Earlobe Conditions Treated
Earlobe Scars Dr. Karamanoukian Repairs in Los Angeles
Earlobe deformity takes many forms — and the surgical approach must be individualized to the specific anatomy, degree of tissue loss, and cause of the deformity. Dr. Karamanoukian evaluates each patient's earlobe anatomy at consultation before designing the repair approach and setting realistic expectations for the outcome.
Torn Earlobe
A complete tear through the earlobe — most commonly caused by an earring being caught and pulled through the inferior lobule — splits the earlobe into two separate segments. Torn earlobe repair requires excision of the epithelialized edges along each segment and layered re-closure to bring the tissue back together with proper alignment and minimal tension. Dr. Karamanoukian performs this repair in a single in-office session under local anesthesia.
Stretched Piercing
Years of wearing heavy earrings gradually elongate the piercing channel from a small, round hole into an elongated slit or teardrop shape that approaches the inferior edge of the earlobe. Once the piercing channel has stretched significantly, conservative management cannot correct it — surgical excision of the stretched channel and re-closure is the only effective treatment. Dr. Karamanoukian repairs stretched piercing channels with meticulous wound edge freshening and layered closure.
Gauge-Stretched Earlobes
Intentional gauge stretching expands the earlobe piercing to sizes that cannot spontaneously close once the jewelry is removed. The earlobe is left with a tunnel of excess, thin-walled tissue and a significant contour deformity. Dr. Karamanoukian excises the redundant tunnel tissue, reshapes the remaining earlobe tissue, and closes in layers to reconstruct a natural earlobe contour. The complexity and final result depend on the gauge size and available tissue.
Post-Facelift Earlobe Deformity
Facelift surgery applies significant tension to the skin around the ear — and the earlobe, as the path of least resistance, absorbs much of that tension. The result can be a displaced, distorted, or pixie-shaped earlobe that looks unnatural and signals prior surgery to the observer. Dr. Karamanoukian — recognized as an authority on post-facelift earlobe deformity — corrects these defects with precise in-office surgical technique, restoring natural earlobe position and contour.
Earlobe Reduction
Some patients seek earlobe reduction for earlobes that are disproportionately large, elongated with age, or cosmetically unbalanced with the rest of the ear. Earlobe reduction removes a precise crescent or wedge of tissue from the inferior earlobe to reduce size and restore youthful proportion. The procedure is performed in-office under local anesthesia with minimal downtime and a well-concealed scar along the natural earlobe border.
Earlobe Keloid & Scar
Piercing sites are among the most common locations for keloid scar formation — particularly in patients with a predisposition to abnormal scarring. Earlobe keloids can grow to significant size and cause discomfort, itching, and cosmetic concern. Dr. Karamanoukian treats earlobe keloids with a combination of surgical excision, intralesional steroid injection, and post-operative scar management protocols designed to minimize the risk of keloid recurrence following removal.
Post-facelift earlobe deformity — recognized and corrected: A stretched or displaced earlobe following facelift surgery is one of the most identifiable signs of prior cosmetic surgery — and one of the most correctable. Dr. Karamanoukian has extensive experience identifying and surgically correcting post-facelift earlobe deformities including pixie ear, inferior displacement, and attachment of the earlobe to the cheek skin. If your earlobe appearance changed after facelift surgery, Dr. Karamanoukian can evaluate and correct it in a single in-office procedure. Call (310) 998-5533.
Treatment Approach at Kare Plastic Surgery
Surgical Earlobe Repair
All earlobe repairs at Kare Plastic Surgery are performed under local anesthesia as in-office procedures requiring no general anesthesia or surgical facility. Dr. Karamanoukian uses a systematic approach to each repair: precise excision of damaged or epithelialized tissue, freshening of wound edges to create viable tissue for healing, layered closure using fine absorbable deep sutures to eliminate tension at the surface, and surface closure with the finest available monofilament suture for the narrowest possible scar line.
Gauge Reconstruction
Gauge-stretched earlobe reconstruction is the most technically demanding earlobe procedure — the amount of tissue available for reconstruction decreases as gauge size increases. For small to medium gauges, sufficient tissue remains for a full reconstruction with a natural-looking result. For large-gauge stretching, Dr. Karamanoukian discusses realistic expectations for the achievable result and designs the repair to maximize the available tissue. All gauge reconstruction is performed in-office under local anesthesia.
Post-Facelift Correction
Post-facelift earlobe deformity correction requires careful assessment of the earlobe position, skin tension vectors, and available skin for repositioning. Dr. Karamanoukian uses Z-plasty, V-Y advancement, or direct excision and repositioning techniques — selected individually based on the specific type of deformity present. The goal is to restore a naturally hanging, unattached earlobe contour that shows no evidence of prior surgical tension or displacement.
Scar Management & Keloid Treatment
Following earlobe repair, Dr. Karamanoukian provides structured scar management guidance including silicone sheeting, sun protection, and massage protocol. For patients with a history of keloid formation, a post-operative steroid injection series is incorporated into the healing protocol. Earlobe keloids present before repair are treated with surgical excision combined with perioperative intralesional steroid injection and, in recurrent cases, adjuvant pressure therapy. Long-term follow-up is provided for keloid-prone patients.
"The earlobe is small but its impact on the overall appearance of the face is significant, especially after facelift surgery. Correcting a Pixie-Ear after a facelift is a one-hour procedure that can make a profound difference in how natural and rested a patient's result looks."
— Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian · Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon · Kare Plastic Surgery, Los Angeles
Related Resources at Kare Plastic Surgery
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get a torn or stretched earlobe repaired in Los Angeles?
Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian at Kare Plastic Surgery performs expert repair of torn, stretched, split, and gauge-stretched earlobes — as well as earlobe deformity correction after facelift surgery — at 804 7th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90403. The procedure is performed in-office under local anesthesia in approximately 45–90 minutes. Serving Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu. Call (310) 998-5533 to schedule.
How long does earlobe repair surgery take and what is recovery like?
Earlobe repair is an in-office procedure completed in 45–90 minutes under local anesthesia. Patients return to normal activity the same day in most cases. Mild soreness at the repair site resolves within 24–48 hours. Sutures are removed at 5–7 days. Re-piercing through the healed repair is possible at 8–12 weeks following complete healing. Call (310) 998-5533 for more information or to schedule.
Can gauged earlobes be repaired and how does it work?
Gauge-stretched earlobes can be surgically reconstructed by Dr. Karamanoukian at Kare Plastic Surgery in Los Angeles. The procedure involves excision of the stretched tissue tunnel, reshaping of remaining earlobe tissue, and layered closure to restore a natural earlobe contour. The complexity of the repair and the achievable result depend on the gauge size — Dr. Karamanoukian evaluates each patient individually at consultation. Call (310) 998-5533.
Can earlobe deformity after a facelift be corrected?
Post-facelift earlobe deformity — including pixie ear, inferior displacement, and earlobe attachment to the cheek skin — is one of Dr. Karamanoukian's most frequently performed earlobe procedures. He identifies and corrects these deformities with in-office surgical technique, restoring natural earlobe position and contour. As seen in our patient review, correction of post-facelift earlobe distortion can dramatically improve the overall appearance of the face and jawline. Call (310) 998-5533.
Related Resources at Kare Plastic Surgery