr. Henderson says—but you can get a good idea of what you’re working with once the stitches come out.
How long does it take to cut a hole in your ear?
The whole procedure takes about 15 to 20 minutes per ear, Dr. Giordano says.
What happens when you get your ears pierced?
When you get your earlobes pierced, those tiny wounds signal your body to repair the injuries and create fresh skin, dermatologist Cerrene N. Giordano, M.D., tells SELF. The issue is that those flaps of newly divided skin need a way to stitch themselves up separately from each other and leave a tiny hole behind. “Think of it as a tunnel lined with skin that won’t close, as opposed to raw tissue that will,” Dr. Henderson says.
How to avoid ear lobes tearing?
To avoid your lobes tearing again—or to try to prevent them from stretching a ton over time —it’s a good idea to alternate between light earrings that feel like you’re wearing nothing and ornate ones that may feel more like your ears are weight training. As for gauges, consider how likely you are to be happy with them long-term (or how much you’ll care about getting them repaired if they’re just a phase for you, like they were for me).
Why do my earlobes stretch?
An individual may have experienced the natural stretching of their ear piercings over time, due to age, gravity, and weakened tissues from wearing jewelry that pulls at their lobes.
What is the treatment for earlobes?
From retinol products to laser resurfacing treatments to chemical peels, earlobe treatments are pampering the lobes as passionately as the face, neck, and body.
What is the procedure called when you have a damaged earlobe?
Also known as otoplasty, it is a plastic surgery procedure that provides a new shape for large earlobes or those that have been damaged due to stretching from heavy earrings or as part of an intentional body art modification process.
What cultures practice ear stretching?
Cultures spanning from Nigeria in western Africa to Mursi women to Lahu tribes from Thailand to Asian tribes have practiced ear stretching. Higher-class men from the Aztec culture used gold and silver plugs to stretch their lobes, while others used animal bones, precious stones, and wood to accomplish the same body modification stretching process. Modern ear stretching is also a popular practice, however, some seek to reverse the body modification once they tire of the processor no longer desire stretched earlobes.
Why are the earlobes bigger?
According to PubMed, larger earlobes are a sign of wealth and prosperity within traditional sects of Chinese culture.
Where was the ear gauging found?
Stretched earlobes were even found on Otzi the Iceman. His mummified body from 3300 B.C. was discovered near Austria and Italy, with nearly half-inch earlobe stretchings.
What are thread earrings?
Wear "thread earrings" or "threader earrings," which feature strands of sterling silver, gold, or other materials that are threaded through the ear holes and held in place in the piercing by a strand, which may place less pressure on the earlobes.
How long does it take to get ear surgery?
If the surgery is appropriate for you it can take as little as 30 minutes to perform on each ear. Local anaesthetic is commonly used so you can be in and out of hospital very quickly.
Can you repair a small hole?
Smaller holes are relatively easy to repair; larger ones can often be repaired but are less likely to look as natural as they once did.
Is lobuloplasty covered by insurance?
Lobuloplasty is considered a cosmetic procedure and isn’t typically covered by medical insurance but paying for yourself privately means it can be done quickly when the time is right for you.
Is lobuloplasty hard to repair?
The more you stretch the harder it is to repair. The process of lobuloplasty, or earlobe repair, is generally straightforward. But the chances of a cosmetically acceptable result diminish the more your lobe is stretched.
How does surgery for a torn or gauge stretched earlobe work?
A local anesthetic is used and the procedure is done in the doctor’s office. The inside skin from the old hole is removed. Next the hole is closed and reshaped with stitches. Generally, no pain medicine is need afterward and the area is kept moist with an antibiotic ointment. Stitches come out in 7 – 10 days. Once the lobe is fully healed, the ear can be pierced.
What is the best treatment for sagging earlobes?
Most medical spas and dermatology offices offer Juvederm and other fillers for sagging earlobes.
Why are my earlobes so long and wrinkled?
As we age, we lose collagen and elastin. This loss of volume and elasticity shows everywhere, even in our earlobes.
How much does this surgery cost?
In most cases, repairing a torn lobe is a simple procedure when compared to a gauged ear - and it will be less expensive to repair.
Can you close scar tissue after earrings are removed?
With removal of the heavy earrings or gauges, the skin and scar tissue can contract a bit over time, but will not close on their own. The longer the gauges are out and the more contraction of the scar/skin that has occurred before surgical correction, generally the better the final outcome will be.”.
Is earlobe rejuvenation commonplace?
Earlobe Rejuvenation Is Becoming Commonplace. More and more women are proactive about their aging skin. They using great skin care, exercise, and treatments to keep themselves looking amazing! But earlobes are easily forgotten . . . until one day you realize your face looks great but your earlobes are deflated and sagging.
How to restore earlobes?
Fortunately, plastic surgeons like Dr. Deutsch can easily restore earlobes to their natural appearance through earlobe repair surgery. The earlobe repair procedure. An earlobe repair is an outpatient procedure, performed in Dr. Deutsch’s office. He starts the surgery by injecting local anesthesia into the ear lobe to numb the area.
What is earlobe repair?
Earlobe repair is a reconstructive plastic surgery procedure to correct split, ripped, torn, drooping, stretched-out or unusually large earlobes. While not often discussed in the media, it is one of the most common procedures performed by plastic surgeons. Mark Deutsch, MD, FACS, regularly provides earlobe repair to both men and women in the Atlanta area.
What is ear gauging?
Ear gauging, also known as earlobe stretching, is a type of body piercing which involves progressively increasing the size of an earlobe hole to accommodate increasingly larger earrings. The process starts with a standard ear piercing, and then after the lobe heals, a larger piece of circular jewelry is inserted.
Why do earrings tear?
Habitually using large earrings can cause the tear to get longer and longer until it eventually splits the lobe down the middle. At the very least, the lobes can become droopy or stretched-out. Having a piercing that’s close to the bottom of the earlobe can cause earrings to rip through the earlobe even more quickly. Additionally, the overall aging process, which causes almost all the tissues of the body to sag, can also affects the earlobe, compounding the effects of prolonged heavy earring use.
How long does it take for ear lobes to heal after ear piercing?
After two or three months, the ears may be re-pierced, if desired. However, the repaired lobes will now be weaker than they were before the earlobe repair, making them more susceptible to tearing. For that reason, very large or heavy earrings should not be worn; smaller earrings are recommended. There is the possibility that revisionary surgery may be needed in the future.
Why do people have earlobe surgery?
People opt to have earlobe repair for a variety of reasons. Some patients want to correct hereditary or congenital deformities; they may have been born with overly large or deformed earlobes, and be very self-conscious about it. More often, though, Dr. Deutsch performs this surgery to repair some type of damage to the earlobes.
What causes a tear in the bottom of the ear?
This type of injury could be caused by anything from a sports injury or getting an earring caught by a hairbrush or article of clothing, to a baby or young child pulling on an adult’s earring. The result is a vertically-oriented tear, ripping the bottom portion of the earlobe into two parts.