Surgical Repair for Torn Earring Holes

Earlobe piercing is one of the earliest documented forms of body modification. There are examples of this dating as far back as ancient Egypt, in which the pharaoh Tutankhamen was buried with sets of earrings. Earrings for men were also common in Elizabethan England, as illustrated by William Shakespeare, who was portrayed with one small hoop in his left ear. Nowadays, earrings can range from discreet small studs all the way to large disks, hoops, or elaborate long dangles that brush the shoulders.

Unfortunately, one of the unintended consequences of having pierced earlobes is the holes can become elongated and torn. The staff at Jefferson Plastic Surgery sees cases such as these on a regular basis. Fortunately, the procedure to correct for torn earring holes is quick and can be done on an outpatient basis.

What Causes Torn Earring Holes?

There can be any number of causes for torn earring holes, but the most common is due to wearing earrings that are too heavy or large. Heavy earrings place a great deal of stress on the lobes. The holes may become stretched and eventually tear. This can be a problem, particularly for people with thin earlobes that do not contain enough fat. Earrings that are very large or dangle low can also cause the earlobes to tear. Such earrings can catch in hair or clothing, causing the holes to tear. Even a small child tugging on the earrings can cause tears in the earring holes.

In other cases, improper placement of the original ear piercing on the lobe may lead to tearing. If it is too low, there is a risk that the earlobe may actually split in two. Similarly, if the lobe has been “gauged,” (the practice of stretching out the piercing with consecutively larger and larger ear plugs) the hole may tear if it has been gauged too wide or too quickly.

In many cases, the lobes may heal on their own, but will likely form thick scar tissue around the torn area. New piercings should not be made through this scar tissue, as that may simply cause the lobes to tear yet again.

Torn Earlobe Surgical Procedure

The procedure to correct torn earlobes will depend on whether or not the hole actually splits the earlobe in two. If not, the procedure is a simple office procedure in which the torn area will be stitched back up. In some cases, the surgeon may even be able to insert new stud earrings into the holes so that they will not close over during the healing process. Such earrings should be left in for one to two months. The surgeon may instead put in a spacer suture to hold open the original hole in the lobe.

If the lobe is actually torn all the way through, the procedure is somewhat more complicated, as the two sides of the lobe will need to be fully re-attached with sutures. This procedure cannot be done until the original wound from the tear has completely healed.

Large or dangly earrings can certainly be a bold fashion statement. However, they do run the risk of tearing the earlobes, so caution must be taken when wearing them. The staff at Jefferson Plastic Surgery recommends switching to stud earrings following ear lobe repair surgery.