How much would it cost to trim some extra skin off of my earlobes? (photos)

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

Thank you for the question. The repair of the stretched ear lobe is a great procedure that can restore the ear lobe to a “normal” appearance". Care must be taken during this procedure to avoid reducing the size of the air and/or creating a notch/ depressed appearance in the area of the rim of the ear lobe. It is usually done under local anesthesia with very high patient satisfaction rates. Re piercing can be done, preferably in a spot away from the scar line, a few months down the line. Costs vary from practice to practice (500-$1000 in our practice).I hope this, and the attached link, helps.

If you plan to keep expanding, I would not alter them.  The extra skin that you have now will stretch when you upsize.  If you trim it, the scar tissue will be firm, won't stretch as well, and won't be as strong.Best of luckDr Rodman

I would refrain from surgically reducing the lower portion of the earlobe if you plan on further expanding.   Scar tissue only reaches about 80% of the strength of normal skin.   So you will be at risk for this thinning to the point that you have a full tear through the tissue.   If you ever decide to have your gauged ears reconstructed, remove the gauges for 1-3 months to allow for the tissue to relax.  This will allow your plastic surgeon to achieve the best results.  Best of luck.

The earlobes can be reconstructed when the gauges are removed. I often have patients remove them for a few weeks to allow them to shrink a bit before reconstructing them.