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WHY PATIENTS CHOOSE US
QUICK, IN-CLINIC TREATMENT
Suitable earlobe repairs can usually be performed comfortably under local anaesthetic in the same appointment.
CQC-REGISTERED CLINIC
SAME WEEK APPOINTMENTS
ASSESSMENT BEFORE TREATMENT
Before any treatment, assessment, and surgical planning to confirm that repair or reconstruction is appropriate and to guide the safest approach.
Led by Professor Noyko Stanilov, MD, MSc, PhD, FRCS
GMC Specialist Registered Consultant Oncoplastic Surgeon
Treatments take place in our CQC-registered clinic in Ware, Hertfordshire, with appropriate clinical standards, aftercare and follow-up.
WHO IS EARLOBE REPAIR FOR?
Earlobes can split, stretch or change shape gradually or following an injury. Heavy earrings, accidental pulling, previous piercings and stretched piercing holes are common reasons patients seek treatment.
Earlobe repair may be appropriate for:
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A completely split earlobe
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A partially torn or elongated piercing hole
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Stretched earlobes following gauges or plugs
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Earlobes damaged by heavy earrings
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Traumatic tears
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Irregular earlobe shape following previous injury or surgery
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Previous earlobe repairs requiring assessment or revision
Some defects are straightforward. Others require more careful reconstruction to preserve the natural contour and avoid an obvious notch or distortion at the lower edge of the earlobe.
This is why every earlobe is assessed before treatment and the repair is planned individually.
What is a Earlobe Repair?
Earlobe repair is a minor reconstructive surgical procedure used to restore the shape and continuity of an earlobe that has been split, torn, stretched or otherwise damaged.
Simply allowing a split earlobe to heal will not usually restore its original shape once the edges have healed separately. Surgical repair involves carefully preparing the affected tissue and reconstructing the earlobe with fine sutures.
The exact technique depends on the type of defect.
A small elongated piercing hole may require a relatively limited repair. A completely split or significantly stretched earlobe may require more extensive reshaping to recreate a natural lower border and balanced contour.
The objective is simple: a secure repair with the most natural shape and discreet scar reasonably achievable.
COMPLETELY SPLIT EARLOBES
A complete split usually develops when an earring hole gradually stretches through the lower edge of the earlobe, although it can also happen suddenly when an earring is pulled.
Repair normally involves removing the healed skin along the split before carefully reconstructing the earlobe.
Particular attention is paid to the lower edge of the ear. This matters because simply stitching a split together without appropriate planning can leave an indentation or notch once healing takes place.
At SML Surgical Care, the repair is planned around both strength and final contour, rather than closure alone.
What Happens at Your Consultation?
Your surgeon will examine the earlobe and assess:
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The type and extent of the split or stretching
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The amount and quality of remaining tissue
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Previous scarring or previous repair
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The natural size and shape of both earlobes
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Whether one or both ears require treatment
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Your expectations regarding shape, symmetry and future piercing
You will then be advised on the most appropriate repair, expected scar position, recovery and likely outcome.
Where the defect is suitable and appropriate arrangements have been made, treatment may be possible during the same visit.
There is no obligation to proceed with surgery simply because you have attended an assessment.
HOW IS EARLOBE REPAIR PERFORMED?
Earlobe reconstruction is usually performed under local anaesthetic, meaning the earlobe is numbed while you remain awake.
Once the area is numb, the damaged or healed edges are carefully prepared. The tissue is then reconstructed using a technique appropriate to the particular defect, with fine sutures used to restore the contour of the earlobe.
For larger stretched lobes, additional reshaping may be required.
The procedure is performed as a day-case treatment and you can normally return home shortly afterwards.
CAN I HAVE MY EARS PIERCED AGAIN?
In many cases, yes — but not immediately.
The reconstructed earlobe needs time to heal and regain strength before another piercing is considered. A new piercing should also generally avoid being placed directly through the repair scar.
Your surgeon will advise you when re-piercing may be appropriate based on your healing and the type of reconstruction performed.
If wearing earrings again is important to you, mention this during your consultation so it can be considered when planning the repair.
RECOVERY, DRESSINGS & SCAR EXPECTATIONS
Mild swelling, tenderness or bruising can occur during the first few days. You will receive clear instructions about wound care, keeping the area clean and dry, and when any non-dissolving sutures should be removed.
You should avoid pulling, pressure or trauma to the repaired earlobe while it heals.
Your surgeon will explain when normal activities can be resumed based on your particular repair.
Aftercare and appropriate follow-up are included as part of your treatment.
EARLOBE REPAIR PRICE GUIDE
The cost of earlobe repair depends on whether one or both ears require treatment and whether the defect is a straightforward split, enlarged piercing or more complex reconstruction. Current guide pricing starts from £395 for suitable smaller tears, with larger, deeper, facial, or more complex ones priced higher. Standard removal planning consultation is £180; however, we are often able to offer a consultation/assessment and procedure appointments at reduced cost. Final pricing is confirmed after consultant assessment.
Why Patients Choose SML Instead of a Cosmetic Clinic
An earlobe repair may be a relatively small operation, but the result is highly visible.
The important question is therefore not simply whether the split can be closed. It is how the tissue is reconstructed, where the scar is positioned and how the final contour of the earlobe is preserved.
At SML Surgical Care, earlobe reconstruction is performed in a CQC-registered medical setting and led by Professor Noyko Stanilov, MD, MSc, PhD, FRCS, a GMC Specialist Registered Consultant Surgeon with more than 20 years of surgical experience and training in oncoplastic and reconstructive surgery.
That surgical background is particularly relevant when the objective is not simply removal or closure, but careful reconstruction of visible tissue.
OUR TRANSFORMATIONS
Examples of consultant-led earlobe repair and reconstruction performed at SML Surgical Care. Individual results vary according to the original defect, tissue quality, surgical requirements and individual healing.