Can My Torn Earlobe That Has Healed Be Fixed To Look Like A Normal Earlobe?

Q:  Dr. Eppley, my earlobe tore as a teen and it went on to heal on its own. While it did heal, it has left me with thick earlobes. The split closed up but it left me with an abnormally long lobe that makes me very self conscience. I would love to get it corrected.

A: All earlobe tears will heal on their own and one would normally be left with a crease or groove along the healed tear line. Otherwise the earlobe will not be significantly distorted.  Occasionally, when an earlobe tear heals on its own it will develop thick scar tissue which may also make the earlobe look longer. Both issues can be solved through a procedure that is very similar to an earlobe reduction operation. The scar tissue and the surrounding elongated central earlobe tissues are removed and the earlobe is closed back together. This makes the earlobe vertically shorter and much softer. This earlobe reconstruction is an office procedure done under local anesthesia. The sutures are removed in one week. The earlobe can be re-pierced 8 weeks after the procedure.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana