Earlobe Surgery
Goals Earlobe reduction is performed to reduce the overall size of the ear lobe.
The Procedure An incision is designed within the earlobe to reduce it to an appropriate size. A meticulous closure is then performed using absorbable stitches.
Anesthesia The procedure can be performed under local anesthetic in the comfort of our office. Ear lobe reduction can also be performed in conjunction with other facial cosmetic procedures such as a facelift or facial fat transfer.
Length of Time The procedure takes less then one hour to perform and can be done in the comfort of our office.
After the Procedure Patients can drive home immediately after the procedure. There is minimal pain, which is alleviated with extra strength Tylenol.
Recovery Patients can immediately resume their regular daily activities.
Split ear lobe before and 6 weeks after repair
Goals The procedure is performed to correct a split in the earlobe often caused by trauma associated with wearing earings.
The Procedure The edges of the split earlobe are freshioned and a meticulous layered wound closure is performed to reestablish a continuous earlobe.
Anesthesia The procedure is performed under local anesthetic in the comfort of our office.
Length of Time The procedure takes less then one hour to perform and is performed in our comfortable office procedure room.
Split ear lobe before repair
After the Procedure Patients can drive home immediately after the procedure. There is minimal pain, which is alleviated with extra strength Tylenol.
Recovery Regular daily activities can be resumed immediately. The ear can be re-pierced after 4 weeks.
A split ear lobe is when the soft part of the ear skin, where ear ring piercings are placed, tears. This can be unsitely and also prevents you from properly repiercing your ears.
There are several factors that contribute to this. The majority of torn earlobes results from a combination of the following:
1) Heavy earrings- People like to wear large heavy ear rings, such as hoops. Years of wearing this type of jewelery can lead to stretching of the ear lobe and an eventual tear.
2) Trauma- Simple tugging or pulling on ear rings will also weaken the ear lobe over time, leading to stretching and eventually a split in the ear skin. A forceful pull on an existing earring can also create this problem.
3) Skin sensitivity- Skin sensitivity to certain metals such as nickle can be quite common. Costume jewlery and less expensive ear rings are often made of nickle. Over time, this nickle sensitivity can weaken the skin of the ear lobe and contribute to a tear. It is important to note that some expensive earrings made of very soft gold (24 karat) also use nickle in the posts in order to provide a harder metal to support the ear ring.
Torn ear lobe repair before and after photos.
Yes. Torn ear lobe repair is a common procedure that we perform in the comfort of our office procedure room.
No. A local anesthetic will be used in order to numb the area. You will not feel anything during the procedure. After the procedure most people do not complain of any pain. If you have any discomfort at all, extra strength Tylenol can be taken.
Yes. Since we perform the repair using only local anesthetic, you will be able to drive yourself to and from the appointment.
Before and immediately after repair of a stretched ear lobe. Her earlobes were stretched from gauged earrings. The photo shows the stitches in place immediately after repair.
Yes. Before the ear lobe will become torn, it stretches. Repairing it at this point is beneficial. Many people find that their ear rings do not fit well any longer and request us to close their holes.
Yes. In most cases we recommend that the ear be repierced 2 months after we repair it.
Yes. Stretched out earlobe skin is commonly seen after years of wearing large earrings, called gauges. Depending on the size of the ear lobe, we will recommend the best method in which to repair this.
Yes. We see patients from all over for repair of their earlobes. Dr. Steiger has been featured on ABC news for torn earlobe repair.