Dangling earrings and edgy, gauged piercings draw positive attention to the ears in the moment, but over time, these stylish trends change or result in extensive damage that won’t heal on its own. When pierced ears are elongated or stretched with heavy jewelry, the earlobes can suffer tearing, which can range in severity from partial to full splitting.
Fortunately, there’s a procedure that can help restore the appearance of your ears by correcting tears or splits caused either by jewelry or other trauma.
This routine procedure can rectify full, partial, and even multiple tears to the earlobe. This result of this treatment will be total restoration of the original appearance of your ears, eliminating pre-existing damage.
At Broward ENT & Aesthetics, we strive to offer the latest and most advanced techniques in torn earlobe treatment. This procedure is ideal for patients who have experienced damage or trauma to their ears, and are looking to safely restore their original appearance. This procedure is fast and effective, and board-certified otolaryngologist and ENT surgeon Dr. Wilson DuMornay will work with you to ensure you meet your goals.
Patients who are seeking to undergo torn earlobe surgery are generally experiencing stretched or ripped earlobes that have not healed on their own, despite removing the jewelry. If you experience any of the following, earlobe surgery may be right for you:
Ideal candidates should also be in good overall health, realistic expectations and not have a serious medical condition that could interfere with the procedure. To ensure that earlobe surgery is right for you, Dr. DuMornay will meet with you during a one-on-one consultation to discuss your needs, goals and medical history. This step is important because those with a history of keloids, significant scarring, and conditions that would hinder the healing process may not be good candidates for earlobe surgery.
As with any surgery, discuss the concerns you may have with your doctor beforehand and be sure to mention any medications you are taking to ensure their effects will not impact the treatment or recovery process. Patients taking blood thinners should stop using this medication two weeks prior to the procedure. Dr. DuMornay will be available throughout the treatment process to address any questions you may have and ensure that you feel comfortable before proceeding with surgery.
Torn earlobe surgery is a relatively quick and simple procedure that is done in-office, and will not be performed under sedation. However, the way in which the procedure is performed will be determined by the extent of damage to the areas being treated.
Prior to the procedure, the treatment area will be cleansed and marked. Next, a local anesthetic will be administered to the earlobe, which will take approximately 15 minutes to take effect. Regardless of the damage, the procedure works in all cases by removing any scarred areas, then closing them with small sutures.
For partial tears that do not break through the bottom of the ear, the scarred area will simply be removed and stitched. For tears in the lower part of the earlobe, the physician may extend the tear all the way through to the bottom of the ear, then suture the ear back into an appropriate shape.
During treatment, it may be possible to keep a portion of the existing piercing, if desired. If you’d prefer to start fresh, please know it is safe to have the ears pierced again once the healing process is complete.
Since this procedure is not performed under general anesthesia, there is no in-office recovery time required, and you are free to resume your day following the surgery. However, to ensure proper healing, certain precautions should be taken in the weeks following the procedure.
While you may resume your normal activity and exercise routine immediately following treatment, it’s important to note strenuous activity should be avoided for the first few days. Remember to cleanse the area three times per day for the first week in accordance with your aftercare instructions. Over-the-counter pain medication may be taken to alleviate any discomfort and swelling you may experience.
If you received sutures, it’s advisable not to sleep directly on your ears or apply pressure to that area until they are removed. Typically, sutures will be removed from the repaired area one to two weeks after surgery. Do not submerge your ears in water until the sutures are removed. Dr. DuMornay will provide you with guidelines to follow after the procedure to ensure a smooth, comfortable recovery and optimal aesthetic outcome.
Following this procedure, piercings and jewelry should be avoided until the area is fully healed, which will generally be between two and six months after surgery.
Torn earlobe surgery is a safe, simple procedure, but you may experience some side effects as your ears begin to heal. Some patients have reported experiencing:
All of this is completely normal and should subside throughout the recovery process. If you experience severe discomfort or notice any signs of infection at the incision site, contact Dr. DuMornay right away. He will also be available to address any concerns or issues you may have as your earlobes heal to ensure a smooth recovery.
At Broward ENT & Aesthetics, our torn earlobe restoration services will repair damage to your ears caused by piercings or trauma. If you’re unhappy with your ears and want to restore a pleasing, symmetrical appearance, this simple procedure can offer a dramatic improvement and beautiful, natural-looking results. To learn about this procedure and what board-certified otolaryngologist Dr. Wilson DuMornay can do for you, contact or call us today at 954-368-3348 to schedule your consultation!