Before and after left earlobe (lobule) repair and repiercing in a 65-year-old woman. Her left ear piercing had been stretched out for quite some time. She previously wore a disc behind her earring to help hold in in place and prevent the stud from falling out of the earlobe hole, but additional stretching prevented her from wearing an earring at all.
Left lobule repair was performed under local anesthesia, with an oral anti-anxiety medication and inhaled laughing gas.
The second image shows the extent of her stretched earlobe piercing. In situations like this, we complete the split after the earlobe is numbed and perform a primary repair of the earlobe all the way from the front to the back of the earlobe. This is performed using dissolving sutures.
A new ear piercing was performed just lateral to the old earlobe hole and a little higher. We recommend our patients get a small hoop that they will be comfortable wearing for up to three months after surgery. This earring should be made of gold, sterling silver or surgical steel to avoid irritation from other metals such as nickel. A side benefit of wearing a hoop during healing is that it helps conceal the stitches initially and the healing wound!
Follow-up photos are shown nearly over 2 months after surgery. She is healing very well, and has chosen to keep her current earrings in place for travel this summer, and will eventually change them out when she is back in town. She is very pleased with her decision to have this simple Plastic Surgery procedure!
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
