Torn Earlobe Repair

Damage to facial features can affect a person’s self-esteem. Reconstructive plastic surgery can restore the patient’s confidence and help them feel comfortable in their skin. At Facial Plastic Surgery of Central Texas, patients will find a wide range of cosmetic services. Located in Waco and serving patients in central Texas, our experienced medical team offers reconstructive surgical procedures, including earlobe repair.

In most cases of damage to an earlobe, surgery can be performed to correct earlobe problems or variations. Ear plastic surgery can close wounds, tighten stretched earlobes, and restore the ear’s natural appearance or create a shape that is even better than the original. Torn earlobe repair is a low-risk procedure with minimal side effects.

The earlobes give shape to the lower third of a person’s ears. The size and shape of an earlobe can vary dramatically from one person to the next. Some people’s earlobes are closely attached to the neck, while others have lobes that hang separately and at a distance. Earlobes may be large and prominent, with multiple folds, or they may be small and hardly noticeable.

Earlobes lack cartilage, which gives them a soft and pliable feel. In some patients, regularly wearing heaving earrings or pulling earrings out too quickly can lead to a tear in the earlobe. Occasionally, trauma caused by an accident or injury can damage the earlobe. The use of gauges can stretch the earlobe and be cause for reconstruction.

Before any plastic surgery, the patient will meet with Dr. Charles Guy for an initial consultation. Dr. Guy will assess the damage to the earlobe and determine the best method for restoring its appearance, as well as answer any questions the patient may have about the procedure.

The earlobe repair procedure is performed in the office. First, the area will be injected with local anesthesia to numb the skin and minimize discomfort. The provider may remove scar tissue around the tear and will stitch the skin together, so it heals into a single complete lobe. The length of the procedure will vary based on the surgical approach and the level of damage to the earlobe, but it typically takes less than an hour to complete.

The procedure usually is not painful and does not require prescription medications afterward. Small sutures (stitches) will be required, which can be removed in the office a week after the surgery.

Downtime is minimal after a torn earlobe repair and patients can resume normal activities right away. Monitor the incision site and keep it clean. There will be some swelling and redness in the earlobe after surgery, which usually resolves within two weeks. If the earlobe has torn, the patient usually will need to wait five to six weeks after surgery to re-pierce the ear. The new piercing cannot be directly over the incision site.

At Facial Plastic Surgery of Central Texas, patients will find a compassionate medical team with extensive experience in cosmetic and plastic surgery from the collarbone up. Torn earlobe repair is just one of the ear rejuvenation services offered, which also include:

• Otoplasty (ear pinning): This is a general term for surgical procedures that correct deformities in the external parts of the ear.
• Gauge earlobe repair: This procedure is used to reconstruct the ear lobe after it has been permanently stretched out from an ear gauge, a type of piercing also known as a cap or plugs.

Dr. Guy takes the time to get to know each patient individually and educate them about their options.

Ready to learn more about earlobe repair? With our convenient location in Waco, TX, patients in central Texas don’t have to travel to Dallas or Austin for expert cosmetic surgery. To schedule an initial consultation, call Facial Plastic Surgery of Central Texas at 254-405-6163 or contact us today.