Cleft Earlobe/Earlobe Lift Gallery

A bilateral ear lobe lift in a man of color. He is in his mid-50s and felt that his earlobes were droopy and gave him an aged appearance. His earlobes were indeed longer than ideal with the right side intertragal notch to a free border of 26 mm and attache to a free border of 14 mm.  The left ear was 28 mm from the intertribal notch to the free border and attached to the free border of 13 mm.  In studies of ear aesthetics, multiple independent observers have determined that the ideal attached to a free border is 10 mm or less and preferably 5 mm or less.  He is shown before and again, 11 months after surgery in the office under local anesthesia.  Slightly asymmetric wedges were removed from each earlobe to correct his asymmetry and drooping.  We had him use Topical silicone for several months after the earlobe incisions had healed and avoided exposure to the sun.

A woman in her later 60s with a partial split of her right ear and drooping of both ears.  She is shown before and again 4 months after bilateral earlobe lift/repair.

A woman in her early to mid-20s with a complete split of her right earlobe for the past 3 years.  She had a partial split from sleeping with her earrings in, and then caught it on a towel and tore it completely.  It was “repaired” elsewhere but didn’t stay together.

She is shown before and again, 3 months after repair.  It is important to excise the healed edges of a split at the time of the repair and doesn’t sound like this was done. She is thrilled to be able to have her ear re-pierced and wear earrings again.

A woman in her mid 40’s with a complete split of her left ear.  This started as a partial split when a baby pulled on her ear a year ago and then progressively got worse with redness and irritation until it split completely.  She seems to have a nickel allergy and also slept with her earring in.  She is shown before and again, 4 months after surgery.  Her scar at 3 months was tender and active and required a Kenalog injection.

An 82-year-old woman with a drooping and partial split of her earlobes.  She had earlobe lift on both sides and returned at 3 months for re-piercing.  She has typically atrophy and volume loss of the earlobes from the aging process and after she had healed from the re-piercing returned for placement of NASHA fillers (Nonanimal stabilized hyaluronic acid ) in this case RHA-4 to “plump” the earlobes and restore a natural fullness.  The fillers typically last for a few years in the earlobes.

A woman in her later 30s with a partial split of her left earlobe.  She had a history of sleeping with her earrings. She is shown before and again, 3 months after repair in the office. We have had her using topical silicone for the last 6 weeks and her scar is fading nicely.

A woman in her mid-50s with partial splits of both earlobes.  She is shown before and again, 3 months after repair in the office, and immediately after re-piercing.

Discussion.  In addition to the partial split of each earlobe, the piercings are sited too low on her earlobe.  After repair and healing, we have the ability to place the new piercings in a more optimal position.

Details: A woman in her later 30s with a complete split of her left ear for the past 13 years.  She had been sleeping with her earrings in.  She is shown before and again, 3 months after repair.  Scars are typically at their thickest and reddest at 6 weeks and then will fade and improve over the next year or longer.  By 3 months most patient’s earlobes are ready to re-pierce.

Details: A woman in her early 40s with a recurrent split of her earlobes.  She had them repaired elsewhere 6 years ago.  On discussion, she has what sounds like a nickel allergy.  She described having “chronic infections”  around her earrings, which is a typical manifestation of a nickel allergy.  She is shown before and again, 3 months after repair.  Scars typically will become redder and thicker for 6 weeks and then improve over the next 2 years.  Her earlobe was more challenging on this side because of the shortening of the medial edge

Details: A man of color in his middle 50s is bothered by the aged appearance of her earlobes.  He is shown before and again, 2 months after a bilateral earlobe lift.  Scars are typically at their thickest at 6 weeks and then will fade and improve over the next 2 years.  He is using topical silicone as recommended to help with scar maturation. His scars are already better than the average at this time period.