Can my infected piercing of 4 years be removed surgically?

It sounds like there is a foreign body of some sort. This could be part of the jewelry, earring backing or something else. Typically, the best option is to remove any jewelry, numb and cleanse the area and explore the wound to remove anything that might be interfering with healing. I would recommend once the ear is healed that you don't pierce the cartilage again given your initial experience. I hope this information is helpful for you.Stephen Weber MD, FACSDenver Facial Plastic Surgeon

We have seen earring parts embedded in the ear lobe, sometimes for many years. In your case the infected piercings in the cartilage part of your ear should be removed. The infection will resolve with proper treatment, and hopefully you may not get visible irregularities from cartilage loss.Buried foreign bodies in the external ear may be removed in most cases with minimal expense, discomfort, or downtime.Wishing you well.Dr. Joseph

With local anesthesia, your hardware could be removed comfortably and your ear will heal. Your issue is not uncommon.