Earlobe Rejuvenation

Your journey begins with a consultation with Dr. Aimé, where your ears will be carefully evaluated and clinical photographs taken for your medical record. Whether you’re addressing a torn earlobe, stretched piercing, or enlarged or elongated lobes, Dr. Aimé will tailor the treatment plan to your specific anatomy and goals. She will review the surgical options, explain potential risks and benefits, and walk you through what to expect from the recovery process.

Most earlobe repairs and reductions are performed comfortably in the office under local anesthesia with minimal preparation. The procedure is well tolerated by most patients, and patients can generally drive themselves to and from their appointment.

Once you’re ready to proceed, our team will help you schedule the procedure on a day that fits your availability and lifestyle.

Earlobe rejuvenation surgery is typically performed under local anesthesia in the office and takes about 1 hour for a single earlobe or 1.5 hours for both. Dr. Aimé customizes each procedure based on the deformity and your goals. For torn lobes, stretched piercings, or enlarged earlobes, she trims damaged or excess tissue and uses a combination of dissolvable and external sutures to restore a natural contour.

After the incisions are closed, a thin layer of antibiotic ointment or sterile tape is applied. You may drive yourself home unless you’ve received oral sedation, in which case a responsible adult must accompany you.

Recovery after earlobe repair or reduction is typically straightforward, and most patients return to normal daily activities immediately or within 1–2 days.

During recovery, you can generally expect:

• Mild soreness, tenderness, swelling, or bruising for several days.
• Discomfort is usually minimal and can typically be managed with acetaminophen (Tylenol®) and/or ibuprofen, unless otherwise directed by your surgeon.
• A thin layer of petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline®) or another recommended ointment should be applied to the incision as instructed to keep it moist during healing.
• You may shower and gently wash your hair the day after your procedure. Take care when washing or drying around the ears, and avoid activities that place tension or trauma on the healing earlobes.
• Sutures are typically removed 1–2 weeks after surgery, depending on your healing.

The incision will continue to strengthen and mature over the following weeks to months. If you would like to have your ears pierced again, this can typically be performed approximately 6 weeks after surgery, and Dr. Aimé is happy to perform this for you. The earlobe is numbed with local anesthetic, and the new piercing is carefully measured and placed away from the healing scar whenever possible to help reduce the risk of recurrent tearing. New earrings may generally be changed approximately 6 weeks after re-piercing, provided healing is progressing normally.

To help preserve your long-term results, Dr. Aimé recommends avoiding the prolonged wear of large, heavy, or dangling earrings, as these place increased tension on the earlobe and may increase the risk of stretching or recurrent tearing over time.