Earlobe Repair 101: What It Is, How It Works, & Why You Should Get It

You may be asking yourself, "why would someone need earlobe repair surgery?" Surprisingly, for many people earlobes represent an important part of their appearance. In fact, in certain cultures, the size and shape of your earlobe can represent nobility or beauty. For the average American, the presence of stretched earlobes is most recognizable in the body art form called gauging. This trend, along with hereditary reasons or traumatic events, is one of the many reasons why someone may be interested in earlobe repair. Below, we will explain everything you need to know about earlobe repair surgery including what it is, how it works, and why you should get it.

What is earlobe repair surgery?

Earlobe reconstruction surgery is a procedure that corrects abnormalities that impact the soft skin and fatty tissue that make up one's earlobe.

How does earlobe repair work?

Earlobe repair surgery typically lasts up to an hour. The procedure is fairly simple, painless, and can be performed in-office under local anesthesia. Before undergoing earlobe repair surgery, your surgeon will mark the areas that need to be corrected and speak with you about the best repair technique based on your specific needs. Then, they will apply a numbing solution to the ear, so that the procedure can be performed with minimal discomfort. A fine thread will be used to perform the repair in an effort to diminish scarring.

Am I a good candidate for earlobe repair?

Typically, earlobe repair surgery is a good idea for people who have had major trauma to an earlobe for any given reason. Some of the most common reasons patients decide that earlobe repair is right for them include:

1. Stretched earlobes: Earlobe repair surgery is popular among people with gauges. Many people who have participated in the earlobe gauge trend are now deciding that they no longer want stretched earlobes.
2. Droopy earlobes: Over time, someone may notice that their ears start to droop or sag. Earlobe repair is a great option for patients who wish to correct this issue.
3. Ripped earlobes: In most cases, a split earlobe is caused by acute trauma. For example, this can be due to wearing heavy earrings, getting an earring pulled out or sports injuries. The procedure can be used to reconstruct this earlobe damage.

Earlobe Repair Recovery

Earlobe repair surgery is relatively simple. In fact, most patients are back to regular daily activities almost immediately. After the procedure is complete, your head will be wrapped in gauze to assist with the recovery process. In order to ensure that you have a healthy recovery, you will be given specific instructions from your surgeon that should be followed precisely. Here are a few of the approximate timestamps related to the recovery process that you should keep in mind:

• One day after surgery, the gauze can be removed from your head.
• One week after surgery, post-op stitches are typically removed.
• One to two months following the procedure, healed earlobes can be re-pierced.

Keep in mind that this timeline varies based on your individual case; be sure to speak with your surgeon about your specific needs.

Thanks to earlobe repair surgery you don't have to live with stretched earlobes or ripped earlobes. If you are looking to correct the appearance of your earlobes, Vado Plastic Surgery can help you to fix any issue from droopy earlobes to split earlobes. Contact our team to schedule a consultation with our board-certified Orlando plastic surgeon to learn more about earlobe repair surgery.