My Earlobes Are Old and Thin Instead of Plump. Can Autofat Be Used to Fatten Them?

Question

The earring holes are elongated too because of the thinness of the lobe and use of course. If autologous fat were used to plump up the earlobes I think my earrings would hang better and I would look younger. I also don't like the attached earlobe effect from my facelift 15 years ago. Can it be revised to be unattached again like my family's genetics? That would raise up the long look of the ears and be more youthfull too.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

A lot of earlobes look weird after a facelift because many surgeons don't properly deal with it at the time of surgery. There are many ways to deal with the different deformities created from a facelift, but fat injection is not one that I think would be useful.

Ava T. Shamban, MD · Answer

As we age, we lose collagen not only in our face but in our earlobes as well!  We've had great success with injecting hyaluronic acid fillers in the earlobes to restore a youthful appearance.

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Yes Earlobe can be repaired. The attached earlobe following a facelift you described is called a pixie ear lobe and this can be corrected. You can also inject fat also called fat transfer or lipoinjection

Hannah Vargas, MD · Answer

Yes, the earlobes can be detached from the side of the face so the lobe can hang free. Sometimes, the lobe also has to be made smaller as determined by exam. As well, the lobe can be plumped with either fat or purchased filler. These procedures are both typically done in the office. I tend to keep the stitches in the ear for longer then other procedures and I like to wait a long time (months) before re-piercing (which I typically do myself at a later appointment). You have lots of options. Good luck!

Toby Mayer, MD · Answer

Juviderm or Restylane can be used to plump up the lobe. But usually Th earlobe is too long and it can be made smaller and plumper by removing part of the length, "killing 2 birds with one stone".

My Earlobes Are Old and Thin Instead of Plump. Can Autofat Be Used to Fatten Them?

Answers (10)