Torn or stretched earlobe repair.

Stretched or torn Ear Lobe Repair is one of the most routinely performed surgical procedures: it repairs the tear or stretched earlobe.  

What is Earlobe Repair?

Wearing earrings will, in some cases, over time, result in stretching of the earlobes and stretching of the earlobe piercings. Accidental pull on earrings can also result in a rip in the earlobe. Finally, modern ear piercing fashions can lead to varying degrees of earlobe deformities and splits.

As the shape of the ear and earlobe should always be considered, not only in terms of sex and race, but also age, a repair is performed to try to return the earlobe to as normal an anatomical appearance as possible. This may involve the resection of scar tissue, freshening of margins, removal and reconstruction of the earlobe and other techniques.

 How do split earlobes or stretched piercings impact life

Although the human body has amazing abilities to return to a “normal” size after weight gain and weight loss, similar stretching of piercings may not always allow the tissues to return to their normal size and shape. In particular, excessively long piercings or large holes created for large ornamental earrings will result in abnormally shaped earlobes which can be difficult to hide. This can affect your appearance, social life, or even work.    

 How are earlobes repaired?

These repairs are generally performed using local anesthesia and may take about 20 minutes per earlobe. Varying techniques are used to repair earlobes, varying from resection of a part of the earlobe followed by repair to local resection of lining and layered closure. With larger dilated holes, an “M”-plasty or “W”-plasty repair is performed to give an irregular scar which looks best. Rotational flaps are sometimes used to give the earlobe its contour back again. The sutures used will be a combination of deep and superficial, dissolving and sutures that are removed a few weeks later. .   

How will my scars look?

After your sutures are removed, the scars tend to be a little thickened and somewhat pink: this settles over time. Over a few months, the healing will result in an almost invisible scar.  

When can I wear earrings?

Clip-on earrings may be worn within two to four weeks.

When can I re-pierce my earlobes?

A piercing away from the site of repair may be performed within three months of repair. However, any piercing close to the site of repair should be delayed for six months.