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Risk of Hypertrophic Scars from Earlobe Surgery?

asked 2 years ago by rim78 in N/A
Latest answer by Robert L. Kraft, MD
Question viewed 2,185 times
Tags: age 25-34, earlobe, hypertrophic, scar

I want an earlobe repair or reduction surgery. However, I have a hypertrophic scar on my shoulder for the past 3 years. I don't know how I got it. It's 1.5 cm long. No surgery or injury that I can remember. I am 30 years old. I am scared of keloid formation once I carry out an earlobe reduction surgery. How scared should I realistically be?

23 answers to Risk of Hypertrophic Scars from Earlobe Surgery?

Poor scarring in earlobe surgery is uncommon

The skin and tissue quality of the earlobe is very different from that of your shoulder. Also, the stresses and pulling on the incision between the two areas are dramatically different. So while your shoulder scar, perhaps expectantly, became wide and hypertrophic such a result on your earlobe is very unlikely. With the rare exception of treating true earlobe keloids, I have never seen a hypertrophic earlobe scar develop from either earlobe reduction or the repair of ear piercings... more

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD
Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon

Earlobe scar hypertrophy

The shoulder is one of the worst areas of the body in terms of scarring; I would not extrapolate a poor shoulder scar to conclude that you will automatically scar badly on the earlobe. Keloid formation is a different process from scar hypertrophy. If you did not form keloids from the ear piercing or laceration, it is highly unlikely that you will form a keloid mass at the site of earlobe repair. In terms of scar hypertrophy, this can be controlled by kenalog injection... more

Robert L. Kraft, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.foresthillsplasticsurgery.com

Earlobe surgery and scars

Hypertrophic scarring (thick wide scar) is different from keloids (scar mass that keeps growing well outside the boundaries of the scar). If you have not had keloids develop in the ear area before from previous piercings, then it is unlikely that you would develop keloid in your ear now.

Thomas T. Le, MD
Baltimore Facial Plastic Surgeon

Keloids or Hypertrophic Scars after Earlobe Surgery

If you have earlobe piercings and do not have any hypertrophic scarring or keloids from that, there would seem to be a lower likelihood that you would form keloids after repair of your earlobes. However, you have a hypertrophic scar or keloid on your shoulder so that would suggest a propensity to forming hypertrophic scars or keloids. I have seen a number of keloids on the earlobes of people. Most of these are African-Americans, and most of these patients also had keloids on the jawline or... more

Andrew Kaufman, MD
Los Angeles Dermatologic Surgeon

Earlobe repair

If you do not form keloids, then the risk is very low to have problems once the earlobe is repaired. Good luck.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Hypertrophic keloid scars of the earlobe are Uncommon

While keloid scars can occur on earlobes, they are uncommon. Despite having a keloid scar on your shoulder, If you have already had your earlobes pierced and have no keloids there, then it is not likely that they would occur with repair of the earlobe holes and reduction of the earlobe. However, there is no absolute certainty about scars.

Fredrick A. Valauri, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.drvalauri.com

Risk of keloids with ear lobe surgery

If you have a tendency to make keloids and hypertrophic scars, especially unprovoked ones like you describe, you will have a tendency to form a keloid after ear lobe surgery. There is no way to predict or prevent keloid formation. Once it starts, it may be minimized by intralesional injections of triamcinolone. But keloidal tissue can be aggressive and grow despite our best efforts to control it. Please consider carefully whether you wish to take that risk.

Emily Altman, MD
Short Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

Should you worry about keloids with earlobe repair?

If your ears are pierced and you do not have any abnormal scarring of the earlobes, it is highly unlikely that earlobe repair or reduction will result in hypertrophic or keloid scarring. If your ears are pierced,and you do have elevated scars, then you are at significant risk for unsatisfactory scarring with earlobe surgery. If you choose to proceed with surgery, you may wish to have steroid injections performed before, during, and/or after the repair. If yours have never... more

Ronald Friedman, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Keloid prevention

Keloids are a common occurance in the ear lobes for some people. It is usually associated with unsanitory earpiercing and subclinical infection and chronic inflammtion resulting from that. However ther are ways to prevent recurrance of Keloid following ear lob surgery. Using basic principles of plastic surgery in wound handling and repair, application of Bleomycin to the wound before closure, post operative Kenalog injection, applicationof silcone scar... more

Zain Kadri, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Scarring After Earlobe Surgery Uncommon

Scarring after any earlobe repair is rather uncommon. The wounds are generally closed with very minimal tension. In addition, if you notice a hypertrophic scar or keloid forming, early intervention with steroid injections or other treatments can often prevent an undesireable result.

D.J. Verret, MD
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

Keloids and hypertrophic scars with ear lobe repair

Earlobe surgery is performed under sterile conditions with minimal tension applied to the repair. Although a hypertrophic scar is possible, it is not common. Thick scars associated with the earlobes should be managed early and aggressively. If you are worried about the possibility of hypertrophic or keloid scarring, seek a surgeon who is familiar with earlobe repair and scar revision.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Hypertrophic scars from earlobe surgery

If you have a history of hypertrophic scars in and around the ear, you may very well be predisposed to developing a hypertrophic scar or keloid during an earlobe surgery. This is a serious consideration and one which your plastic surgeon has a limited ability to prevent. Keep this in mind as you consider your options. The development of a hypertrophic scar or keloid in this area maybe much more current than a prominent earlobe or a large gauge of the ear lobe piercing. more

B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Everyone heals differently

It is possible to develop keloid on your earlobes after reduction or repair; however it is not inevitable. Should you start seeing keloids develop, the key is to start treatment early. Steroid injections, pressure therapy and even radiation therapy can all be effective.

Kevin Brenner, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Earlobe and shoulder scars differ

Hello, Hypertrophic scarring is possible but not common in earlobe surgery. The scar location as well as the technique have something to do with the outcome. Seek out a good surgeon who can examine you first for an opinion first to assess risk and benefit.

John P. Di Saia, MD
Orange Plastic Surgeon

Keloid after earlobe repair is rare.

I have repaired hundreds of torn earlobes and have yet to see a keloid or hypertropic scar. I'm not certain why this is because I have seen many keloids (almost always in black patients) as a result of ear piercing. In correcting those problems, occasional recurrences are observed.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Earlobe Repair and Scarring

Torn earlobes are quite common in longstanding piercings, especially in patients who prefer long/ heavy earrings. In my practice, I see this problem quite commonly and have yet to see a keloid form after repair. However, avoiding the problem is largely related to patient selection. The three most common sites for keloid formation are the sternum (chest), deltoid, and earlobe. Keloid formation has a genetic predisposition, generally occurring in darker skinned patients. The one factor... more

Stephen Prendiville, MD
Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

Earlobe scarring and keloids

I have seen and treated numerous earlobe keloid scars all of which have been from piercings. I have never seen one from an earlobe reducion. If your ears have been pierced and you developed no problems, the chances of a keloid developing are small. Can't give any 100% guarantees though..

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Tendency to develop hypertrophic or keloid scars with earlobe repair

There is a significant differerence between hypertrophic and keloid scars. The former is more likely what you have on your shoulder. If you have had your ears pierced in the past, that would be a better indication of your tendency to develop hypertrophic or keloid scars.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Earlobe Repair Can Cause Keloid or Hypertrophic Scars

It is always a a possibility to develop a keloid or hypertrophic scar on the ear lobe incision. The fact that you have a hypertrophic scar on the shoulder is an indication that you are at risk of developing abnormal scar in the earlobe incision. If you have a scar anywhere else on the body and has healed well then you are probably ok to have earlobe surgery. Shoulders are high stress areas and can easily develop hypertrophic scars. Regards

Tanveer Janjua, MD
Bedminster Facial Plastic Surgeon

Earlobe repair and keloid formation

You may develop a keloid scar on your earlobe. In general, there is not much tension on an earlobe as there is on the shoulder. If you have pierced ears and did not develop a keloid then you have a good chance of not developing a keloid. If you do decide to have the ear lobe repaired then you should be closely followed every few weeks by your doctor who will look for signs of keloid formation. Pressure earrings and steroid injections may help prevent keloid formation.

Sharon Theresa McLaughlin MD
Long Island City Plastic Surgeon

Earlobe repair hypertrophic scar risk

Plastic surgeons are often called upon to fix torn earlobes. This seems to be especially true in Las Vegas, where big, dangling earrings are in style. Often a child will grab them, or they will get caught on something and rip. Sometimes it is just time that makes a larger hole in the earlobe. Hypertrophic scarring can occur anywhere. Hispanic, Asian, and Dark European, (e.g. Italian) patients are more at risk. Keloid scarring can also occur anywhere, and with this type of scarring the scar... more

Jeffrey Roth, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

Hypertrophic scar risk

Healing begins right after an incision is made. After a few days, collagen is produced, which is found in all skin and is the main component of scar tissue. But sometimes collagen can overreact, resulting in raised, red scars called keloids. Some people are genetically programmed to respond with this kind of scarring. What's more, because collagen is produced in different amounts all over the body, not all body parts heal at the same rate, or with the same degree of smoothness. There are... more

Michelle Copeland, MD, DMD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Scarring

Scarring is a natural result of healing. It is a multifactorial problem. 1: Where the scar is. Certain areas are more prone to hypertrophic scars or keloids 2: How the wound has healed 3: Genetics. If you are genetically destined to have hypertrophic scars or keloids, you will. Consult your BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON and they will be able to advise you on scarring.

Samir Shureih, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

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