Should I wear compressing earrings? After I remove all my keloids? On my earlobes.

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

ear compressing earings can be worn after keloid excision.  I do not recommend them on a routine basis but they can be helpful.  Its important to have kenalog injection and possible 5FU injections after surgical removal of keloids to reduce the chance of recurrence.

This is a common problem that plastic surgeons see. Nothing is perfect, unfortunately, in terms of preventing the scarring from returning. I've the most complete treatment using a surgical removal of the scars followed immediately by 2 days of radiation therapy. Insurance companies rarely cover this, and there are some risks of the radiation. However, only the earlobe is treated and all other tissues are shielded from the beams. I hope that helps.

I highly recommend wearing the compression earrings after keloid removal. There is tons of evidence supporting the lower recurrance of the keloid with post op pressure and steroids

Thank you for your question. Compression earrings have been used for years to attempt to diminish the recurrence of earlobe keloids, and I do recommend them to my patients. Injections of dilute kenalog (an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid) either at the time of repair, or shortly thereafter, are also helpful.