For many women, the earlobes can become stretched or torn, typically from long-time use of heavy earrings, injury, ear gauging, or the natural aging process. Misshapen or damaged earlobes can be difficult to hide and limit jewelry choices, but thankfully there is an easy fix! Boston female plastic surgeon Dr. Alannah Phelan performs earlobe repair surgery under local anesthesia with minimal downtime.

What is earlobe repair?

Earlobe repair, also known as earlobe reconstruction, is a precise surgical technique to mend and reshape the earlobe. Dr. Phelan numbs your ears, then carefully reconstructs the earlobe to enhance the structural integrity and aesthetic. This straightforward procedure can address a range of issues including tears from earrings, stretched earlobes from gauges, aging, or trauma-related injuries so you feel more confident. 

Benefits of earlobe repair

Earlobe repair offers numerous benefits beyond just cosmetic improvement:

  • Creates a natural look
  • Allows you to wear earrings again, if desired
  • Repairs damage that can cause discomfort 
  • Enhances self-confidence by correcting noticeable earlobe deformities

Types of earlobe repair procedures

Dr. Phelan offers several types of earlobe repair procedures to address your specific needs and goals:

  • Simple earlobe repair for small tears or splits
  • Complex earlobe repair for severe damage or stretched earlobes for larger tears or significantly stretched earlobes
  • Revision earlobe procedures to address unsatisfactory results from prior surgeries
  • Earlobe fat grafting to address deflation from aging, often performed with other areas of facial fat grafting

The earlobe repair procedure

Pre-operative consultation and planning

During your consultation, Dr. Phelan will assess your earlobes, discuss your goals, and develop a personalized treatment plan.

Procedure steps 

Earlobe repair surgery typically involves the following steps:

  1. Local anesthesia is administered to completely numb the area. 
  2. Dr. Phelan makes precise incisions to excise the enlarged piercing hole or remove damaged tissues and then carefully sutures the earlobe to restore its shape.
  3. Fine sutures secure the incision to hold the restored size and shape.  

Adding fat grafting to address earlobe deflation

Depending on your unique case, more tissue may be needed to help fill out the earlobe for the most natural appearance possible. Dr. Phelan may recommend adding a fat grafting procedure if so. Fat grafting (or fat transfer) involves using liposuction in an area of the body, such as the abdomen, to harvest your own natural fat, which is then purified and injected into the earlobe in precise amounts to create a natural appearance.

Recovery and aftercare

Once your sensation returns, you may feel some tenderness after earlobe repair surgery. However, most patients report that discomfort is minimal and require only tylenol during recovery. Some temporary redness and swelling is normal and quickly resolves as you heal. Recovery tends to be short, since no general anesthesia is administered.

We also provide individualized post-operative care instructions so you feel confident caring for your incisions. In general, we’ll ask you to keep the incisions clean and dry. Your sutures will be removed one week post-surgery. 

You may return to work and your normal activities the following day. Just be mindful not to disturb your earlobes when changing clothes, talking on the phone, or performing any activity that may strain or put pressure on your earlobes. The initial healing phase takes only 1-2 weeks.

Key Benefits
  • Restores the natural look of the earlobes
  • Repairs torn or stretched earlobes
  • Corrects earlobe deformities 
  • Short recovery time
  • Minimal scarring
Glossary
  • Anesthesia: Anesthesia is used during earlobe repair to ensure the procedure is pain-free for the patient.
  • Local Anesthesia/Local Anesthetic: Local anesthesia is applied to numb the earlobe area, allowing the patient to stay awake while feeling no pain during the repair.
  • Torn Earlobes: Torn earlobes are a common issue addressed by earlobe repair.
  • New Piercing: After earlobe repair, patients often seek a new ear piercing, which should be done after full healing.
  • Dermal Fillers: Dermal fillers are sometimes used in conjunction with earlobe repair to restore volume and shape.
  • Facial Plastic Surgery: Earlobe repair falls under the broader category of facial plastic surgery, which includes various procedures to enhance facial appearance.
  • Reconstructive Surgery: Reconstructive surgery, including earlobe repair, aims to restore the form and function of body parts affected by trauma or other issues.
  • Facial Plastic Surgeon: A facial plastic surgeon is a specialist who performs earlobe repair among other facial plastic surgery procedures to improve aesthetic outcomes.
  • Antibiotic Ointment: After earlobe repair, antibiotic ointment is often prescribed to prevent infection and promote healing.
  • Piercing Hole: The piercing hole is repaired during earlobe surgery, especially if it has been stretched or torn.
  • Earlobe Tears: Earlobe tears, whether partial or complete, are a primary reason individuals seek earlobe repair.
  • Stud Earrings: After healing from earlobe repair, patients can typically wear stud earrings as they are lighter and less likely to cause damage.
  • Earlobe Reduction: Earlobe reduction is a specific type of earlobe repair aimed at reducing the size of overly large earlobes.
  • Clip-On Earrings: Clip-on earrings are a good alternative during the healing period after earlobe repair to avoid putting strain on the healing tissue.
  • Silicone Gel Sheeting: Silicone gel sheeting may be recommended post-surgery to minimize scarring on the repaired earlobe.
  • Dangling Earrings: Patients are advised to avoid heavy dangling earrings after earlobe repair to prevent further damage.
  • Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: Earlobe repair is a part of plastic and reconstructive surgery aimed at both aesthetic improvement and functional restoration.
  • Keloids: Keloids can form as a complication of earlobe repair for patients who are prone to these scars, so it’s important to discuss this risk with your surgeon.Surgical Excision: Surgical excision is a technique used during earlobe repair to remove damaged tissue and reshape the lobe.

Results

You’ll notice immediate improvements in the shape and size of your earlobes after surgery, as holes and tears will be closed. Once the sutures are removed one week post-op, you’ll see smoother skin. It may take up to 3 months or so for residual swelling to dissipate but final results are typically seen about 8 weeks after surgery. Most patients can have their ears re-pierced, if desired, after 10 weeks.

Earlobe repair scars

Dr. Phelan takes great care to place earlobe repair incisions so that the resulting scar heals as thin and fine as possible. Once the scar matures and fades, it is typically nearly invisible against your skin. 

Earlobe repair surgery FAQs

The procedure typically takes about 30 minutes to an hour. Dr. Phelan will be able to provide an accurate time estimate during your consultation so you can plan accordingly.

Dr. Phelan typically clears patients to re-pierce their ears about 2 months after earlobe repair surgery.

Yes, Dr. Phelan can repair both earlobes during the same session if needed.

Most patients can return to normal activities the next day, but we ask that you avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting for a week to keep unnecessary swelling at bay.

Earlobe repair is considered a cosmetic procedure, so insurance typically does not cover it.

The cost of earlobe repair surgery will be provided during your consultation at our Boston office. We offer financing options to make paying for your procedure as convenient as possible.

Yes, many women add earlobe repair to their facelift procedure plan. Dr. Phelan also performs ear pinning (otoplasty) along with earlobe repair for some patients.

In most cases, it’s best to seek earlobe repair after the initial injury has fully healed and any swelling has subsided, typically after a few weeks. Dr. Phelan would be happy to see you right away and determine the best time for earlobe repair based on your condition.

Yes, once the earlobes have healed, you can re-pierce and wear earrings. To prevent your earlobes from being re-stretched or torn again, we recommend choosing lightweight earrings.

Yes, the goal of earlobe repair is to restore a natural, symmetrical appearance. Most patients are thrilled with the results.

Yes, children can undergo earlobe repair, but it’s important to discuss this with Dr. Phelan to determine the best timing and approach.

The results of earlobe repair are considered permanent. That said, the natural aging process, heavy earrings, or trauma can cause stretching or damage and may impact results.

If your earlobe tears again, Dr. Phelan can perform revision surgery to repair the damage.

Yes, earlobe repair can be used to correct certain congenital earlobe deformities to improve both appearance and function.

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Phelan to learn more

Ready to restore the natural look and function of your earlobes? Schedule your consultation with female facial plastic surgeon Dr. Alannah Phelan. Please call Boston Plastic Surgery at (617) 786-7600 or fill out our contact form.

References »

Grohmann M, Weiland T, Tuca AC, Wimbauer JM. Earlobe Correction of the Pierced Ear: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Principles for Surgical Reconstruction. Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine. 2023 Mar-Apr;25(2):83-89. doi: 10.1089/fpsam.2021.0269. 

Nassour N, Watfa W. Outcomes and complications of Traumatic ear lobe repair techniques: A systematic review. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2022 Mar;21(3):910-923. doi: 10.1111/jocd.14223. 

Scott BL, Anderson Y, Loyo M, Kim MM. Repair of Gauged Earlobes: Case Series and Review of Two Techniques According to Size. Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery. 2021 Jul-Sep;14(3):351-356. doi: 10.4103/JCAS.JCAS_116_20. 

Sadasivan K, Kochunarayanan A. A Revised Classification and Treatment Algorithm for Acquired Split Earlobe, With a Description of the Composite Technique and its Outcome. Cureus. 2020 Sep 13;12(9):e10422. doi: 10.7759/cureus.10422. 

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