Earlobe repairs generally happen when you have had a piercing that gets stretched out by wearing heavy earrings, or by some other trauma to the earlobe.
Repairing the earlobe is a simple, in-office procedure that involves local anesthesia, like going to the dentist, and incising out the damaged earlobe and sewing the two sides back together. This allows you to have a clean fine scar instead of a torn earlobe, to help support future weight of earrings once you are able to re-pierce them. Earlobe Repair is not covered by insurance.
Earlobe Repair Procedure
The earlobe repair procedure typically involves the following steps:
- Cleaning and numbing: The earlobe is cleaned and numbed with a local anesthetic to minimize any discomfort during the procedure.
- Removing damaged tissue: The dermatologist carefully removes any damaged tissue from the earlobe using a surgical blade or laser. The goal is to create a clean, even edge that can be sutured back together.
- Suturing the earlobe: The dermatologist uses tiny, dissolvable stitches to carefully suture the earlobe back together, creating a smooth, natural-looking shape. The stitches are typically removed in about a week.
- Post-operative care: After the procedure, the dermatologist will provide instructions for post-operative care, which typically involves keeping the earlobe clean and dry, avoiding heavy jewelry or earlobe stretching, and avoiding any activities that could put pressure on the earlobe.
If the earlobe is not completely torn through, or not severe enough to warrant an excision of the earlobe, oftentimes we can inject a filler into the ear lobule to support the weight of earring and prevent the “torn” look. See us in consultation to determine which route is best for you.