We believe a picture is worth a thousand words. Before and after pictures can be inspiring and educational, helping you see what’s possible with cosmetic surgery and the results you can expect.
Ear gauge repair is often needed when someone decides they want to return their earlobes to a more ordinary size and shape. This is performed in our office using local anesthesia and takes 30-60 minutes on average. The earlobes, which are stretched out and now have redundant skin, are trimmed down and stitched to a normal size and shape. A thin linear scar will remain, but fades well over time. The ears could be repierced after a few months of healing, although replacing the gauges may not be a good idea as the scarring would cause the lobe to stretch irregularly.
What to expect on procedure day
You’ll discuss your case with Dr. Harris and he’ll answer any questions. Next, he’ll mark your ear lobes for his incisions and then give you some numbing medicine by a quick injection. Your ears will then be cleaned with sterilizing solution and a drape will be placed around the ear. At this point, you shouldn’t feel any pain, but you may feel Dr. Harris touching around your ear. He’ll place self absorbing stitches so you won’t need them taken out. Finally, he’ll place antibiotic ointment and clean off the sterilizing solution.
What you’ll need to do after the procedure
The incisions will take a few weeks to completely heal. The ear lobes may swell a little and look red, but this is usually minimal. You may also have a small amount of oozing or bleeding. Ice will help lessen swelling in the first 48 hours. You’ll be able to shower the next day, but shouldn’t rub or pull on your ears. You can use neosporin or triple antibiotic ointment a few times a day to keep the stitches soft and speed healing. Dr. Harris will see you back after a week or two to ensure you are healing well.
