Can I get a new piercing right beside badly angled piercing, or does it need to be surgically closed and repierced?

Our office repairs earlobes after a traumatic tear of earrings, gauge piercings, or after a facelift in which the earlobes are stretched. Earlobe surgery is composed of several techniques that can either repair torn earlobes (split earlobes) or correct overly redundant earlobe tissue from piercings or genetics or stretching. Our HIDEF earlobe repair includes a recontouring of the earlobe contour using multi-layered sutures to reapproximate the curvature of the earlobe; while simultaneously restoring contour to the ear. In patients with pixie ears after facelift surgery, an alternate technique is used to reduce the dependance of the earlobe on the facelift flap. Facelift surgery can reshape the earlobe and this requires restoration. Sutures are usually taken out within 10 days and the wound is repierced in 4-6 weeks thereafter. Keloid scars must be addressed in patients with known history for scarring.

Keloids are another major reason to undergo earlobe repair if there is a keloid scar nodule that has developed in the earlobe or ear cartilage rim. We use a combination of lasers, injections, and keloid surgery.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

If you're still wearing dangly earrings then there's the potential for the tear to progress and pull through. Adding a second piercing would increase this risk. Given that you report your earlobes are droopy, I would suggest doing an excision of the elongated piercing, and then you can repair to wear a stud in about 3 months. This would minimize the risk of tearing and also correct the droopiness.

While you could get a new hole next to your current one, it may be best to get the old one surgically closed and then get it done better after complete healing.