How does the earlobe get damaged?
Earlobes may suffer damage from children pulling at
their parent’s earrings, continued wear from heavy,
fashionable chandelier earrings, and from piercings or
gauged earrings. Earrings may get caught in clothing, or
caught in a comb or brush. A skilled plastic surgeon can
correct damage to the lobe, and, with continued care,
can be re-pierced to accept earrings after a few weeks
of healing.
Split Earlobe Repair
Split Earlobes are usually caused by prolonged use of
heavy earrings or accidental pulling and tugging on an
earring by a child or during hair combing. When earrings
are too heavy, ear piercings tend to stretch and
elongate because the entire weight of the earring is
transferred to the bottom of the ear piercing via a thin
hook or clasp. As a result, a high pound to square inch
force is applied to the earlobe. Stretching is either
partial or full which is a complete split.
Done properly, results offer a more smooth and even scar
with less chance of scar indentation, and a viable lobe
able to bear re-piercing and moderate weight.
Gauged earlobe repair
Gauged earlobe stretching is the gradual expansion of a
simple ear piercing in order to fit in larger and larger
size plugs. The excessive stretching of earlobes by
expanders known as gauges causes severe thinning and
distortion of the earlobe tissues. The more severe the
distortion, the more difficult it is to repair the
gauged ear lobe when restoring it to a normal or near
normal shape. There is no established method or
technique for repairing gauged earlobes. The plastic
surgeon has to rely on his plastic surgery knowledge and
experience.
Earlobe reduction
Some individuals are born with larger than average
earlobes which can cause a certain degree of concern and
self consciousness. Correction considers the existing
discrepancy of size or asymmetry and would be modified
accordingly, with creation of an even and symmetrical
result is the ultimate goal. Earlobe reduction is
performed under local anesthesia, there is no down time
and healing takes 6-7 days. Over the counter pain
medication is adequate to control post operative
discomfort if present.
Repair of Earlobes with stretched holes
Stretching or elongation of the earlobe piercing is the
result of wearing heavy earrings or an accidental pull
on the earring by a child or getting caught in clothing
and sometimes during hair combing.
The stretch could be large enough for studs to fall out.
The best method of correction is to completely close the
stretched hole and try re-piercing a few months later.
The operation is performed under local anesthesia. Post
operative healing takes about one week and there is no
downtime. The procedure takes approximately 40 minutes
per ear. Over the counter pain medication is adequate to
control post operative discomfort if present.
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