Earlobe Surgery


Earlobe surgery is done to make repairs to torn, stretched or damaged earlobes that occur as a result of diseases, trauma or wear and tear from wearing heavy jewelry. The earlobe is anesthetized with 1-2 injections of lidocaine. The dilated piercing and stretched surrounding skin is removed through a small wedge-shaped excision or a more involved tissue rearrangement called an advancement flap. The new skin edges are sutured together on the front and back of the earlobe. A small bump is created at the bottom of the earlobe where the curvature occurs and it will flatten out after the sutures are removed. This bump avoids a chance of having an indented or “scalloped” ear after healing.

Ideal candidates for earlobe surgery are patients in good health and that have realistic results expectations. Patients with a history of keloids or severe scarring are not good candidates. Earlobe repair is ideal for patients looking to fix an earlobe that has been stretched or torn as a result of trauma, gauged ears or an accident. Earlobe repair removes the damaged skin from a patient and restores the appearance of the earlobe.

The cost of earlobe surgery depends on various factors. More often than not, the extent of the procedure, location of where the surgery would take place and the surgeon performing the treatment would determine the surgery cost. In general, the cost of earlobe surgery ranges from $400 to $900, although it can be higher for more extensive tears. For deep and extensive earlobe tears, the cost ranges from $1500 to $2000 per ear.

Some aching or mild pain will be experienced for a few days after the surgery. Showering is permitted 24 hours after surgery but it is important not to subject the ears to excessively hot or cold water. Any stitches are removed after a week and the earlobe will fully heal after 1-2 months. Any scars are quite visible but they begin to fade within a couple of months. Any use of makeup may delay wound healing and possibly cause a permanent tattoo if it comes in contact with the treated areas too soon. Wait to apply cosmetics until the stitches have been removed or when abrasions are no longer weeping.

Reconstructive Earlobe Surgery

Reconstructive Earlobe Surgery

submitted on   Wed Feb, 11, 2015 by Diana Ghosh, MD     
Reconstructive earlobe surgery is a procedure that rebuilds the tissue on the earlobe and restores it back to a normal appearance. This type of procedure is also known as earlobe repair. It is generally sought after by patients who have gauged their lobes/stretched them, in order to insert...