Doctors for Earlobe Treatment

Medically termed lobuloplasty or auricular lobuloplasty, earlobe repair surgery is the procedure performed to correct, reshape, and resize an enlarged or torn earlobe.

The earlobe (lobulus auriculae) is the lower part of the outer ear, which is made up of skin. It is the soft part of the ear, which is very prone to sagging and stretching. In many cases, people get a split or torn earlobe, primarily due to large or heavy earrings. Some children are also born with a split earlobe.

Even though the earlobe doesn’t have a necessary function in the body, the split often causes cosmetic concerns and leads to self-consciousness and other issues for the individual. If you are also experiencing self-image issues and want to get the torn earlobe repaired, get in touch with us and talk to our expert doctors.

Typically, getting earlobe repair surgery is a personal choice for everyone. There are various scenarios where lobuloplasty can be considered by patients, and some of them are listed below:

• Earlobe Hole Elongation: The earlobe has stretched out or elongated due to wearing heavy earrings for a long time. This can also occur due to aging, as with age, the tissues and skin lose their elasticity.
• Earlobe Injury: The earlobe has suffered damage due to an accident, such as snagging the piercings, pulling, tugging, or direct trauma to the earlobe.
• Earlobe Cleft: Some children are born with earlobe deformity, and some may develop such deformity later in life due to trauma or some diseases. In such cases, the parts of the earlobe can be asymmetrical as well.
• Earlobe Scarring: Some people may have a keloid or hypertrophic scar that can grow due to an ear injury. These scars can worsen the appearance of the earlobe.

Lobuloplasty is the best option to address these concerns successfully. Depending on the individual’s requirements, the doctor can do a partial or complete earlobe repair and/or reconstruction as required.

Extensive tests and evaluations are generally not required for earlobe repair surgery. The doctor only does a physical exam to check the earlobe and takes a detailed medical history to identify if the patient has any health issues, such as diabetes, smoking habits, bleeding disorders, etc., that can affect the body’s healing abilities.

Besides this, the doctor will ask about your goals in terms of aesthetic improvements to determine whether you are a good candidate for the surgery. Typically, an individual is considered a good candidate for earlobe repair surgery if he/she feels dissatisfied due to the earlobe, the appearance of earlobes draws unwanted attention, and the lobule detracts others from your other facial features.

An ideal candidate for cosmetic surgeries like earlobe repair is one who is overall healthy, doesn’t have a habit of smoking, and doesn’t have an underlying condition that can affect the outcome of the procedure.

Then, on the day of surgery, some routine tests are done to ensure that the patient is in optimal health. These tests include an ECG (electrocardiogram), urinalysis, complete blood test, kidney function test, coagulation studies, etc.

On the day of surgery, when you arrive at the hospital for the procedure, you will be asked to follow the instructions below:

• Take a shower using antibacterial soap to reduce the risk of infection.
• Take a light meal in the morning, as fasting is only required for 2 hours before the surgery.
• Take the prescribed medications with a small sip of water.
• Avoid wearing makeup products, skin care products, and accessories.
• Wear loose and comfortable clothes that can be removed without rubbing against the earlobe.
• Ask your friend or family member to accompany you to the hospital or clinic.

If there are any other things that you need to take care of, the surgeon’s team will provide you with further instructions.

On the day of surgery, when you arrive at the hospital for the procedure, you will be asked to follow the instructions below:

• Take a shower using antibacterial soap to reduce the risk of infection.
• Take a light meal in the morning, as fasting is only required for 2 hours before the surgery.
• Take the prescribed medications with a small sip of water.
• Avoid wearing makeup products, skin care products, and accessories.
• Wear loose and comfortable clothes that can be removed without rubbing against the earlobe.
• Ask your friend or family member to accompany you to the hospital or clinic.

If there are any other things that you need to take care of, the surgeon’s team will provide you with further instructions.

Earlobe surgery is performed on an outpatient basis and takes around 30-60 minutes for both earlobes. The lobuloplasty procedure is carried out in the following steps:

Firstly, local anesthesia is administered by injecting the anesthetic agent directly into the lobule.

Markings are done in the lobule to identify the margins that need to be removed and the one that needs to be stitched.

• A small part of the skin around the split is cut with a scalpel.
• Then, dissolvable sutures are used to close the hole or tear in the earlobe, which is then covered with bandages or dressings.

In some cases, only attaching the tissues is required, which can be done with glue as well. After the procedure, you will be able to go home within 1-2 hours, and the doctor’s team will give you detailed instructions for post-operative care.

Lobuloplasty is a minimally invasive procedure with minimal risks, as the surgery is only performed on the cartilage. It not only causes minimal scarring but also has the following benefits:

• The individual will have an improved self-image and feel less conscious about his/her appearance. He/she will also feel more confident about their appearance.
• The surgery will allow the surgeon to remove the saggy and overstretched skin carefully and restore the normal shape and size of the earlobe.
• The repair will effectively remove the cleft and also correct the asymmetry.
• The repair will also allow the individual to wear piercings and other accessories again.

There are no major risks or complications associated with earlobe repair surgery. It is considered one of the easiest cosmetic surgery. Some potential risks that may arise during the procedure include excessive bleeding, infection, etc.

Besides these, patients may experience other side effects of surgery, such as mild to moderate pain, swelling, bruising, redness, etc., which are only temporary. These side effects often disappear on their own within a few days after the procedure. One major risk is abnormal healing of the wound, due to which a keloid or hypertrophic scar may appear, and you will need further intervention to get the desired results.

The recovery after earlobe repair surgery can take around 2-3 weeks. In some cases, patients recover within 2 weeks, whereas, in others, the complete recovery may take longer than usual. It usually depends on the extent of repair done during the procedure and the patient’s healing abilities.

During the recovery period, you will have to follow the instructions below to ensure that you have a smooth recovery.

• As there will be sutures in the front and back of the earlobe, you should be very careful with cleaning the wound.
• You will be allowed to wash your hair, but be careful in doing so as they can get stuck in the stitches.
• Avoid using swimming pools, hot tubs, and other water activities for at least 5-7 days or until the wound heals.
• In the initial days (2-4 days), it’ll be best to rest in a chair or recliner and keep your head elevated. Lying down can increase the swelling in the earlobe.
• Avoid all strenuous activities for 2-3 weeks, as they can cause strain and mild to moderate discomfort.
• Eat a healthy and balanced diet to optimize your healing abilities, and drink plenty of water to flush out toxins from the body and keep yourself hydrated.
• Take all the prescribed medications as directed by your surgeon to manage the pain and inflammation and reduce the risk of infections.
• Attend the follow-up consultations regularly as scheduled to ensure that the earlobe is healing properly.

During the recovery, if you experience severe pain, high fever, warmth, or other signs of infection, you should contact the healthcare provider immediately.

The cost of earlobe repair surgery in India starts from Rs. 30,000 and goes up to Rs. 40,000 or more. The average cost will be around Rs. 35,000, but this is only an estimated price range. The actual cost of the procedure will differ from one patient to another depending on the following factors:

• The extent of earlobe repair
• The choice of hospital/clinic and related expenses
• Surgeon’s experience and skills
• The city where you choose to get the treatment
• Post-op care and follow-up consultations

In some cases, if the earlobe repair is done as a reconstructive procedure, the expenses will be covered by health insurance. However, if you are getting the treatment for cosmetic reasons, you won’t be eligible to get insurance coverage for the treatment.