Earlobe repair · Split earlobe
Earlobe repair: Compare practices from our network
Earlobe repair closes an earlobe that has torn, split or stretched, usually from earrings or gauges. It is a minor procedure, typically done under local anesthetic.
Our network
Earlobe repair providers from Adoreal's partner network.
London · United Kingdom
N1 Plastic Surgery
Repair and reshaping of stretched or torn earlobes, offered within its ear surgery service.
London · United Kingdom
N1 Plastic Surgery
Repair and reshaping of stretched or torn earlobes, offered within its ear surgery service.
Ready to see who performs earlobe repair near you?
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How to choose a surgeon for earlobe repair
Board certification is the starting point. The details below are worth weighing carefully when you're choosing the surgeon who's right for your goals.
Here's what to look for before you decide:
They should plan where the scar, and any new piercing, will go.
A good repair keeps the scar fine and leaves enough healthy tissue for a new piercing away from it. Ask where both will sit before the repair is done.
Large gauge holes need a different plan from a simple split.
A torn lobe can often be trimmed and stitched; a large stretched opening may need tissue flaps to rebuild the shape. Ask which applies to you, and why.
Transparency about your plan and expectations is non-negotiable.
Your surgeon should explain what the repair involves, when the stitches come out, when you can re-pierce, and what happens if the lobe needs a touch-up, in writing.
Before your consultation, prepare this question
“Where will the scar be, and where can I re-pierce afterward?”
A surgeon who plans the repair around a future piercing, away from the scar, is thinking about how you will actually wear your ears.
Find a Earlobe Repair ProviderAbout the treatment
About earlobe repair
What is earlobe repair?
Earlobe repair is a minor surgical procedure to restore the shape of an earlobe that has been torn, split or stretched. The edges of the tear or the stretched hole are trimmed, and the remaining tissue is stitched together, layer by layer, into a natural-looking lobe.
The soft tissue of the earlobe is easily damaged. Heavy earrings worn over years can gradually stretch a piercing until it splits, an earring caught on clothing can tear the lobe, and gauges stretch a large opening over time. Injuries, such as bites or accidents, can also tear the lobe.
A repaired earlobe always leaves a scar. It is usually fine and hard to notice, and the trade-off is a lobe with a natural shape again.
Torn, split and stretched earlobes
Earlobe repair can address different kinds of damage:
- Partial tear. A piercing stretched into a slit.
- Complete split. A lobe torn all the way through.
- Stretched gauge hole. A large opening that may need the lobe rebuilt.
Are you a candidate?
Earlobe repair is suited to anyone in good health with an earlobe that has split, torn or stretched, including from gauges, and who would like a natural lobe shape back. Both earlobes can be treated at the same visit.
Your surgeon may advise waiting or caution if you:
- Have an open or infected wound on the earlobe that has not yet healed
- Have a history of keloid or raised scarring
- Take blood thinners that cannot be safely paused
- Have a medical condition that impairs healing
The treatment, step by step
Consultation. Your surgeon looks at how the lobe has torn or stretched, how much tissue there is, and where any new piercing would sit, then explains how the repair will be done and where the scar will be.
Anesthesia. The earlobe is numbed with local anesthetic, and you stay awake. The procedure is usually done in the practice's own treatment room.
Repair. The edges of the tear or stretched hole are trimmed, and the lobe is stitched closed in layers to recreate its shape. More complex repairs, such as large gauge holes, may use small flaps of tissue.
Closing. The repair is closed with fine stitches and a small dressing is applied. You go home straight afterward.
Recovery and aftercare
Mild soreness and swelling for a few days are normal and settle quickly. Most people go back to their normal routine straight away.
- Treat the ear gently for the first few days and keep the repair clean as instructed
- Avoid sleeping on the treated side while it is sore
- Have stitches removed when advised, usually after one to two weeks
- Wait until your surgeon clears you, usually about a month, before re-piercing
When you re-pierce, the new hole should not go through the scar, because scar tissue is weaker than the rest of the lobe.
Risks and side effects
Earlobe repair is a minor and generally safe procedure, but it still carries some risks:
- Soreness and swelling, common and short-lived, usually settling within a few days.
- Visible or raised scarring, usually subtle, but scars can thicken, and keloids are possible in people prone to them.
- Infection, uncommon; increasing redness, warmth or discharge should be checked.
- Uneven result, the repaired lobe may differ slightly from the other, occasionally needing a small revision.
When to seek medical attention
- Increasing pain, redness or warmth around the repair
- Discharge from the wound, or fever
- Bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure
- A firm, raised lump forming in the scar over the following weeks
Contact your surgeon's practice directly, or seek emergency care, if you experience any of the above.
Common questions
Earlobe repair questions, answered.
If your question isn't here, ask us directly. A real person answers, and we won't push you toward anything.
Talk to us →Is earlobe repair painful?
The earlobe is numbed with local anesthetic, so the procedure itself should not hurt. Mild soreness for a few days afterward is common.
Will there be a scar?
Yes, some scarring is inevitable. It is usually fine and hard to notice, and fades over the following months.
When can I wear earrings again?
Re-piercing is usually possible after about a month, once your surgeon has checked the repair. The new piercing should not go through the scar, since scar tissue is weaker.
Can both earlobes be repaired at once?
Yes. Both earlobes can usually be repaired at the same visit.
Can stretched gauge holes be repaired?
Yes. Large openings from gauges can be closed, though they may need the lobe to be trimmed and reshaped, sometimes using small tissue flaps.
How long until the stitches come out?
Usually after one to two weeks, unless dissolving stitches are used.
Do I need time off work?
Usually not. Most people return to their normal routine the same day.
Can it be done with other ear surgery?
Yes. Some practices repair earlobes as part of ear surgery (otoplasty), for example when the ears are also being reshaped.
