Most of the outer ear consists of skin over contoured cartilage; muscles and ligaments hold it in place. The lobe of the ear does not contain any cartilage, however, making it susceptible to damage, particularly if it has been pierced. Heavy earrings can cause the hole in the earlobe, or the earlobe itself, to stretch considerably, or the earlobe to split or tear. A forceful pull on an inserted earring can also cause the earlobe to tear.
Earlobe Repair Procedure
Dr. Ramachandra repairs torn or stretched earlobes during a brief procedure in the office under local anesthesia. To repair a tear or overstretched hole, part of the skin around the tear or hole is cut away; the "freshened" margins of the tear or hole are then stitched together with both dissolving sutures (in the inner tissue) and regular sutures (on the surface skin).
Earlobe repair does not require prescription pain medication, and over-the-counter pain relievers are usually sufficient. Afterwards, the ear should be washed about 3 times a day for a week. Skin sutures are removed 1 week after the procedure. If desired, Dr. Ramachandra will re-pierce the 1 month after repair.
Risks of Earlobe Repair
Anytime skin is cut in a surgical procedure, there are certain risks, which include the following:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Pain
- Scarring
- Depression or “notch” in skin
