Aging, the effects of gravity, trauma, or other factors can cause your earlobe to stretch or tear. If you’ve been made to feel self-conscious or been rendered unable to wear your favorite earrings as a result of damage to your earlobes, we can help. At The Mack Cosmetic Center in Tampa, FL, we offer earlobe repair to meet the needs of patients who want to restore a natural appearance to their ears and correct a stretched or torn earlobe.
How Can Earlobe Repair Enhance the Appearance of Stretched or Torn Earlobes?
There are many different factors that can cause the earlobe to stretch and take on an abnormal or unnatural appearance or tear. Regardless of what has caused the earlobe to stretch or tear, it can only be corrected with a surgical procedure that addresses the skin laxity and restores the earlobe by removing the excess skin and tightening the remaining skin.
Earlobe repair is designed for aesthetic purposes and is a customizable surgical procedure. It’s minimally invasive and effectively repairs a stretched or torn earlobe in a way that other treatments and methods cannot. The surgical techniques used during the procedure repair the torn or stretched earlobe and reconstruct the skin in the area to restore a natural appearance and enhance the earlobe’s appearance.
How It Works
During a typical earlobe repair procedure, Dr. Mack begins by administering a local anesthetic to keep patients comfortable. He will then repair the stretched earlobe using specific techniques based on the ear’s trauma or what has caused it to stretch over time. For some, a stretched earlobe results from a piercing and years of wearing heavy or large earrings, which eventually cause the skin on the earlobe to stretch and look unnatural.
For other patients, earlobes can tear due to a larger earring getting caught by clothing or torn out by an infant. Trauma to the ear and other factors can also stretch out an earlobe, so depending on the severity of skin laxity of your ear or how it’s been torn, Dr. Mack will place sutures in the ears during the procedure to repair the tear or reconstruct the earlobe so that it has a natural, aesthetically pleasing shape and complements your face.
What Should I Expect From the Earlobe Repair Process?
The first step in this process is an initial consultation. Dr. Mack will meet with you to evaluate your earlobe and learn more about your goals. At this time, he’ll also ask you some questions about your medical history to confirm that this procedure is right for you.
He will also answer any questions you may have about the process and the recovery so that you know exactly what to expect and can move forward with the surgical process with realistic expectations, fully prepared.
Your Procedure
Your procedure will take place in our office. Most patients can drive themselves to and from their appointments. Before beginning the procedure, Dr. Mack will clean the ear and apply a local anesthetic. Depending on your surgical treatment plan, he will remove excess skin and reconstruct the tissue. He then suture the incision very carefully to prevent significant scarring. Once the procedure is over, you’ll be able to return home.
The Recovery
Most patients undergoing earlobe repair procedures can return to work the same or the next day. Depending on why you’re undergoing this procedure, Dr. Mack may use absorbable or removable sutures to close the incisions; you may have to return for a follow-up treatment to remove those sutures if they aren’t absorbable.
Patients can resume most of their normal activities but must follow some aftercare instructions to promote quick healing. To protect your ear, you’ll need to avoid getting the treatment area wet for the first few days and avoid strenuous activities for the first two to three weeks. Patients who play contact sports should avoid participating in these activities for several weeks to prevent their ears from getting bumped during the activity.
Re-Piercing
One of the benefits of earlobe repair is that patients who are unable to wear earrings because their earlobes are stretched or have been torn due to various factors can get their ears re-pierced after this procedure. We typically recommend that patients wait at least six weeks after the procedure to re-pierce their ears. This gives the skin and the incision site time to heal so that you’ll get the best results from your new piercing.
How Long Does the Procedure Take?
This procedure typically takes less than one hour. The surgical process is simple and relatively straightforward. Dr. Mack will complete the surgery based on your treatment plan, and then you’ll be free to resume your normal daily activities without significantly interrupting your routine.
Will I Have a Visible Scar?
When you schedule your earlobe repair at The Mack Cosmetic Center, you’ll be treated by Dr. Mack, who has extensive experience performing this surgical procedure. He will customize your procedure and use advanced surgical techniques to reconstruct your earlobe and ensure that any scarring is as minimal as possible. If you have more questions about scarring, Dr. Mack can discuss them with you during your initial consultation.
Am I a Good Candidate?
The best candidates for your earlobe repair are patients who want to repair a torn or stretched earlobe that’s resulted from wearing heavy earrings, getting gauges, having their earlobe caught and pulled by clothing or children, patients who have gotten multiple piercings that are too close together, or those who have sustained sudden trauma to the earlobe.
Ideal patients should be in good health, willing to follow all of the aftercare instructions, and willing to wait the recommended amount of time before re-piercing their ears to qualify as candidates for this procedure.
Learn More
If you want to learn more about your earlobe repair and how it works and find out if you’re a good candidate, we can answer all your questions and confirm your surgical eligibility. Contact one of The Mack Cosmetic Center locations in Lakeland, Clearwater, or Tampa, FL, today to schedule your complimentary consultation with Dr. Mack.