Earlobe Repair Procedure in Franklin & Nashville TN
Earlobe plastic surgery corrects earlobe abnormalities caused by wearing heavy earrings, injuries that put tears or rips in the earlobe, complete or incomplete clefts, or deliberate modifications such as piercings or gauges.
Unlike other cosmetic surgery procedures that require hospitalization, plastic surgery on earlobes is performed in-office with little discomfort to patients and little recovery time needed. In fact, recipients of earlobe repair surgery can often drive themselves to and from the doctor's office safely, since this type of non-invasive plastic surgery requires only local anesthesia and a few sutures.
Earlobe repair surgery should not be confused with otoplasty, or cosmetic surgery meant to correct deformed, abnormally large or protruding ears. Otoplasty focuses on reconstructing the outer portion of the ear called the pinna, which funnels sounds into the auditory canal and eardrum.
Schedule An Earlobe Repair Consultation TodayHow Is Earlobe Repair Surgery Performed?
Plastic surgery on earlobes begins with a thorough evaluation of the earlobe(s) by Dr. Brought and an in-depth discussion about what a patient can expect from this procedure. Earlobe plastic surgery to correct stretched or droopy earlobes usually takes less than two hours to complete and involves removing a minimal amount of skin to reduce the size and/or length of the stretched earlobe.
For earlobes that are split, Dr. Brought performs a simple procedure to repair the lobe's split using a few sutures. If individuals have recently injured earlobes and want split-lobe plastic surgery, they may need to wait until their wounds have healed completely before the earlobe repair can be done.
In contrast to split-lobe repair, earlobe tears that haven't reached the bottom of the earlobe can often be fixed immediately. In fact, most patients have their ears re-pierced following earlobe plastic surgery. With earlobes completely anesthetized, patients also usually don't feel pain during the procedure and only minimal discomfort after the anesthesia has worn off. After-surgery pain can be managed with over-the-counter medications. Although you won't have to change post-surgical dressings with earlobe surgery, you must apply an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection and expedite healing.
SPRSI's earlobe plastic surgery physician may use one of or a combination of three different kinds of sutures:
- Interrupted - Wound is closed with small knots.
- Over and over - Stitches are loop-like and continuous.
- Subcutaneous - Self-dissolving sutures buried under the skin.
Aftercare for Earlobe Plastic Surgery
Typically you should wait 24 hours before washing your earlobe with mild soap and water after a surgical earlobe repair, unless Dr. Brought instructs you to do otherwise. Monitor the earlobe for signs of an infection such as redness, soreness and swelling.
Contact SPRSI for More Information About Plastic Surgery for Earlobes
If you have any questions about plastic surgery on your earlobes, please call our office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Brought. During the consultation, we will examine your earlobes to determine if you are a good candidate for earlobe repair and your options. A board-certified physician, Dr. Brought is also happy to discuss your expectations and concerns to ensure you experience the most satisfactory outcome possible.
Information on Other Skin Procedures
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