Copyright © 2021 Somenek + Pittman MD. All rights reserved.
The excessive weight of earrings or trauma to the earlobe can cause tears in the tissue, forming a split that may be unattractive and make wearing earrings less practical or even impossible. Dr. Michael Somenek can perform a surgical repair of your torn earlobe at our respected plastic surgery clinic, healing the split’s edges and restoring the ear to its natural form. Earlobe repair in Washington DC can help correct these issues and provide you with various options to revitalize your damages ears.
You can address several conditions with an earlobe repair procedure, notably lobes that are overstretched and torn, or those that need to be reshaped or reduced. It can also fix troublesome keloid scars.
Earlobe stretching occurs when you wear heavy earrings or large-diameter ear gauges. Patients who have previously worn large gauges may notice that the opening can be quite large when the gauges are removed and will not fully close by itself over time. A minor surgery can help restore the lobe to its natural state.
The ear lobe comprises skin and fat, so it is more prone to tears than the thick cartilage on other parts of the ear. Several scenarios may result in a torn earlobe, such as wearing heavy earrings, a child or pet tugging on them, or an earring getting caught on an item of clothing. Some ear lobe tears may heal with time but they often leave visible scars that make it challenging to re-pierce the ears or wear earrings in the future. Most torn earlobes can be repaired surgically, usually under a local anesthetic. Dr. Somenek can surgically excise the tear in the earlobe and repair it cosmetically. This technique requires suturing on either side of the earlobe, and most sutures can come out in as little as one week.
Earlobe reshaping is another option to help repair earlobes that have been altered or damaged from a prior ear piercing or gauging. It can also correct embarrassing issues such as asymmetrical or large earlobes, allowing you to feel more comfortable with your image.
You may be self-conscious about your earlobes, especially if they are overly large, and may opt for an earlobe reduction procedure in Washington DC.
In the case of droopy or stretched ear lobes, Dr. Somenek will cut along the skin around the tear, reducing your earlobe’s size. If it has fully split due to trauma or a tear, he will connect the two sides of the lobe with delicate sutures. This skillful technique involves removing the damaged ear-piercing area and suturing together the skin’s outer and inner layers and the tissue in between.
The majority of earlobe repair surgeries are performed in 30 minutes with a local anesthetic. However, the length of the procedure and the type of anesthesia may vary based on the extent of the repairs. Dr. Somenek will conduct the necessary repair, and the ear can be re-pierced if needed in the future. Fortunately, there is minimal pain post-op, and any discomfort that you experience can be relieved with common medications. Most at-home care entails cleaning the earlobe daily, and, in some cases, keeping it covered with a bandage.
If you have experienced an earlobe tear or are looking for a reduction or reshape, contact Somenek + Pittman MD about earlobe repair in Washington DC. Our experienced and double Board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Michael Somenek, is more than happy to talk with you about the facts and benefits of this procedure.
Check out some of our work in these before and after galleries for earlobe repair.
Copyright © 2021 Somenek + Pittman MD. All rights reserved.
