Can my Ear Lobes Shrink Back to Normal After Going to 22mms (7/8ths)? (photo)

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
Realself100 surgeon

Thank you for your question and the photos.Give it two months. If they haven't completely shrunk then they probably aren't going to.Ear lobe repair is very straight forward and can be performed under local anesthetic in the office. It doesn't take very long and typically sutures (stitches) can be removed in about a week.For more details, see two or more board certified plastic surgeons in your area for a complete evaluation.I hope this helps. Best wishes!

-After removing whatever jewelry you wear in your gauged ear lobes, you will find that the stretched ear lobes will shrink down quite a bit. It could take about 2 months to see the maximal amount of shrinkage. There is nothing that you can do to speed up the shrinkage.
-At that point, you may consider having your ear lobe piercings closed. This procedure takes about an hour, and is performed using a local anesthetic in a plastic surgeon's office.
-Thanks for sharing your photos!

The lobe can shrink in size. After severe stretching it may not return to the original shape. If the lobe is not back to the original shape after one year, you could consider lobular repair.

It is very unlikely that earlobes will shrink back to normal and it is probably more realistic to say that it would be impossible. While earlobes can shrink back to something relatively close to normal, the ability of tissue to regain its shape is limited and probably that limit is around 10mm. There is also the question as to what happens to the hole that was created. The answer is that this increased diameter hole will likely need to be corrected via a surgical procedure.