I've noticed my ear piercing has been stretching. (photo)

Question

Well I have been using hoop earrings but then I stopped because I noticed my ear lobes have been splitting

Kaveh Alizadeh, MD, MSc, FACS · Answer

Thanks for your question - it's one we hear often from women who've worn earrings for years, especially large or heavy earrings. In the short-term, you can switch to studs or lightweight earrings in order to avoid further stretching of the piercing. A simple and quick non-surgical option includes using a dermal filler (like Juvederm or Restylane) or a patient's own fat, to fill the area around the ear piercing in order to tighten the pierced hole and add more support. Treatment takes less than 10 minutes and can last for 12 months.

Jacob Sedgh, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question! Ear lobe stretching is a common issue for patients who have been wearing earrings or who wear particularly heavy ones. Repairing the ear lobe is a particularly easy procedure that I do under local anesthesia in the office. There's virtually no downtime and patients have minimal discomfort. We wish you the best!

Jeffrey J. Roth, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question, and the photo.  We typically do this procedure in our office under local anesthesia.  We usually close the incision in layers to take the tension off of the incision.  This usually leads to a nicer incision line.  Please call the office for more details and the current costs.  Costs will typically depend on the complexity,  and how much time, the procedure will take.  Costs will vary from city to city.  We usually have our patients wait 3 months before re-piercing the earlobe, and 3 mm from the repair.  Best to see a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon or Otolaryngologist (ENT).  They will help you make a plan to achieve your goals.
Jeffrey J. Roth, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Las Vegas Plastic Surgery

Eric M. Joseph, MD · Answer

If the piercings become too large and unsightly, an ear lobe repair is an office procedure with no downtime. Re-piercing is performed three months later at an area in front of, or behind the scar. Re-piercing on the scar will nearly always lead to a failed closure. Hope this helps! Dr Joseph

Elliot M. Heller, MD · Answer

YOU MIGHT BE WEARING TOO HEAVY OF EARRINGS AND SHOULD TRY TO WEAR SOMETHING LIGHTER. HOOPS HAVE A TENDENCY TO STRETCH, PULL, OR SPLIT YOUR EARLOBES.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Our office specializes in earlobe repair in Los Angeles. For progressively stretched earlobes, a simple layered closure can repair the stretched piercing hole and restore the earlobes. Raffy Karamanoukian MD FACS

Ken Stewart, MD, FRCS Plast · Answer

Stretching of ear piercings is very common. It can be attributed to heavy ear rings, nickel allergy and repetitive pulling. We all see massively enlarged ear piercings caused by stretchers
It is easily repaired surgically under local anaesthetic as an outpatient procedure. you van re pierce after a few months.
Problems secondary to piercing through the cartilage of the ear can be much more difficult to repair and sometimes require rib graft reconstruction.

Scott Loessin, MD · Answer

Ladies experience earlobe stretching from wearing heavy earrings over a period of time or catching them making your earlobe tear. If it gets worse it can be fixed under local in office.

Robert L. Kraft, MD, FACS · Answer

The photo doesn’t show stretching but I suspect that this is evident when you wear the hanging earrings. The simple solution is to limit yourself to smaller earrings or studs and use clip ons for those special occasions.  Costume jewelry that does not have 14k backs can also produce irritation and stretching of the earlobes.

Sapna A. Patel, MD · Answer

This can definitely happen with heavier earrings and hoops; unfortunately, as we age, our ear lobes lose volume/ support and are less robust, which makes them more prone to stretching especially with hoops and heavy earrings. Things that will help minimize this happening is to avoid wearing earrings to bed, minimize the amount of time you wear these types of earrings, or stick with studs. Some people do get filler injected into their earlobes which will help replenish the support and minimize some of the stretching- it does not take much but filler is not permanent and oftentimes needs to be reinjected every 6-12 months.

I've noticed my ear piercing has been stretching. (photo)

Answers (16)

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