Ear lobe(lobule) repair

Ear lobe(lobule) is the soft, fleshy, lower portion of the ear and consists of fat and skin without any cartilage. It is very important for facial aesthetics due to the practice of piercing it in order to wear jewelry or ear rings. Earlobe Repair is a medical procedure which is used to repair the split or widened earlobes. This surgery restores the torn or damaged earlobes and improves it’s appearance.

Causes of ear lobule deformity-

  • Weight of the Earrings
    • Young or elderly women with the habit of wearing heavy jewelry may develop enlarged ear piercing site.

  • Ageing
    • During the natural process of ageing, the skin gradually loses collagen and elastin fibres which give strength, elasticity, and tightness to the skin.

  • Genetic Makeup
    • As the elasticity and strength of tissues depend primarily upon the patient’s genetic makeup, some women may have the tendency to sag.

  • Smoking
    • Smoking accelerates the natural ageing process by restricting the blood flow to the skin. This increased ageing of the skin and decreased collagen and elastin fibres result in the loose wrinkled skin. This could be the reason for recurrence after ear lobule repair in some people.

  • Trauma
    • Sometimes earlobes may get cut because of trauma. Ear rings may be pulled by getting entangled in clothing while wearing heavy earrings, accidental pull by children or pets.

    Procedure of lobuloplasty

    Ear lobule with enlarged piercing hole-

    Here at Luxe Cosmetique, the Pardue’s flap technique is followed, where a small piece of tissue from upper portion of one of the side of the hole is designed like a flap. Then the flap is rotated and sutured to the opposite side like a hammock. The rest of the gap will be sutured in layers with fine sutures. The orifice will be maintained with the help of a PTFE tube. This technique helps in preserving the orifice and avoids the need for further piercing at a later date and also prevents recurrence (as scar tissue may not support the weight of the earring). The PTFE tube may be removed after 10 days.

    Enlarged piercing hole with eccentric position-

    The edges of the orifice will be freshened and skin sutured with fine sutures. The new orifice will be created in the center of the ear lobule meridian and the patency maintained with the aid of PTFE tube.

    Completely torn ear lobule-

    Here the edges of the split lobule are freshened with removal of skin and a small z- plasty will be carried out to maintain rounded contour of the lobule.

    You ask, we answer.

    If you are a teenager or adult who is otherwise healthy and does not have a life-threatening illness or medical conditions that can impair healing, are non smokersand are concerned about the appearance of a stretched, enlarged, or fully or partially torn earlobe, then you may consider an earlobe repair procedure.

    – Earlobe deformity
    – Stretched earlobe
    – Split earlobes

    The entire procedure on one ear lobe takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes to
    complete.

    • You may be directed to take an antibiotic and pain killer and a local antibiotic ointment for a period of 5 days.
    • The sutures can be removed after 5-7 days and the transparent PTFE tube may be expected to remove after a period of 10 days.
    • Be sure to apply the antibiotic ointment twice daily for a period of 1 week and avoid applying any sort of cosmetics to the operated site.
    • Be sure to sleep with head elevated with two pillows and avoid any sort of straining for 3-4 days after the procedure.

    Ear lobule repair is a simple and straight forward procedure. Individuals who undergo Earlobe repair may take 7-10 days to recover completely. You can resume normal exercise and activity almost immediately after your earlobe repair procedure.

    •  Treatment by a team of plastic surgeons specialized in earlobe repair.
    •  Painless, quick, easy, effective, and safe treatment with minimal recovery period.
    •  Customized treatment based on a detailed assessment of earlobes and the individualized requirements of the patient.
    •  Specialized technique (Pardue’s flap) to prevent recurrence and placement of cartilage support structure to avoid recurrences in elderly patients with lax lobule.
    • No need for ear piercing separately.
    • There is nothing to change the skin type or eliminate gravity.
    • Heavy ear rings with thin stalk or hook tend to cut through more easily. Thus an ear ring with a thicker hook or stud is preferable if your ear holes have a tendency to enlarg.
    • Use lighter earrings for routine wear. Danglers (ornaments that hang) tend to pull on the ear lobe as they sway, so studs are a better choice as they stay snug to the ear lobe.

    Scarless ear lobule repair is usage of Dermabond surgical adhesive or surgical glue instead of traditional sutures to join the skin edges.

    You may be advised to take shower without wetting the surgical site for 3-5 days.
    You are supposed not to submerge the operative site in a bath or swimming pool
    until a few days after the sutures are removed.

    Recovery after ear lobule repair is simple and straight forward. You can resume
    normal activity almost immediately after the procedure. No time off work or
    school is required.