Would it be a concern to have a piercings done in the ear I had cartilage removed from for revision rhinoplasty? (photo0

Question

Hello, I had a revision rhinoplasty about 15 years ago that required cartilage be taken from my left ear to reconstruct my nose. I would like to add another lobe piercing to the left ear and possibly a rook or tragus piercing. The piercer has requested that I consult a doctor prior to doing anymore piercings in that ear due to this surgery. Would it be a concern to have piercings done in the left ear since I had to have cartilage removed? I have attached a photo of my ear for review.

David M. Kowalczyk, MD, MBA, FACS · Answer

Hi Jess! That’s a great question. Typically, when we remove cartilage from the ear, it comes from the bowl area not the tragus, lobe, or helix. Those areas are where most of the piercings occur. One way to tell where the cartilage was removed is to feel with your fingers. If it feels soft or like skin on skin, there’s a good chance that the cartilage has been removed in that location and may not support a piecing. Based on what you’re describing, I would not feel that you would get any distortion or deformity as a result of piercing your ear. Good luck!

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