Individuals who have worn large, heavy earrings can stretch, and sometimes tear their earlobe over time. For others who have gauged their earlobe, the earlobes will have become elongated and have holes. In addition, as we age, sometimes the earlobes enlarge and become droopy or floppy, unable to properly support earrings.

Eventually, an earlobe repair procedure is often necessary. Many patients who consult with Dr. Donn R. Chatham at Chatham Facial Surgery centers in Louisville, Kentucky (KY) and New Albany, Indiana (IN) did not know their earlobe problem can be easily fixed.

As a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Donn Chatham can expertly repair and rejuvenate a person’s earlobe with minimal surgery. If you might need this, read on to learn how Dr. Chatham performs earlobe repair and reduction procedures.

What Are Some Of The Common Causes For Earlobe Repair?

Earlobes are primarily skin and fatty tissue, with little to no cartilage. Earrings, especially heavy ones, create a strain and the earlobes can stretch and/or tear. Other causes may involve telephone use, wayward babies grasping an earring, and/or pulling a shirt over one’s head.

Elongated earlobe holes or split earlobes, can typically be caused by:

• Wearing heavy earrings over long periods of time
• Earrings getting caught and then pulled (typically long earrings snagging a dress or other clothing)
• Multiple piercings too close together or too close to the bottom of the lobe
• Accident / trauma including curious babies
• Gauges placed in the earlobe, with increasing size, weight, and time
• Aging resulting in enlarged and droopy earlobe (atrophy)

As a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Donn Chatham can expertly repair and rejuvenate a person’s earlobe with minimal surgery and/or the use of advanced dermal fillers. When older earlobes ‘deflate’ due age-related atrophy, a small amount of filler such as Restylane^® can ‘inflate’ the lobule, creating a plumpness that looks good and better supports earrings. If you desire your earlobes to be repaired, schedule your consultation today.

How Are The Earlobes Repaired?

Earlobe repair requires a small amount of local anesthesia, then the precise removal of small areas of skin between torn or stretched earlobes and then suturing the earlobe sections together on the front and back of the earlobe. This is performed in the office and typically is completed in less than 30 minutes. The earlobes naturally heal in ten days and may be re-pierced at about 5 weeks.

In the case of ear gauging, the defect is larger, and repair is more extensive. Patients interested in gauging earlobe repair no longer find the holes desirable and wish to restore their earlobes. Click here to learn more about Earlobe Gauge Repair.

Why A Facial Plastic Surgeon?

Earlobe repair and reduction surgery, or an earlobe filler procedure, requires specialized surgical expertise and should be performed by a facial plastic surgeon. Dr. Donn Chatham, Medical Director of Chatham Facial Surgery is a double board-certified surgeon.