AESTHETIC PROCEDURES FOR EARLOBES

Most aesthetic treatments focus on the face. The most popular treatments include procedures to reverse the signs of aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and sunspots. Other dominant priorities include the shape of the nose, thin lips, and loose skin. However, some people have less common cosmetic concerns. The earlobes fall into this category, and not surprisingly, modern medicine can do a lot to help.

Overview

Many factors can affect the physical appearance of earlobes. For example, aging can cause your earlobes to change shape, become saggy, and develop wrinkles. Earlobes can also be naturally big. Wearing heavy jewelry for many years can cause them to become droopy. Certain piercings can disfigure the earlobes making them less attractive.

Whatever the reason for your dissatisfaction, there are both surgical and non-surgical methods to repair and rejuvenate your earlobes or reduce their size. These methods differ significantly in availability, invasiveness, cost, and recovery time. This article has all the details you will need to make a well-informed decision and pick a method that suits your needs.

Dermal Fillers for Earlobe Rejuvenation

Various dermal fillers are the best minimally-invasive treatment for earlobe rejuvenation. The procedure is painless, safe, and quick, and there is no downtime. The cost is also considerably lower than surgery.

Dermal fillers improve the shape of earlobes and give them a youthful appearance by adding volume to the treatment area. Indications for dermal filler earlobe rejuvenation include misshapen, saggy (stretched out), and wrinkled earlobes. In a nutshell, it addresses all the issues that arise due to aging and the long-term use of heavy jewelry.

In some cultures, dermal fillers are also used for earlobe augmentation, as larger earlobes symbolize “richness.”

The Earlobe Rejuvenation Procedure

Dermal fillers are the “easiest” repair method for damaged earlobes. The procedure usually only requires a topical anesthetic to numb the discomfort caused by the (thin) injection needle. A doctor injects a small amount (0.5ccs) of dermal filler into the earlobe to add volume and improve its shape. The treated area almost immediately looks plumper and younger.

A single session is usually sufficient for maximum results. However, additional treatment may be needed once the effects of the filler wear off (in approximately twelve months). This is because most doctors prefer to use hyaluronic acid fillers, such as Juvaderm® or Restylane®.

There is no need for a post-treatment hospital stay or any special recovery. Some discomfort, bruising, redness, and swelling may occur at the injection site. Once the needle entry points have healed, these side effects typically go away on their own after a few days.Patients are free to continue wearing jewelry (earrings) immediately after the treatment. Although the hyaluronic acid fillers used for earlobe rejuvenation are the same as the ones used for the lips and face, the treatment effects last longer due to the absence of muscle movement.

The price for dermal filler earlobe rejuvenation depends on the amount of filler used and it differs from country to country. The median price per syringe is approximately $500 to $800.

Earlobe Repair Treatment

Earlobe repair is a surgical procedure to mend or reconstruct a partially or completely torn earlobe. Such damage usually occurs due to piercings or earrings getting pulled or caught on something. Certain piercing styles can also stretch the opening inside the earlobe to aesthetically unappealing dimensions. Irrespective of the cause, most of these deformities require surgical repair.

What does earlobe repair surgery involve?

Although earlobe repair is a surgical procedure that includes incisions and sutures, local anesthetics are enough to keep the pain away. That also means patients are conscious during surgery, which usually does not take very long. The surgeon opens the edges of the tear, reattaches the separated parts of the earlobe, and stitches them together.

Post-Procedure Recovery

It usually takes several months for the wound to heal completely. There are rarely any complications, but side effects such as swelling, tenderness, and redness are normal; more so in the first several days after surgery while the stitches are still in place. This may look aesthetically unappealing, but it is not dangerous.

During this time, icing the wounds and sleeping on the back are helpful. Also, you should not wear any earrings or get new piercings until the wound completely heals.

The procedure does not require a hospital stay, and it does not hinder normal daily activities. The cost of earlobe repair surgery may vary depending on different factors. It usually starts at $700 for one ear and $1000 for both ears.

Earlobe Reduction Surgery

Elongated, saggy, or generally large earlobes are cosmetic issues for some people. The causes of such problems may be genetic (hereditary) or a consequence of aging and years of wearing heavy earrings or piercings.

Earlobe reduction surgery is a procedure that corrects elongated and large earlobes, regardless of the cause. Here are some indications for earlobe reduction surgery:

• Saggy earlobes with excess skin
• Torn earlobes with excess hanging skin
• Naturally oversized earlobes
• Elongated earlobes

What’s involved in earlobe reduction surgery?

Each earlobe reduction procedure is tailored to best fit the patient’s individual needs. The surgeon suggests the shape and amount of tissue to be removed for getting the best aesthetic result. Subsequently, they mark the parts for removal and inject the local anesthetic to numb the area.

The surgical wound is closed using stitches once the desired earlobe size and shape are achieved. The goal is to minimize or avoid scarring. Complications are rare, but swelling, tenderness, and visible stitches are common.

There is no downtime. The healing lasts several weeks, but you may need to wait several months before you can wear earrings or have a piercing again. The procedure is not suitable for people with bleeding or healing disorders.

The average cost of earlobe reduction surgery is $750 for a single ear or $1,200 for both ears.

The Bottom Line

Before you make a decision, consult a specialist. They can help you understand the cause of your problem and advise you about the aesthetically appealing size, shape, and position of earlobes suited to your face. A specialist will also suggest the best treatment option and give you a realistic assessment of potential outcomes.

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References:

• Monterio, Erica. (2006). Hyaluronic Acid for Restoring Earlobe Volume. Skinmed. 5. 293-4. 10. 1111/j. 1540-9740.2006.05277.x.
• Qian W, Zhang YK, Cao Q, Hou Y, Lv W, Fan JF. Clinical Application of Earlobe Augmentation with Hyaluronic Acid Filler in the Chinese Population. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2017;41(1):185-190. doi:10.1007/s00266-016-0742-6
• Altıntaş A, Çelik M, Yeğin Y, Kayabaşoğlu G. Auricular Lobuloplasty. Turk Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2017 Dec;55(4):172-176. doi: 10.5152/tao.2017.2675. Epub 2017 Dec 1. PMID: 29515930; PMCID: PMC5839526.
• Tatar S, Sezgin B. Aesthetic Earlobe Reduction: A Practical Geometric Modification with Natural Contour Preservation. Facial Plast Surg. 2019;35(3):294-298. doi:10.1055/s-0039-1688704

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