NYC Earlobe Repair
What is Earlobe Repair?
Earlobe repairs fix stretched, torn, or split earlobes by closing and reshaping the skin of the lobe.
Earlobe repair procedures are frequently sought by patients who add earlobe repair to facial rejuvenation surgeries. They are also increasingly popular with younger patients who want to restore their earlobes’ natural shape after having worn large-gauge or heavy earrings.
Dr. Daniel Y. Maman is a Harvard-fellowship trained and board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in contemporary plastic surgery procedures. His Park Avenue office offers the latest in earlobe repair techniques along with an exceptional standard of patient care.
Thorough consultations. Contemporary atmosphere. Concierge care.
Our practice offers in-depth preliminary consultations and concierge-level pre- and post-surgical care. Patient comfort and satisfaction are our top priority.
How Does It Work?
Although most of the ear is made of cartilage, earlobes are composed of skin (areolar) and fat (adipose) tissue. While flexible and strong, your earlobes are more susceptible to injury than the rest of your ear.
After a piercing, the body tries to heal by creating new skin to close the wound. But instead of allowing the wound to close, a piercing intentionally separates unhealed skin with a post that forces the skin to heal circumferentially.
This tunnel of healed skin means that an earlobe cannot fully heal after a piercing is injured or stretched.
Earlobe repair procedures have several goals:
- Restore the earlobe tissue to a uniform, unmarred state
- Heal any damage from partial or complete tears, allergic reactions caused by jewelry, or other deformities
- Adjust the size and contour of the earlobe for maximum aesthetic appeal
Types of Earlobe Injuries
- Partial earlobe tears, which do not extend to the bottom of your ear
- Full earlobe tears, which result in a completely split earlobe.
- Dilation (a stretched earlobe), which can be intentional, typically caused by gauging, or unintended, usually resulting from years of wearing heavy earrings.
- Ptosis, or significant drooping of the earlobe, which can be caused by gauging or weighty jewelry. This is also a common consequence of the natural aging process.
Repair Process
Earlobe repairs are performed under local anesthesia. For tears, splits, and dilations, a scalpel or special punch tool is used around the gap in the earlobe to remove any scar tissue and create raw skin edges that can be sutured internally and externally as part of a new healing process.
Ptosis repairs usually require an earlobe reduction and are done by either removing a pie-shaped piece of tissue from the center of your earlobe or by excising the outer edge of your entire lobe.
Repairs Using Fillers
For patients who simply hope to restore the fullness of the earlobe or reduce the visibility of old piercings, dermal fillers like Restylane or Juvederm can be injected into the lobe. These fillers add volume, smooth lines, and minimize the appearance of piercing holes.
Although the effect of these fillers lasts longer than those used in the face, it is still temporary, Patients need to adhere to a schedule to maintain results.
The Procedure
We make sure you have the information you need to feel informed about your decision, from your inquiry about our practice through the consultation and recovery.
Consultation
The first step is a thorough, collaborative consultation. Before surgery, we provide:
- 60- to 90-minute in-depth initial consultations with a complete medical history review and physical assessment by Dr. Maman
- Multiple pre-op visits to answer all your questions
- Specialized surgery coordinators to help you navigate scheduling, financial, and insurance processes
Surgery
Once you have decided to move forward with surgery, we emphasize convenience, comfort, and a smooth recovery. Multiple surgery sites across NYC are available. Complimentary aftercare visits for the first year following surgery.
Personalized, Holistic Patient-Centered Approach
Understanding each patient’s personal and clinical needs is central to our practice. We customize treatment plans for each patient, and each patient receives Dr. Maman’s personal contact information along with direct round-the-clock access to our nurse and surgical coordinator
“I am so blessed and you would be too to have him as your doctor. He continues to check on me to make sure I am healing and that everything is going well. Thank you, Dr. Maman!”
Results & Recovery
Earlobe repair is a simple procedure that can be performed in a single appointment.
Our staff will coordinate your post-operative care and make certain you know exactly what to expect from each visit. You will return to our office about one week post-surgery so Dr. Maman can ensure you are healing well and remove your sutures.
All your aftercare visits for the first year post-surgery are provided at no extra cost.
For more information, read our FAQs below.
See our results. Contact us to find the right approach for you.
Meet Dr. Daniel Maman
Dr. Daniel Maman is a Harvard fellowship-trained and board-certified plastic surgeon specialized in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the breast, body, and face.
Basic Earlobe Repair FAQs
How much do you charge for earlobe repair in NYC?
Because earlobe injuries require individualized treatment plans, pricing varies from person to person. Dr. Maman conducts a detailed assessment of your goals in your initial consultation and then provides you with an itemized price quote to help you make your decision.
Am I a good candidate for earlobe repair?
If you are generally healthy, do not have a history of keloids or severe scarring, and have an earlobe injury, you are likely a good candidate for an earlobe repair surgery. Scheduling a consultation is the best way to determine if this procedure is right for you.
What causes earlobe damage or deformity?
Poor placement of your original piercings can cause torn earlobe tissue, as can children pulling on your jewelry or earrings snagging on something like your clothing.
Gauging, or intentionally stretching the skin of your earlobe over time with increasingly larger jewelry, is a common earlobe deformity. This type of dilation deformity can also be caused by wearing heavy earrings for many years.
Ptosis, or drooping earlobes, can be caused by age or by dilation injuries.
Earlobe repair can also address congenital malformations or deformities resulting from ear traumas.
Where will my surgery be performed? How long will it take?
Dr. Maman usually performs earlobe repairs at his NYC, AAAASF-certified surgical suite. He also has operating privileges at Mount Sinai Hospital, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York Eye & Ear Infirmary, and Englewood Hospital. We work with you to select the best facility for your needs.
An earlobe repair takes anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes per ear.
What will my incisions look like, and where will they be?
If Dr. Maman chooses a wedge incision for your repair, you will have a small, minimally visible vertical scar on your earlobe.
If you want to reduce both the width and length of your earlobe, Dr. Maman will likely use a peripheral margin technique, with your scar running along the back of your earlobe.
Whichever technique Dr. Maman uses, following our detailed incision treatment protocols will significantly reduce the potential for scarring.
How long will my recovery period be?
Earlobe repair recovery is one of the shortest and simplest recoveries in modern plastic surgery. Most patients manage their pain with over-the-counter medications. The surgical site will be covered with gauze that can be removed after the first day. Remember to keep your incision clean and apply triple antibiotic ointment three times a day.
You should not sleep on your ear(s), put pressure on the repaired tissue, or submerge your ear(s) in a bath or pool until after your sutures are removed, but you can shower and work out 24 hours after your surgical procedure.
It is normal for your earlobes to have a slightly bumpy texture, light bruising, and general redness after surgery, but all these conditions will fade over time.
How long do I have to wait post-procedure before I can have my ears re-pierced?
If you want to wear earrings again, healed earlobes can be re-pierced four–to–six weeks after your surgery. If you wish to re-pierce your ears, we strongly recommend you have Dr. Maman do it for you to ensure your results are maintained.
Will I have to pay for follow-up visits after my surgery?
Because we value our patients’ health and satisfaction above everything else, we do not charge for post-operative visits, whether they are part of your detailed follow-up plan during the first year after surgery or the annual visits that we recommend to ensure your results are maintained.
Request A Consultation
Call Today 212.920.6800
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Maman or to get more information, kindly submit your details using the adjacent form and a member of our patient concierge team will promptly be in touch. We look forward to welcoming you to Maman Plastic Surgery.
1100 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10128
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