Most people don’t realize it, but your ears are one of the most visible parts of your body and it can be very obvious when they are damaged. Years of wearing heavy earrings and mistakes during piercing can often require cosmetic repair. Some people simply wish to have old holes closed, while others may want to change the shape of their earlobes. An earlobe repair can provide you with what you are looking for.

Before the Procedure
Patients should discuss with their physician their expectations for an earlobe repair. They should leave the consultation with an understanding of what will happen during the procedure, and what they should do after. As with any surgical procedure, patients should be in good health. They should also refrain from using tobacco products and medications containing aspirin. Tobacco use interferes with circulation and healing, and products containing aspirin or ibuprofen thin the blood and increase the risk of bleeding.

Procedure
Earlobe repair can be performed under local anesthesia. For a torn earlobe, the procedure consists of “freshening” the edges of the split by removing a small amount of skin. Then, using fine sutures, the split is stitched together. To change the shape of the earlobe, unwanted tissue is removed and the area is sutured.

After the Procedure
Patients can go home immediately after the procedure. Healing generally takes 4 to 6 weeks. Patients seeking to have their ears re-pierced should wait 8-10 weeks. The risks of earlobe repair are small, as it is a minimally invasive procedure. Risks may include swelling, bruising, bleeding and infection.

If you are unsatisfied with your ears or had a bad piercing, there is no reason to stick with something you do not like. If you are interested in earlobe repair, contact Dr. Batniji today at (949) 650-8882. Dr. Batniji is a board certified facial plastic surgeon located in Newport Beach, California.