Spa

Earlobe Repair

Surgery to repair a torn earlobe is a frequent occurrence. Piercing an earlobe puts it at risk to tear. The size, style and weight of an earring can contribute to the stretching of the earlobe opening. Large earrings that dangle are caught on clothing or grasped by a child. The result may be a partially or completely torn earlobe.

In most pierced ears, the pierced hole gradually enlarges over time. Under continued weight, or trauma, the hole expands towards the bottom of the ear lobe, eventually tearing through that tissue, leaving a split lobe. In this case, immediate repair is not recommended, so reconstruction is delayed until after the wound has healed and inflammation has diminished. However, if the tear is old, and there is no inflammation, immediate repair is an option.

Depending on the deformity, reconstruction can take different forms. In all methods, the skin lining the slot is removed creating a raw edge to rebuild. When tissue has been lost, however, the procedure is more complicated, and reconstruction involves creating normal proportions around a somewhat small ear.

Repair of a torn earlobe occurs in the office setting using a local anesthetic. The procedure consists of "freshening" the edges of the split and placement of sutures to complete the repair of the earlobe.

After Your Ear Lobe Repair Procedure

Sutures are removed 1 - 2 weeks after the repair procedure. A thin layer of antibiotic ointment is the only dressing applied in most cases. A little drainage from the wound is to be expected.

How soon can I wear earrings after surgery?

You should wait six months after surgery before wearing earrings. The scar should be soft before you get your lobe re-pierced, approximately three months after the earlobe repair.