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Ear love stretching, causes and will they ever shrink down or go away?

asked 1 year ago by alva97 in Gahanna, OH
Latest answer by Fredrick A. Valauri, MD
Question viewed 3,353 times
Tags: male, gauge

I have a question for any plastic surgeon or doctor. I was wondering if you would always have to get surgery after stretching your earlobes. I have heard from others (whom have their ears stretched) that depending on how big you stretch them, they will shrink down but I want to make sure with a professional. I want to be able to go to 10mm max (00 gauge)because I personally want to get a job when I'm older and would like to see if my parents are right when they say that if I stretch them they can never go back down. I will attach a picture that shows the top size i would like to go to. So in other words, will they ever close up if ear lobes are stretched, if not will they ever shrink down to a normal ear piercing size like 18mm?

14 answers to Ear love stretching, causes and will they ever shrink down or go away?

+3

Earlobes!

Do not do this.  You will regret it and require surgery to correct this distortion.  Be distinctive and stand out in a positive way.  This does not look good and will cost you multiple thousands in repaire bills later.  The insuraence will not pay to correct this deformity.   Good Luck
George Commons, MD

Palo Alto Plastic Surgeon
+1

Do Stretched Earlobes Ever Shrink Back to Normal Size?

Stretched earlobes never shrink back to normal size. They all require earlobe surgery to correct the earlobe deformity. The precise procedure varies with the nature of the earlobe deformity, but all of the earlobe repair and earlobe reshaping procedures are done under local anesthesia in the office.
Fredrick A. Valauri, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

www.drvalauri.com

+1

Ear lobe stretching

The earlobes will shrink back to some degree but not completely. I have had many patients undergo eventual excision of the stretched skin tell me “I wish I hadn't done it”. My suggestion: listen to your parents! Best wishes.
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Do gauged earlobes shrink back down to normal?

In my experience earlobes stretched with smaller gauges will shrink back down a little bit after they are removed. I find that even people with 10 millimeter gauges will require surgery to correct their earlobe after the gauge is removed.
Sanjiv Kayastha, MD

Albany Plastic Surgeon
+1

Earlobe gauging will unlikely shrink down after a certain extent

Earlobe gauging will unlikely shrink down after a certain extent. In my experience, these holes and gauges usually don't shrink up much. Usually it requires a surgical reduction. Gauging definitely has an impact on your professional presentation, whether most would like to admit it or not. This is unfortunate that we are judged by our appearances but this is part of our genetics and based on our desire for self preservation. You can reduce these earlobes gauges / stretching very... more
Philip Young, MD

Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Ear lobe stretching and will the hole shrink down?

If you stretch your pierced ear lobe holes and later decide you don't like this, be forewarned, the holes will probably not shrink back down.  I have a number of patients who required surgical correction of stretched ear lobe holes that they later regretted they had made.
Vincent D. Lepore, MD

San Jose Plastic Surgeon
+1

The earlobe will NOT stretch back to its normal shape after a large piercing is removed

If a typical tiny hole has been created by an ear piercing for a tiny shaft of an earring, and the earring is removed, the hole before complete healing, may heal itself by closing it off.  Larger piercings stretch the skin and the skin will not close over 100%.  These permanent skin openings would be too large to close by themselves and would need reconstruction to make the hole go away.
Ronald Shelton, MD

Manhattan Dermatologist
+1

Best Method to Correct Stretched Ear Lobes from "Love Stretching"

Hi Gahanna, It would be a "Stretch" to think that your ear hole would shrink back to normal after your love stretching.  When you are ready, a ear lobe repair surgery in the office under local anesthesia will be needed.  Good luck and be well. Dr. P
Michael A. Persky, MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Ear lobe stretching after gauge piercing

Yes, the skin will shrink after removing the gauge piercing. However, you most likely will still have a hole and may require plastic surgery to close the hole and/or remove excess skin.
Houtan Chaboki, MD

Washington DC Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Earlobe will stretch not a good idea

I would not suggest having the gauging of the earlobes unless you are looking for restorative surgery later on. While skin will retract after stretching it is highly unlikely that the lobe will return to normal and you will require reparative surgery...listen to mom and dad on this one! The saying " Father knows best" applies here. Best regards!
Michael Elam, MD

Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Small to medium gauge piercings will permanently stretch your ear lobes

Small to medium gauge piercings will permanently stretch your ear lobes. I agree with my fellow plastic surgeons that even though your gauge piercings are smaller than some others that your earlobes will never completely heal on their own. They WILL contract but there will always be a hole there. Repair can be performed in the office and typically results in a nice appearing earlobe. Dr. Stephen Weber, Facial Plastic Surgeon 
Stephen Weber, MD

Lone Tree Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Earlobe Stretching

The earlobes typically "stretch" naturally as we age.  Patients think often seek care for earlobes that are "too long" or "hanging." While you may think its a good idea to stretch them or "gauge" them, I would recommend that you wait.  If you still feel strongly about doing this in 6 months, maybe then you can do it then if it is still important to you.
Jon E. Mendelsohn, MD

Cincinnati Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

"Gauging" your ear lobe is a bad idea

Hi Alva- My recommendation is to abandon the idea of gauging your ear lobe, especially to 10mm.  While your skin will contract should you decide to remove the gauge, it will unlikely contract to an acceptable degree, i.e. there's a very good chance you'll need corrective surgery to restore the natural curve and fullness of your ear lobe.  Any surgery you get will also leave you with a scar and possibly a permanent deformity.  Good luck!
Elan B. Singer, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Ear lobes, ear shaping, #beauty

Dear Alva97 Thank you for your question. The skin on the body can stretch and contract.  It is difficult to determine how much the skin will retract after being stretched.  The larger the hole in your earlobe is stretched the less likely the skin will return to 'normal'- and then may require surgical correction for closure. With Warm Regards, Trevor M Born MD
Trevor M. Born, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon

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