Earlobe Repair - Split Lobe, Earlobe Reduction, Keloid Treatment

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Benefits of Earlobe Repair

Restores a Youthful Earlobe Shape

Earlobe reduction can take a long, heavy lobe and restore a smaller, more youthful contour. By removing a carefully planned wedge or crescent of tissue, the lobe is reshaped so it sits in better proportion with the rest of the face.

Repairs Tears and Enlarged Piercings

Split earlobes and enlarged piercing holes are common after years of heavy earrings or a single traumatic pull. Earlobe repair closes the damaged tissue, recreates a continuous edge, and restores the ability to wear earrings again in many cases.

Treats Keloids and Problem Scars

Keloids and thick scars on the earlobe can be painful, itchy, or cosmetically distracting. Dr. Neavin treats keloids with a combination of steroid injections, surgical removal, and sometimes a short course of radiation to reduce the chance of recurrence.

Quick Procedure and Recovery

Most earlobe procedures are done in the office under local anesthesia. Each lobe takes about 30 minutes, there is minimal discomfort, and most people do not need time off work or school. Swelling is mild and stitches are usually removed within a week.

Expected Results

Results from earlobe repair are visible right away. Once swelling settles and stitches are removed, the lobe looks more continuous, balanced, and proportional to the surrounding facial features. For many patients, it becomes a part of their appearance they no longer think about, which is often the goal.

Smaller, More Proportional Lobes

Reduction techniques remove excess tissue in a way that reshapes the lobe. The final contour looks smaller and more youthful without appearing operated on.

Continuous, Intact Lobe Edge

Split or stretched piercings are closed with precise suturing. The edge of the lobe is carefully aligned to avoid steps or notches, which is critical to a natural result.

Improved Scar Quality Over Time

Earlobe scars are usually well camouflaged in natural creases or along the rim. With proper closure, sunscreen, massage, and scar care, most scars soften and become difficult to detect at conversational distance.

Real Patient Results

Browse our extensive gallery to see the natural, symmetrical results Dr. Neavin achieves.

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Technical Specifications

Techniques in Earlobe Repair and Reduction

Different earlobe shapes and problems call for different incision patterns. Dr. Neavin uses three core approaches, each with distinct advantages, limitations, and scar patterns.

Earlobe Reduction

Earlobe reduction removes excess tissue to restore a smaller, more youthful lobe. Incisions can be placed along the rim of the lobe, slightly behind it, or at the junction where the lobe meets the face. Each approach has strengths depending on your anatomy and the desired scar position.

Mid Earlobe Incision

The mid earlobe incision is the most versatile technique. A wedge of skin is removed in a triangular shape, then closed in a mattress fashion along the rim to match the edges with exactness. This helps prevent a step off or notch and is critical for an attractive closure. This approach can be used to reduce lobe size, repair a torn lobe, or tighten a stretched piercing.

Rim Incision

With a rim incision, tissue is resected in a crescent shape along the margin of the lobe. This makes it very effective and predictable for reshaping and reducing the lobe, with few limitations on how much reduction can be achieved. The trade off is higher tension on the closure, which may increase the chance of a thick scar or keloid in people prone to hypertrophic scarring.

Base of Earlobe Incision and Attached Lobes

Some earlobes are attached to the side of the face and others are free. For patients who prefer an attached lobe, an incision can be made at the base of the lobe to remove tissue vertically or along the margin. This can reduce size and create an attached appearance. Small to moderate reductions often need only a vertical excision, while larger reductions may require a combination of base and marginal incisions.

Patient Profile

Candidates

Ideal Candidates

Many patients seek earlobe surgery as part of a broader facial rejuvenation plan, or simply because they want to feel comfortable wearing earrings again.

You may be a good candidate for earlobe repair or reduction if you have:
Split earlobes from trauma or earrings
Enlarged piercing holes that no longer hold earrings well
Elongated lobes from aging or prolonged use of heavy earrings
Thick scars or keloids on the earlobes
A sense that your earlobes make your face look older than it feels

Not Ideal Candidates

You have uncontrolled medical conditions that affect healing
You are actively smoking and cannot pause nicotine use, especially in the setting of keloids or poor scarring
You expect the lobe to be scar free. All incisions create some type of scar, even when they are very well hidden.

A consultation will clarify your scar history, healing tendencies, and what type of improvement you can expect.

Estimated Investment

Varies based on complexity and number of lobes

The investment for earlobe repair depends on whether you require simple repair, reduction, keloid treatment, or a combination of procedures. Some keloid surgeries may be partially covered by health insurance. A detailed quote is provided after your consultation.

Get a Quote

Earlobe Repair as Part of Facial Rejuvenation

Why Small Details Matter

Facial rejuvenation is most powerful when all visible units of the face work in harmony. A smooth jawline, refreshed eyes, and full cheeks can still look incomplete if the earlobes remain elongated or torn. Including earlobe repair in the overall plan can be the detail that keeps the result from looking like a patchwork of separate procedures.

Surgery Day Journey

Consultation and Planning

During consultation, Dr. Neavin reviews your concerns, scar history, and goals. He examines the size, shape, and attachment of the earlobes and any split, stretched, or keloid areas. Together, you decide which incision pattern and technique will best match your desired outcome.

Day of Surgery

You can eat and drink normally before most earlobe procedures. Topical numbing medicine is applied, followed by local anesthesia injected into and around the lobe. The skin is cleansed and you are positioned comfortably. Once the earlobe is completely numb, the planned incisions are made, tissue is excised or rearranged, and the lobe is closed with fine sutures. A small amount of ointment and a bandage are placed.

Early Recovery

You return home the same day. Swelling is mild and improves over a few days. Stitches are either dissolvable or removed in the office within about a week. Many people go back to work or school the same or next day, understanding that sutures may be visible for a short time.

The Artisan Promise

Comprehensive
Aftercare Support

Clear, simple aftercare helps protect the repair and supports a fine line scar.

Incision Care

Keep the area clean and follow instructions for ointment and dressing changes. Avoid pulling or pressure on the lobe while stitches are in place.

Activity and Protection

You can shower the next day using gentle shampoo and common sense. Do not scrub the area. Avoid strenuous exercise for about 48 hours to reduce the chance of bleeding and discomfort.

Scar Optimization

Sunscreen, gentle massage, and scar creams can all help refine the final appearance of the scar. If you have a history of keloids, additional steps such as ear clips or steroid injections may be recommended.

Healing Timeline

Every patient heals differently, but this timeline offers a general guide for your return to daily life.

Days 1-3

Mild swelling and tenderness are common. The lobe is kept clean and protected with a light dressing or ointment such as bacitracin. Discomfort is usually minimal and controlled with over the counter medication.

Days 4-7

Swelling continues to improve. Stitches are often removed around day seven, unless dissolvable sutures are used behind the ear. Most patients continue normal work and daily activities without restriction.

Weeks 2 to 3

The incision line softens and redness begins to fade. If the plan includes re piercing, many patients can safely have this done once swelling has subsided, often by about three weeks, depending on the specific repair.

3 Weeks+

Scars continue to mature over several months. With proper care, most scars flatten and blend in well with the natural contours of the ear. Ongoing follow up allows early management of any thickening or keloid tendency.

Safety &
Potential Risks

Earlobe repair is considered a straightforward operation with minimal discomfort and downtime in most patients. The procedure is performed on the surface of the ear, away from major vessels or nerves, but all surgery carries some degree of risk.

Important Considerations

Poor or visible scarring
Notching or step off at the edge of the lobe
Infection
Recurrence or thickening of scars, especially in people prone to keloids
Need for revision surgery

Smokers tend to heal poorly, so avoiding nicotine for at least four weeks before and after surgery is strongly recommended to optimize scarring and overall healing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common earlobe problems you treat?

The most common deformities are split earlobes, enlarged piercing holes, and elongated lobes. The first two are usually related to trauma and earrings. Larger earlobes often result from long term use of heavy jewelry or simply the natural aging process.

What is a split earlobe?

A split earlobe is a separation of skin on the lobe that creates a cleft or split where the piercing or tissue used to be continuous.

What causes a split earlobe?

Split earlobes are almost always caused by piercings and trauma related to piercings. Earrings pulled by clothing, children, or pets are common causes. Bites and other forms of trauma can also contribute.

What is an earlobe reduction?

Earlobe reduction is a procedure that restores a smaller, more youthful looking lobe. It is done in the office and is often combined with other facial rejuvenation procedures such as facelift or facial fat grafting

Why do my earlobes seem larger now than they used to?

It is normal for earlobes to grow with age. Earlobes and the nose are two facial structures that continue to enlarge over time, even in people who have never worn earrings.

Dr. Tim Neavin

The Artisan

Artistry Meets
Surgical Precision

On the face, only two areas reliably continue to grow with age: the nose and the earlobes. When the lobes become long, creased, or torn, they can draw attention away from the rest of an otherwise youthful result. Real facial rejuvenation looks at the whole picture, which sometimes includes the earlobes.

Dr. Tim Neavin offers a full range of earlobe procedures, from simple repair of a split piercing to reduction of a large or drooping lobe. He also manages more complex issues like keloids, which are exaggerated scar responses that commonly occur in darker skin types. Treatment plans can involve steroid injections, surgery to remove the keloid, and in some cases a short course of radiation therapy. In selected situations, health insurance may even cover keloid surgery.

His approach is careful and methodical. Incision choice, tension on the closure, and how the edges are approximated all influence the final shape of the ear and the quality of the scar. Every repair is planned to blend with the natural contours of the ear so the result looks like you, only more refined.

Diplomate American Board of
Plastic Surgery

Philosophy "Surgery with
Symmetry"

Beverly Hills & Santa Barbara

Start Your Transformation

Schedule your private consultation with Dr. Neavin today.

Earlobe Repair Restore balance, shape, and youth to the earlobes.