Ear Lobe Repair

At least 40,000 Americans have earlobe repair procedures annually. If you’re unhappy with the appearance of your earlobes or can’t wear earrings due to tissue damage, the Comprehensive Dermatology team can help. They offer earlobe repair procedures in their Woodmere and Westbury, New York, offices, giving you effective solutions without major hospital surgery. Call the office nearest you or request an appointment online today.

What is earlobe repair?

Earlobe repair refers to procedures that restore the appearance and function of damaged earlobes. Comprehensive Dermatology offers earlobe repair procedures in the office to make the process easy and convenient.  

When might I need earlobe repair?

While a damaged earlobe isn’t usually a serious medical problem, it may cause cosmetic issues like being unhappy with your appearance and being unable to wear earrings. 

Some people are born with differently-shaped earlobes, but in most cases, earlobe damage occurs during an accident or due to certain behaviors, such as:

• Gauging 
• Multiple piercings close together
• Piercings close to the bottom of the earlobe
• Wearing heavy earrings frequently
• Earrings snagging on material and pulling your ear
• Children tugging on earrings
• Ear trauma

Just as the source of the earlobe damage varies by patient, the type and extent of earlobe repair can differ for each person.

How does earlobe repair work? 

The two main options for earlobe repair are dermal fillers and in-office surgery. 

Dermal fillers

Dermal fillers — injectable substances that add volume under your skin — can restore mildly stretched-out earlobe holes. 

The filler plumps the skin around the hole, drawing it tighter and temporarily making it smaller. 

Dermal fillers can last 6-18 months. They wear off gradually, and your earlobe returns to its previous appearance, but you can maintain your results with treatments once or twice a year.

Surgery

Surgery is generally the best earlobe repair option when earlobes are significantly elongated or misshapen. During earlobe surgery, the team administers a local anesthetic. They then perform a repair based on your needs. 

Surgery may involve trimming excess skin to shorten the earlobe, removing scar tissue, or suturing the outer edges of an earlobe hole together to stimulate tissue regrowth. Surgical repairs are permanent. 

You can re-pierce your earlobe following earlobe surgery, but Comprehensive Dermatology recommends waiting at least three months to do so. Your new piercing must be a minimum of 3 mm away from the old one. 

The Comprehensive Dermatology team evaluates your earlobe and recommends the approach best for your situation. 

If you have sagging or overlarge piercing or gauging holes in your earlobes, Comprehensive Dermatology can help you restore your appearance. Call the office nearest you or request a consultation online today.