Earlobe Repair

Many people have accessorized their outfits or their personalities one way or another with earrings. Many people have one piercing on one or both ears, and sometimes people choose to have multiple piercings to accommodate several earrings. Whether a patient has had an earring accidentally ripped or pulled partly or fully out of the ear, or if they have previously stretched their earlobes past a point of returning back to its previous look on its own, Dr. Bandy is here to help. With a quick office visit, Dr. Bandy can repair torn or stretched lobes. Patients having undergone earlobe repair are completely satisfied with the results that now give them the unstretched and/or untorn earlobe look that they desire and many are eager to insert earrings again. Re-piercing can be done as early as 6 weeks after the procedure. Learn more about Earlobe Repair at our Newport Beach, Orange County office.

Before and After Photos

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Who is Earlobe Repair recommended for?

An earlobe repair for anyone who has stretched out, ripped, torn, or damaged earlobes due to trauma or ear piercings.

Pre-operation

How can I prepare?

As for any surgery, a patients’ health and well-being is our main priority. We require that patients who are undergoing surgery be healthy with normal lab work (your labs will be performed within 2 weeks of surgery). Furthermore, Dr. Bandy provides patients with a vitamin protocol to being before surgery to aid in the recovery and healing process. During your consultation 2 weeks before surgery, our staff will thoroughly review with you all important information that needs to be completed prior to surgery in order to ensure the best outcome and easiest recovery possible.

Will anesthesia be administered?

Earlobe repairs tend to be a well-tolerated procedure with most patients electing to have the procedure under a local anesthetic.

Is painful?

Patient’s undergoing to procedure under local anesthesia experience minimal pain during the procedure. Patients are prescribed topical numbing cream to apply about an hour before the procedure to decrease the pain associated with local anesthetic injections. After the ears are numbed, there is no pain associated with the procedure. Following the procedure there is some pain once the local anesthesia wears off. For this reason patients are prescribed pain medications.

What if I am sick before?

If a patient is noted to be sick prior to a procedure, it is advised to contact Dr. Bandy’s office immediately to discuss the best way to move forward.

How long before I see results?

Results from an earlobe repair are seen immediately. However the area may be swollen and bruised for several weeks.

Post-Operation

Is scarring expected after?

Scarring is minimal and is usually not noticeable once fully healed.

Can I drive home after?

If the earlobe repair is performed under a local anesthetic and no medication to aid in relaxation is provided (such as valium), a patient may drive home following the surgery.

Should I try avoiding touching the area after?

Yes, you should avoid touching the area except to apply antibiotic ointment. You will want to wear loose clothing that does not rub on the area until advised otherwise.

What activity should I refrain from after?

Following an ear lobe, repair patients are advised to keep the area clean and dry. Do not wear hats or headbands or anything that may rub the area. You may apply antibiotic ointment to the area if recommended by Dr. Bandy following the procedure.

Do I need to take any medication after?

Following an earlobe repair, patients are prescribed a pain medication and possibly an antibiotic.

Costs

What is the average cost?

The average cost for an earlobe repair depends on the extent of the repair. Patients should come in for a consultation with Dr. Bandy in order to determine accurate pricing for this procedure.

Are there financing options?

The patient has multiple financing options. For example, the patient can pay for the surgery on credit card, and make monthly payments back to their credit card. Additionally, CareCredit is a financing company specific for cosmetic surgery; patients can apply for CareCredit, and there are multiple options for CareCredit. Sometimes, patients opt to make payments directly to the office. This is a prepayment plan where a patient would pay until he or she pays the entire balance for the surgery; then, they would have their surgery.

Recovery

What is the recovery time and the healing process?

The recovery for an earlobe repair is quick and easy. Following the procedure, the ears will be swollen and patients may experience minor bleeding immediately post-procedure. Bandaids and/or steri-strips are placed over the incisions are are kept on for several days, depending on how quickly the incisions heal. Sutures that are placed are either absorbable or removable sutures and are used differently and are situation dependent. Patients will be required to come back into the office approximately one week after procedure for follow up and possible stitch removal (if applicable and necessary). Pain is relatively minimal following the procedure.

Is there a post-operative recovery facility that you recommend?

We do have a post operative recovery facility that we refer our patients to in Orange County, CA and Los Angeles, CA. In these situations, they will be picked up by the post operative care facility from our recovery room and brought to the recovery center where they are recovered overnight, and then brought back the next day for their follow up appointment.

We are here to listen and address your concerns.

– Dr. Amy Bandy, Over 20 Years of Experience