Earlobe Rejuvenation Is Becoming Commonplace.
More and more women are proactive about their aging skin. They using great skin care, exercise, and treatments to keep themselves looking amazing!
But earlobes are easily forgotten . . .
until one day you realize your face looks great but your earlobes are deflated and sagging. YIKES! Years of wearing heavy earrings have made them stretch. Some women's earlobes are torn.
Fortunately, there are new methods of earlobe rejuvenation to correct these problems.
Why are my earlobes so long and wrinkled?
As we age, we lose collagen and elastin. This loss of volume and elasticity shows everywhere, even in our earlobes.
Compounding the problem is the fact that our ears and earlobes continue to stretch and sag (and GROW!) as we continue to age. So we get longer, thinner, creased, and wrinkled lobes. Earring holes stretch and earrings start to droop and hang lower.
So what options are there for earlobe rejuvenation?
Injections of dermal fillers like Juvederm can add volume to deflated, sagging lobes. They add the thickness needed to fill in wrinkles and keep earrings from drooping. It’s an office procedure that only takes a few minutes with no downtime afterward. Because there is no muscle movement, hyaluronic acid fillers last longer in earlobes than they do in the face.
This is a video from Channel 7 News in Florida. Watch as Dr. David Goldberg of Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center demonstrates earlobe filler injections in 2 women.
How does surgery for a torn or gauge stretched earlobe work?
The surgery is similar for either a torn or gauge stretched lobe. A local anesthetic is used and the procedure is done in the doctor’s office. The inside skin from the old hole is removed. Next the hole is closed and reshaped with stitches. Generally, no pain medicine is need afterward and the area is kept moist with an antibiotic ointment. Stitches come out in 7 – 10 days. Once the lobe is fully healed, the ear can be pierced.
Are people happy with the results?
Earlobe surgery has a 95% “Worth It” rating on RealSelf.com based on 91 ratings.
What if my lobes are stretched from ear gauges? I recently changed jobs and need to have them corrected. If I leave the gauge out, will the hole shrink?
“Generally not. With removal of the heavy earrings or gauges, the skin and scar tissue can contract a bit over time, but will not close on their own. The longer the gauges are out and the more contraction of the scar/skin that has occurred before surgical correction, generally the better the final outcome will be.”
– Dr. Garret A. Wirth, MD, MS, FACS
My brother pulled out my earring when I was little. The lobe is torn. Is there a way to fix it? It really bothers me.
Torn or split ear lobes are very common in women. Tears require surgery.
How much does this surgery cost?
In most cases, repairing a torn lobe is a simple procedure when compared to a gauged ear - and it will be less expensive to repair.
“The cost of reconstructing a gauged earlobe will vary depending on the extent of damage, the amount of scar tissue and the complexity of the repair. The patient’s desire to re-pierce or re-gauge the ear in the future also affects the technique used to reconstruct the lobe. Depending on these factors, as well as the part of the country you are in, the cost of reconstructing a gauged earlobe can vary from $400-$1000 per earlobe. I would recommend having a consult with an experienced board certified facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon in order to evaluate the best surgical options in your individual case.”
RealSelf lists the average cost of earlobe surgery at $1,125 - remember, that cost is generally per earlobe.
Below is a video of earlobe reconstruction surgery on “The Doctors.” It is surgery and there is blood. It is not for the squeamish.
Will insurance cover the cost of the surgery?
If you can prove that your earlobe was torn in an accident, it is possible your insurance company will pay for the surgery. Call them to discuss coverage. In most cases, earlobe surgery is considered a cosmetic procedure and you have to cover the cost yourself.
What should I look for in a doctor?
Most medical spas and dermatology offices offer Juvederm and other fillers for sagging earlobes.
But if you think you need surgical repair of an earlobe, your choices are different. Surgery is done by ENTs (ear, nose, and throat doctors), plastic surgeons, or dermatologic surgeons. Look for someone experienced at fixing the kind of damage you have and ask to see before and after pictures.
“The experience with this type of surgery varies amongst providers. A torn earlobe is way different from a stretched earlobe, in the repair it requires.”
- Dr. Franziska Huettner, plastic surgeon, New York City
Thanks for reading! And good luck!
Amy Takken, RN
Amy Takken is a registered nurse with 20+ years of experience helping people improve their health. Her in-depth skincare articles have been featured on Nazarian Plastic Surgery and The Palm Beach Center for Facial Plastic & Laser Surgery. She's also been quoted on Dermascope.com.
Amy loves research and constantly watches for new products and treatments to help you improve your skin’s health – because healthy skin is beautiful! To reach Amy, visit our contact page.
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References:
https://www.charlottesbook.com/earlobe-rejuvenation-reconstruction-stretching-lobe-lift/
https://www.realself.com/question/ear-love-reduction-gauges
https://www.realself.com/question/correcting-large-asymmetrical-earlobes
https://www.realself.com/question/earlobe-repair-cost-ear-surgery
https://www.realself.com/ear-lobe-surgery
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18196763 Human ears grow throughout the entire lifetime according to complicated and sexually dimorphic patterns--conclusions from a cross-sectional analysis.
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/apr/25/improbable-research-ears-big-old
Disclaimer:
The Information provided on our website is not medical advice and should not be viewed as such. By law, only a medical doctor can diagnose or give medical advice. As a registered nurse, my goal is to educate, so I provide information on skin care, skin care products, and skin care treatments. If you have any condition that concerns you, please see a medical doctor. While most skin conditions are benign, some – like melanoma – can be deadly. If there is any doubt, please, please consult your physician. Thank you!