Earlobe Rejuvenation? The Lobe Lift Is A Thing

Whether from an accident, aging, or wearing too much bling, I'm seeing more and more women come into my office complaining about torn, deflated, or sagging earlobes. The main problem is that their damaged earlobes make it hard to wear earrings, which is no insignificant concern—on top of that, loose earlobes are a dead giveaway for your age.

The good news? You can go back to wearing those bold hoops, chic studs, and statement chandeliers with youthful grace: damaged earlobes are quite easy to fix.

The Problem: Aging, Deflated Lobes

As women age, they not only lose elasticity and volume in their faces and breasts, but also in their earlobes, causing the lobe to become thinner, creased and wrinkled. This loss of volume reduces the foundation upon which an earring sits, usually causing the earring to droop forward in an awkward position.

The Solution: Restore Volume With A Dermal Filler

I have found that injecting a small amount of dermal filler like Restylane, Juvederm or Belotero will plump up the deflated earlobe, helping to prop up your earring into its correct position, and leading to an overall more youthful appearance.

The procedure is done in the office, only takes a few minutes and has no downtime. Women walk out feeling much more comfortable about how their earrings fit. As an extra bonus, these hyaluronic dermal fillers last much longer in the earlobe than in other areas of the face, likely due to a lack of wear and tear from muscle movement.

The Problem: Stretched Out, Torn Earring Holes

When an earring gets snagged on clothing or pulled by accident, the result can be a torn earlobe. I have seen several mothers whose toddlers pulled their hoops straight down, splitting their earlobes from the hole to the bottom. Earlobes can also become stretched from years of wearing heavy earrings, leading to an elongated earlobe and stretched earring hole.

The Solution: Reshape The Earlobe, Re-Pierce The Ear

To fix torn or stretched earlobes, I first remove the lining of the old hole by closing it with stitches. Then, I reshape the earlobe back to its natural form using a variety of techniques to re-distribute tissue, depending on how much tissue was lost. This procedure is performed in my office using local anesthesia or Lidocaine. Patients do not require any prescribed pain medication afterwards. For most patients, the only dressing necessary is a thin layer of antibiotic ointment.

Seven to ten days later, I remove the sutures. Then, six weeks later, once the earlobe is fully healed, I re-pierce the ear, placing a new hole adjacent to the old piercing. Patients are thrilled that they can finally wear their earrings with confidence once again.

Image: Hello Fashion

READ THIS NEXT: Aging In The Digital Age: Text Turkey Neck CURIOUS about our experts? They’re the best. Learn more about Dr. Melissa Doft—she's also a Charlotte's Book Advisor.