Earlobe repair is a minor surgical procedure that can treat tears caused by wearing heavy earrings and repair acute lacerations due to physical trauma. Dr. Cangello also offers cosmetic procedures to rejuvenate thin earlobes, reduce the size of lobes that appear too large for a patient’s facial features, and repair lobes that have been stretched by large gauge piercings.
David L. Cangello, MD, FACS Plastic Surgery New York
Dr. David Cangello is one of the top board-certified plastic surgeons in all of New York City. His approach of treating plastic surgery with an artistic eye has successfully shaped his practice. Dr. Cangello cares about the result of the surgery as much as the patient does. Read more to learn why you should choose Dr. Cangello for your next procedure.
Schedule a ConsultationHow Earlobe Repair is Performed
Earlobe repair and related procedures are performed using a variety of techniques, depending on the patient’s needs:
- Repairing an Earlobe Tear or Laceration: Earlobe lacerations can occur from physical trauma, such as an accident and inadvertently pulling on earrings. They can also occur with the regular wearing of heavy earrings, which may result in an elongated piercing over time. In some cases, the elongated piercing may completely tear through the lower border of the earlobe. During the repair, the skin lining the piercing is excised creating fresh surgical edges that can be sutured together. Local anesthesia is used with this procedure, and it generally takes no more than 30 minutes to complete.
- Reversing Gauged Earlobes: It’s often the case that, when plug earrings are removed, the earlobe hangs down because the skin can no longer retain its original shape. For this reason, many patients choose to undergo earlobe reconstruction. During this procedure the skin and soft tissue are reshaped and sutured together to restore a natural shape. This minor procedure is performed under local anesthesia. Depending on the complexity it can usually be completed in 30 minutes to an hour.
- Reducing Enlarged Earlobes: For patients with naturally large earlobes or earlobes that have elongated as a result of aging, a reduction can be performed to create a more proportionate size and balanced ear Dr. Cangello removes excess skin and soft tissue from the lobule during this procedure, usually from the bottom of the earlobe. The result is a smaller size lobe and a more balanced appearance to the entire ear. Earlobe reduction can conveniently be performed in about 30 minutes to an hour using local anesthesia.
- Earlobe Rejuvenation: The soft tissue of the earlobes tends to thin with age, while some patients simply have naturally thin earlobes. In either case, Dr. Cangello offers earlobe rejuvenation to restore volume and strengthen the earlobes. This is performed using dermal fillers and takes just minutes to complete. The results can last up to a year or perhaps even longer.
Patient Experiences
“Dr. Cangello and his staff are amazing, their level of professionalism is superb and their bedside manner is terrific. I will definitely be referring everyone I know here.”
—J.R.
Ideal Candidates for Earlobe Repair
These versatile procedures are great options for most healthy men and women who are seeking earlobe repair for tears caused over time by wearing heavy earrings, acute lacerations due to trauma or to treat cosmetic irregularities.
Patients considering earlobe repair and related procedures generally want to:
- Repair a torn earlobe due to heavy earrings or injury
- Stop wearing plug earrings and close elongated piercing holes
- Reduce naturally large earlobes
- Rejuvenate thin earlobes
For patients who want to address prominent ears, otoplasty (ear pinning surgery) is a better option. During the initial consultation, Dr. Cangello provides a customized treatment plan and recommendations based on the patient’s cosmetic goals.
See Real Patient Results
Our Before and After Photo Gallery highlights the real results of the many procedures performed by Dr. David Cangello.
View GalleryResults and Recovery
Most of the above-mentioned procedures are minor, so recovery is minimal. For surgical earlobe repair, patients can expect mild swelling and sometimes mild bruising for a few days. These temporary symptoms resolve on their own within a a few days to one week. Patients can resume their routine immediately afterward, but exercise and vigorous physical activity should be avoided for about two weeks. Patients should not sleep or put pressure on their ear(s) for four weeks after the repair. The sutures are left in for six days and patients are asked not to get the ear(s) wet during this time. After suture removal in Dr. Cangello’s office, patients may get their ears wet in the shower only.
For patients undergoing earlobe rejuvenation with dermal fillers, there may be some light redness, bruising, or swelling for 24 to 48 hours.
Results from surgical earlobe repair are permanent unless the patient sustains another earlobe laceration or stretches their ears with piercings. Earlobe rejuvenation with dermal fillers may need to be repeated every year or so to maintain the results.
Can I Pierce My Ears Again After Earlobe Repair?
Patients considering re-piercing their ears must wait three months to do so. To ensure optimal results Dr. Cangello offers this service to his patients. Four weeks after the repair patients may wear clip-on earrings only. Prior to four weeks they should not wear any ear accessories.
Does This Surgery Leave Scars?
Scars are very light and imperceptible in most cases. For laceration repair and reversing gauged piercing holes, there will typically be a fine linear scar along the earlobe.
Schedule a Consultation for Earlobe Repair in NYC
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Cangello invites patients to schedule a personal consultation for earlobe repair. This simple but rewarding procedure can fully repair torn earlobes and allow patients to wear earrings again. Dr. Cangello can also address cosmetic irregularities of the earlobes and reconstruct lobes that have been stretched due to large gauge piercings. Contact Dr. Cangello’s office at (212) 644-4416 to schedule a consultation in NYC.
