A frustrating and recurrent problem that many women and men deal with is a split of an earlobe piercing site. Often this occurs when an individual repeatedly wears heavy earrings. The problem is also likely to develop if a person sleeps with her earrings in place. An earring can get caught on a pillow or cover and pull on the earlobe, slowly stretching out the piercing site, until it eventually gives way.
Earlobe repair typically entails paring the sides of the split and performing closure in layers. If an earlobe is sufficiently thick, I prefer to perform repair using a “Step Technique”, a procedure taught to me by Dr. Ravelo Argamaso, one of my mentors from my residency program in New York. The “Step Technique” helps to reduce the likelihood that the resulting earlobe scar will indent. Indentation of the scar is a frequent problem encountered in earlobe repair due to the thin, soft tissue that comprises the earlobe.
At times, earlobe repair can be combined with earlobe reduction in cases where a patient desires a smaller earlobe size.
To see “Before and After” pictures of Split Earlobe repair click here
Earlobe procedures are performed in my office operating room under local anesthesia. To schedule a free cosmetic consultation, call my office at 732-632-6090