Ear Lope Repair

Seeking Plastic surgery to repair a torn earlobe is a rather frequent occurrence. The Manhattan Plastic Surgeon frequently and easily attends to such cases.

Piercing an earlobe puts it at risk to tear. The size, style and weight of an earring can contribute to the stretching of the earlobe opening. Large earrings that dangle are caught on clothing or grasped by a child. The result may be a partially or completely torn earlobe. Repair of a torn earlobe occurs in the NYC plastic surgery office setting using a local anesthetic. The ear lobe repair procedure consists of "freshening" the edges of the split and placement of sutures to complete the repair of the earlobe.

Piercing an earlobe also puts it at risk for development of a keloid. A keloid is a scar that grows beyond the edges of the pierced opening in the earlobe and is a thick, nodular, itchy cluster of scar tissue that is often red or darker in color than the surrounding skin. The keloid of the earlobe is treated by injecting a steroid medication directly into the scar tissue to reduce redness, itching, and burning. If the medication does not decrease the size and firmness, surgical excision is undertaken with the understanding that the keloid can recur in the earlobe, sometimes even larger than before. To discourage keloid recurrence in the earlobe steroid injections or radiation therapy may be used as an adjunct with surgery. Pressure earrings decrease recurrence of the keloid if worn after surgery.

If you are interested in contacting the NYC Plastic Surgeon and would like to learn more about torn ear lobe repair surgery please make a consultation with the Manhattan, New York Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, David Rapaport MD, FACS at his NYC office by phoning 212.752.1129.