Torn earlobes can occur for a variety of reasons and are usually due to gradual stretching out of the holes within earlobes from wearing earrings in pierced ears. Whether your torn earlobe is a new or old injury, Dr. Hutchinson offers different techniques for surgical repair.
Torn Earlobe Repair
Restoring Torn Earlobes
Torn earlobe repair is a common plastic surgery procedure that Dr. Hutchinson performs to restore damaged earlobes. It is a minor surgery that takes less than 1 hour and recovery is very minimal.
What Causes Earlobes to Tear?
Injuries
The majority of earlobe tears occur due to earrings being pulled on and may result in either a partial tear, where the hole is elongated or a complete tear where the soft tissue is split through to the edge of the earlobe, resulting in a cleft.
Micro Tears
Earrings can create tiny tears in the skin that may eventually cause elongation or complete ripping of the earlobes. This happens especially when heavy earrings are frequently worn or when earrings are worn during daily tasks and activities.
Ear Gauges
Ear gauges create increasingly large holes within the earlobes. When ear gauges are removed, the earlobes are significantly stretched out or often even torn. Repairing earlobes after this type of soft tissue damage requires more complex plastic surgical techniques to recreate a smooth earlobe contour.
Torn Earlobe Repair Procedure Details
The restoration of torn earlobes can be achieved in a convenient in office procedure. Only local anesthetic is needed and treatment takes 1 hour. To correct your torn earlobes, Dr. Hutchinson will remove the excess skin, smooth the edges, and carefully suture the torn area closed. The area that was previously torn should be fully recovered in 1-2 weeks. Some swelling is to be expected. Make sure to keep the sutured areas very clean during the healing process, and be careful when shampooing your hair. Dr. Hutchinson typically removes the sutures one week after surgery.
Why Choose Dr. Hutchinson?
Dr. Olivia Hutchinson is a board certified aesthetic plastic surgeon who has been providing reconstructive procedures to patients from NYC and beyond for over two decades. Dr. Hutchinson sets the highest standards of quality and care, exceeding her patients’ expectations for excellence and treating each individual with customized, detail oriented care. If you are interested in fixing a torn earlobe and would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hutchinson, contact us online or call us at (212) 452-1400.
