Ear Lobe Repair
Minimally Invasive Face-Lifting Procedure
What is Ear Lobe Repair?
Plastic
surgery to repair a torn earlobe is a frequent occurrence.
Piercing an earlobe puts it at risk to tear. The size, style
and weight of an earring can contribute to the stretching
of the earlobe opening. Large earrings that dangle are caught
on clothing or grasped by a child. The result may be a partially
or completely torn earlobe. Repair of a torn earlobe occurs
in the plastic surgery office setting using a local anesthetic.
The procedure consists of "freshening" the edges
of the split and placement of sutures to complete the repair
of the earlobe. Procedure performed at The Dermatology Center
at Old Bridge.
Piercing an earlobe also puts it at risk for development of a keloid. A keloid is a scar that grows beyond the edges of the pierced opening in the earlobe and is a thick, nodular, itchy cluster of scar tissue that is often red or darker in color than the surrounding skin. The keloid of the earlobe is treated by injecting a steroid medication directly into the scar tissue to reduce redness, itching, and burning. If the medication does not decrease the size and firmness, surgical excision is undertaken with the understanding that the keloid can recur in the earlobe, sometimes even larger than before. To discourage keloid recurrence in the earlobe steroid injections or radiation therapy may be used as an adjunct with surgery. Pressure earrings decrease recurrence of the keloid if worn after surgery.
Torn Ear Lobe Repair Procedure
In most pierced ears, the pierced hold gradually enlarges over time. If it tears, the final tear is usually just through a tiny piece of tissue at the bottom of the lobe. In this case, immediate repair will not take care of the skin covered slot, so reconstruction is delayed until after the wound has healed and inflammation has diminished. However, if the tear starts from a tiny pierced hold, immediate repair is an option.
Depending on the deformity, reconstruction can take different forms. In all methods, the skin lining the slot is removed creating a raw edge to rebuild. When tissue has been lost, however, the procedure is more complicated, and reconstruction involves creating normal proportions around a somewhat small ear.
After Your Ear Lobe Repair Procedure
Sutures are removed 1 - 2 weeks after the repair procedure. A thin layer of antibiotic ointment is the only dressing applied in most cases. A little drainage from the wound is to be expected.
How soon can I wear earrings after surgery?
You should wait six months after surgery before wearing earrings. The scar should be soft before you get your lobe re-pierced, approximately three months after the earlobe repair.
Schedule
a consultation to discuss our Earlobe Repair
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