Earlobe Repair in Inland Empire, CA
As body modification becomes increasingly common, our practice sees more and more cases of torn earlobes. Earlobes usually tear because of trauma to the ears, the weight of heavy earrings, or a consequence of stretched earlobes. But we’ve also seen patients who were simply born with overly large earlobes or earlobes that were deformed by a previous procedure.
Regardless of what issues you have with your earlobes, Second to Creation offers a way to return stretched earlobes to normalcy with earlobe repair. Whether you just want to be able to wear earrings again or need an earlobe repair for career reasons, we are here to help.
We’re a practice that thrives on offering our patients a second chance. Dr. Machida has performed countless earlobe repairs as a facial plastic surgery specialist, and he’s refined his technique to create the most structurally sound, natural-looking earlobes available.
Before & After Gallery
View a selection of Before & After photos of Dr. Machida's patients. These photos aim to provide a better sense of the possible outcomes of your procedure.
View GalleryWhat Can Earlobe Repair Treat?
- Partially torn ears: There are certain cases where, due to heavy earrings or trauma, the piercing becomes so stretched that it’s too large to hold an earring, but not so stretched that it’s split the earlobe
- Split or torn earlobes: Heavy earrings, multiple piercings, and trauma like grabbing and snagging can actually split piercings all the way through. Earlobe repair can fix that by joining the earlobes into one whole piece again.
- Stretched earlobes: Gauges are large earrings meant to stretch out the earlobes. This leaves the patient with large, unnatural-looking holes that are impossible to shrink to a normal size–even after the gauges are taken out. Earlobe repair is used to reconstruct the stretched earlobes.
- Sagging earlobes: Some earlobes are just naturally saggy or overly large. Heavy earrings can also contribute to a drooping, noticeable shape. With earlobe repair, you can resize the earlobes to a more natural size and shape.
- Pixie earlobes: Sometimes, flawed facelift techniques can lead to the earlobes becoming stretched like a pixie’s ear. Earlobe repair can reshape the earlobe to a more normal shape.
The Procedure for Earlobe Repair
Dr. Machida stresses that earlobe repair is much more complicated than people think; it’s more than just fusing split earlobes together–in many cases, the entire earlobe has to be reconstructed. Any scarring must also be hidden because the earlobes are very visible to the naked eye.
Another consideration is that the earlobes don’t just have to look natural, but they also have to be strong enough to support new earrings.
It’s why Dr. Machida takes great care to customize each earlobe repair to the patient’s specific needs. If the patient has a split earlobe, he’ll use sutures or a skin flap to repair the damage. If the patient has deformed, pixie, or stretched earlobes, he’ll reconstruct the earlobes entirely to remove scar tissue and to make sure the results look as natural as possible. If the earlobe is too large, he will excise tissue around the outlines of the earlobes to give them a more natural shape.
Dr. Machida also uses specialized techniques to ensure notching, which is when the outline of the earlobes don’t curve naturally as a side effect of surgery, doesn’t occur.
Earlobe repair is performed in Dr. Machida’s private surgical center, and it’s done using local anesthesia. It typically takes 15-45 minutes to complete depending on what’s being repaired.
You can restore a normal look with an earlobe repair. By contacting Second to Creation online or by calling (909) 476-2600, you can schedule a consultation for your earlobe repair.
Frequently Asked Questions About Earlobe Repair
Any patient in good health that has a torn, deformed, overly large, or overly stretched earlobe can have an earlobe repair done.
Earlobe repair is a simple procedure with very little risk of complications. In some cases, substantial scarring might develop because of trauma to the ears, or the ears can split again if the earlobe is pierced too soon.
It depends. If the earlobe repair was not as extensive, the patient may be able to return to work or their daily activities immediately after their procedure. If it was more extensive, the patient may need a few days rest. They may also need to return to Second to Creation in regular intervals so that Dr. Machida can monitor their recovery.
Dr. Machida will provide instructions on how to take care of your earlobes during your recovery. You will likely need to apply a topical antibiotic to the incisions, avoid scratching or tugging the area, and avoid sun exposure or swimming while it heals.
Earlobe repair does not affect your ability to hear, so it’s seen as a cosmetic procedure and thus is not covered by insurance.
Dr. Machida will use specific techniques to minimize the appearance of scars. However, since many cases of earlobe repair are caused by trauma, there may be some residual scarring that remains after the surgery. Nevertheless, once the earlobe heals, the scars from the surgery will eventually fade and you can wear earrings that can obscure any scarring.
You can certainly pierce your ears after an earlobe repair. Dr. Machida does advise that patients wait at least 8 weeks or until the ears are fully healed before getting another piercing. He also advises that patients avoid creating more scar tissue by piercing the ears at the exact same spot. If you do decide to have your ear re-pierced, have it done by a professional.
Brian K. Machida, MD, FACS
Located in the Heart of Inland Empire
Restored Faces…Transformed Lives. Excellence, experience, caring, professionalism, and amazing results are all part of the experience you’ll receive as part of your incredible experience at STC Plastic Surgery