Earlobe Repair

When the earlobe is torn, then the pierced area is typically sutured back together, leaving a small scar. I recommend to my patients to avoid re-piercing the ear for at least 6 weeks, and then, have the piercing put in next to rather than in the scar. Even if the scar is completely healed, studies indicate that scarred skin is only about 80% as strong as unscarred skin, so if you re-pierce the actual scar, you are more likely to suffer another tear than you would if piercing in a new location.

In the case of an elongated earlobe, the best surgical approach is to cut a portion of the earlobe out. This is also a very simple, quick procedure. The technique I prefer is what I call the Pac-Man Earlobe Repair. This entails snipping a pie-shaped portion of excess earlobe out, leaving the earlobe looking like a Pac Man (if you never played this videogame, forgive the reference!). The remaining skin is then sutured back together, leaving the earlobe smaller but with a scar. Another technique involves removing the outer rim of the earlobe, but I’ve found that it can sometimes leave the earlobe rim looking a bit uneven and unnatural.

Gauge earring deformities can be repaired similarly to the elongated earlobe, but take more time to make sure the earlobe looks natural. Simply stitching the stretched-out hole together would leave a strangely shaped earlobe, so this takes a little more skill.

Although there is no non-surgical permanent solution to a torn or stretched earlobe, there are some commercially available patches that fit on the back of the earlobe to temporarily support a torn or stretched earlobe and earring.  I like Lobe Wonder, which can be purchased online HERE. This is a small, nearly-invisible patch that is placed on the back of an earlobe to add support to the earlobe and prevent a stud earring from falling through a piercing. It also decreases the stretched-out look of an elongated earlobe.  If you have a cosmetic earlobe problem and don’t want surgery, then this could be a good solution for you.