Should I get surgery or let my split earlobe heal by itself?

Question

1 morning I woked up and my earring was out of my ear. I found out that my earlobe had split while I was sleeping. My friend earlobe split before and he said he let his heal by itself without surgery. What should I do?

Sanusi Umar, MD · Answer

Your split earlobe will not heal all by itself. The only way to repair it is through surgery. I am including a link below to a real-life patient case from my office at the Dr.U Clinic in Los Angeles. This involves a young woman who came to us to reconstruct her split earlobe. Local anesthesia is used. The procedure involves refreshing the edges of the split so that they can then be sutured together for a more seamless looking outcome. Both the front and the back of the earlobe are addressed in this manner. Split earlobe repair is a very minor form of surgery available at most dermatology offices.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Earlobe repair is a common procedure in our plastic surgery office. I employ a technique that involves removing the excess scar tissue and reapproximating the tissue planes in multiple layers to recontour the earlobe after gauges, torn earlobes, or stretched out earlobes. Sometimes, the same procedure is used to restore contour to a pixie ear after facelift surgery or facial surgery. Gauge correction is a popular treatment. Insurance typically does not cover the procedure in California, but it all depends on your insurance policy. Costs are typically between six hundred dollars and one thousand dollars depending on the complexity of the repair. Pixie ear repair involves correction of the facelift flap and is a more complex procedure that requires anesthesia. Aftercare for earlobe repair involves proper wound care, Plato’s Scar Serum at least twice daily, with repiercing of the earlobe if requested, in 6 weeks. It is best to have a plastic surgeon perform the procedure and help with scars in the post-procedure period. Plato’s Scar Serum, wound care, and Neosporin are used.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian

Brian K. Reedy, MD · Answer

Hi  & thank you for your question.It is unlikely that a split earlobe will close itself. You can take a wait and see approach to see if it heals..Repairing a earlobe is a very common procedure. I recommend you contact  a board certified plastic surgeon for a consultation.Hope this helps.

Paul Vitenas, Jr., MD · Answer

Thank
you very much for your question and photograph. 
The decision for correction is ultimately yours, however, it is normal
for this type of tear to be sutured and repaired. This can be done when the ear
splits, or later after it has healed by itself, to improve the aesthetic
appearance.  I would suggest a
consultation with a Board Certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options for
correction.

Raymond E. Lee, MD · Answer

Hi and thanks for your photos.  A split earlobe will not heal back together.  It needs to be sutured together at the time of the injury.  That said, it can easily be repaired later once the split edges are healed over  It can be done under local anesthesia.

Elliot M. Heller, MD · Answer

Earlobe repair is a very common procedure. Frequently, we have patients who will have the procedure done the same day as the consultation. Typically, the cost is between $450-850 per earlobe, depending on the severity and the length of the procedure.You may be able to find a doctor who will do this under insurance but i am not aware of any.The length of time the ears have been gauged should have no effect on the procedure. As long as the tissue is no longer irritated or inflamed, there is no reason not to give it a try. Gauged ears are sometimes more difficult than some other earlobe repairs since the tissue is so over stretched, but we are still able to create a natural looking earlobe. You can get your ear re pierced about 6 weeks after and should be included in the pricing. Shop around in your area and see if you can find a plastic surgeon in your budget

Joshua Cooper, MD, FACS · Answer

The two edges of your ear lobe that split apart will not heal back together.The two edges will heal on their own, but you will be left with a small cleft.If you do not like the look of that cleft, definitely meet with a board certified plastic surgeon to be evaluated. The surgical repair of that split ear lobe is straightforward and can be performed in a plastic surgeon's office under a local anesthetic.  The procedure itself takes less than 1/2 hour. Thanks for sharing!

Mathew A. Plant, MD, FRCSC · Answer

It is unlikely to heal on its own and if it does it is very likely to tear again if you were to start wearing an earring again. The only way to know for sure is to book a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon near you to see what your options are. Best of luck!

Edward J. Gross, MD · Answer

If it's less than a few days old, you can butterfly it or paper tape the earlobe and hope it heals. It should take a few days to week to close or seal. If it doesn't heal together, than you will need it corrected by a qualified plastic or facial plastic surgeon. It is generally not as simple as asking your family doctor to fix. There is also no rush to get it corrected. I have corrected many that were torn years earlier.

Garrett A. Wirth, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

While this happened long before I was able to answer this question, I believe the best solution is immediate surgical repair.  If it was allowed to heal on its own and did not do well, then correction should be able to be done in the office setting under local anesthesia alone.