Earlobe Repair & Reduction

A torn or split earlobe is a common injury where ear piercing holes split downwards, sometimes leaving the bottom of the earlobe split in two. This is a visible cosmetic deformity that is not often easily hidden, particularly if the person in question has short hair. It can cause considerable distress and have an adverse impact on a person’s mental health and self-confidence. Wearing heavy earrings over a long period of time is the most common cause of a split earlobe.

Torn earlobes can also be caused by a sudden, forceful pulling of the earring. A child or pet grabbing an earring can cause this tearing. Sometimes larger earrings can get caught on clothing and the result can be an earlobe tear.

Earlobe expansion is when the pierced hole has been slowly dilated using progressively larger earrings. Once the hole reaches a certain size, it will not contract back to its original size. As a rule of thumb, a skin tunnel measuring 10mm or more in diametre will not go back to its original size. From this point, only surgery will help to correct the problem. 

This type of expansion is a long-established tribal practice but this form of body modification  has enjoyed an increase in popularity in the West over the past decade. It is common for people who may have used earlobe expanders ten years ago to have changed their minds and seek surgery to return their earlobes back to a more natural size and shape. It is very difficult to hide stretched earlobes, particularly if you do not have long hair which can easily conceal the problem.

As well as being an aesthetic issue, stretched ear lobes can also cause physical pain and what is known as an ‘ear blow out’. This occurs when the skin inside the earlobe is forced out through the rear of the piercing. 

It is also worth noting that you don’t have to have pierced ears to suffer a torn or split earlobe. Clip-on earrings which are too tight have been known to restrict blood flow to the earlobe, leading to necrosis (tissue death), causing a split earlobe. Congenital deformities can also be responsible for split earlobes. This includes rare cases of congenital cleft earlobes or cleft ear (pinna).

For some men and women, the appearance of their earlobes can cause unhappiness and insecurity. Stretched, torn or split earlobes may cause a person to feel self-conscious and this may have a negative impact on their mental health.

The presence of stretched, torn or split earlobes may also lead to a person being unfairly judged on their appearance, in extreme cases impacting upon work and romantic prospects.

Stretched, torn or split earlobes can affect a person’s facial symmetry and have a negative impact on facial proportions.

Ear lobe repair surgery is also suitable for people who have excessively small or large earlobes due to genetics, those who have earlobes that have sagged or dropped due to age or have keloids or prominent scars visible on the lobe or lobes.

Ear lobe repair surgery is suitable for patients aged 18 and over.

The goal of ear lobe surgery is to restore the earlobes back to a natural appearance. All signs of tearing, splitting or stretching will have been eradicated. Scarring is minimal and once healed, there is no reason why you can’t get your ears pierced again.

As mentioned above, the larger the skin tunnel, the more difficult it is to repair. However our expert surgeons will strive to create the most natural-looking result possible given your anatomy. 

You may want to consider combining your earlobe repair or earlobe reduction surgery with another cosmetic procedure to enhance the overall result. If you are experiencing age-related lengthening of the earlobes, an additional procedure like a facelift or anti-aging injectables may be a good choice. Our consultant will be able to go through the available treatments with you at your consultation.

Earlobe repair surgery is not painful as the procedure is carried out under a local anesthetic. This means you will be awake for the procedure, but will not be able to feel any pain.

There will be minimal pain, soreness or discomfort in the days after the surgery, but this can be controlled using over-the-counter painkillers. However the recovery process is usually largely painless.

There may be some bruising or swelling after the surgery, but this is only temporary and will disappear within a few weeks of the procedure.

If you have any concerns, you should discuss this with your surgeon at your consultation.

You should expect small scars on the ears following ear lobe repair surgery. These will look red in the immediate period after surgery, but will eventually fade and become pale and barely noticeable. There should be no obvious signs of scarring or the previous piercing within four to six months after your surgery.

Repairing the damage caused by tribal ear jewellery requires a much more involved procedure than repairing a simple ear lobe tear caused by a split piercing hole. This type of procedure can leave a permanent scar which may be more noticeable.

You may wish to consider the Cadogan Clinic Scar Management Programme. All patients undergoing surgical procedures with us are eligible for this treatment. This may involve the use of silicone gels or sheets, ICON Fractional laser treatment or LED light to minimise the risk of visible scarring. All patients also receive post-operative wound care and advice under the supervision of our Tissue Viability Nurse, Sabina.

It is important that you avoid exposure to direct sunlight when recovering from ear lobe repair surgery. This is because extended exposure to sunlight can cause hyperpigmentation of the incision lines. You should follow all the aftercare instructions issued by your surgeon to minimise the risk of scarring.

The good news is that in most cases it is possible to wear earrings again following earlobe repair surgery.

However we would advise waiting for six to eight weeks before having your ears re-pierced following ear lobe surgery to allow for the scar to heal. If you re-pierce too soon, the earring may rip through the incision, potentially resulting in a separated earlobe which may require further surgery.

Attempting to pierce the ears too soon, before they have had the chance to recover from ear lobe surgery, could damage the tissue, causing pain or irritation. 

We would advise re-piercing the earlobe in a slightly different place to the original piercing hole. As this part of the lobe has already been damaged and repaired, this makes it weaker, increasing the risk of another earlobe split. We recommend that you inform the person who is piercing your ears about your previous earlobe repair surgery.

Earlobe repair surgery is considered to be low-risk procedure. This means that it is highly unlikely that there will be any complications.

However, just like any other surgical procedure, there is still the potential for complications arising from earlobe repair surgery.

These include:

• Notching when healing
• Infection of the surgical site
• Delayed wound healing
• Keloid scarring (an enlarged, raised scar that can be pink, red, or darker than the skin surrounding it)

Your surgeon will discuss the potential risks and complications with you at your initial consultation.

Earlobe repair surgery is carried out under local anesthetic. These are generally very safe and major side effects are rare. However you may experience the following:

• Minor bruising, soreness or bleeding at the injection site
• Tingling sensation as the anesthetic wears off
• Mild discomfort at the injection site

A handful of people experience temporary side effects from a local anesthetic. These may include:

• Headaches
• Continuing numbness or pins and needles
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Twitching muscles 

These problems usually pass, but you should inform your surgeon or our nursing team if you experience any of these effects.

If you have any concerns about the potential risks of ear lobe repair surgery, please feel free to raise these at your initial consultation.

The cost of earlobe repair surgery at the Cadogan Clinic varies depending on a number of factors. These include whether you require one or both earlobes repaired, whether you require an earlobe reduction and the complexity of the repair (for example, reversing large skin tunnels).

If your earlobe repair surgery is a revision treatment, this will also be reflected in the cost.

At your initial telephone discussion with your patient advisor, they will be able to provide further expectations on the cost of treatment after discussing your desired outcome and your preferred practitioner with you. This is only a guide and is not a substitution for a consultation with your practitioner.

Your practitioner will advise you of the price of your chosen treatment before you decide whether or not to proceed with treatment.

If you are unsure of the price of treatment or diagnostic tests, please confirm with your practitioner before treatment is carried out.