At MilfordMD Cosmetic Dermatology Surgery & Laser Center in Milford, PA, we understand how significantly injured earlobes can affect your self-confidence. For this reason, we are excited to offer earlobe repair surgery, a procedure designed to quickly and comfortably reverse damage caused to the earlobes by tearing or other trauma. Keep reading to learn more about this procedure, including what results you can expect from it and much more.
What Should You Expect From Earlobe Repair?
After your earlobe repair, you should expect to feel pretty tired due to the anesthesia administered to keep you comfortable during surgery. You can also expect your earlobes to look a lot better. For example, during surgery you can have tears or large holes repaired. We will give you a better idea of what results you can realistically expect during your initial consultation once we have evaluated your concerns and discussed your goals.
How Long Will My Recovery Take?
You shouldn’t expect your recovery to take long, due to the minimally invasive nature of this procedure. However, you should plan to take at least five days off from work to dedicate to your recovery period. You should also expect to have a follow-up appointment roughly one week after your surgery so your stitches can be removed.
Can I Pierce My Ears After Surgery?
Yes, it is possible to get your ears pierced after your procedure. However, you’ll need to wait until the incision sites have healed fully. For most people, this process takes between one and two months. Also, you should be aware that you should not have your ears pierced in the same place as your surgery. If you get surgery to reverse the effects of gauges, you will have to choose a new location for your piercings.
What Should You Expect During Your Procedure?
During your procedure, your ears will be numbed with a local anesthetic after we have verified that the targeted areas are free from irritation. We will also sanitize your earlobes thoroughly with a medical-grade antiseptic. Once you’re prepared for your procedure, we will remove any excess skin you have hanging from the bottoms of your earlobes and suture them back together again.
If you are worried about large holes in your ears due to years of wearing progressively larger gauges, we can use flaps to restore the earlobes you desire. If you are worried about a split earlobe, we can stitch the two separated ends back together. Generally, from start to finish, this procedure takes around an hour to complete. However, the length of your procedure will depend on the scope of your procedure and whether you are also getting other cosmetic procedures.
What Should You Expect Before Your Procedure?
Before your procedure, you will need to prepare for surgery. The most important preparation step is to attend an initial evaluation to ensure that you are a good candidate for surgery. If you are healthy enough for surgery and have concerns that can be treated by this procedure effectively, we will advise you on all of the rules you’ll have to follow. If you have any doubts about your ability to comply with a preparation or aftercare guideline, let us know during your initial consultation.
What Other Preparation Steps Will I Need To Take?
Due to the minimally invasive nature of this procedure, there is not a lot you will need to do to prepare. For example, since you will be administered local anesthesia instead of a general anesthetic, you will not need to fast prior to surgery. You also will not need to dry fast to prepare for the administration of the anesthetic. However, you will need to take steps to ensure your earlobes are not irritated at the time of your procedure.
For instance, you should do your best to avoid direct sunlight between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM when the sun’s UV rays are the most powerful. You should also minimize your exposure to UV rays by eschewing tanning beds prior to your procedure. Another thing you should avoid in the weeks leading up to your procedure is the consumption of substances that can increase your blood pressure significantly, like nicotine and alcohol.
What Should I Do Prior to My Procedure?
In addition to avoiding things that have the potential to harm you, it is important to take certain steps to ensure your procedure goes as smoothly as possible. For example, you may want to ask a friend or family member to spend the first 24 hours post-op with you to help you care for yourself. There will be certain restrictions, like not lifting too much weight, that you will need to adhere to. Furthermore, you may find yourself too tired to care for yourself and your home properly.
If you can’t find someone to stay with you for 24 hours after surgery, make sure you at least have a ride home. After your procedure, your reaction time may be slowed significantly, so it may not be safe for you to drive home. Generally, you should not drive or operate other heavy machinery within 24 hours of receiving a strong anesthetic. It is also important that you get your prescriptions filled prior to your procedure so you can stick to your medication schedule.
Are You a Good Candidate for This Procedure?
To verify that you are a good candidate for this procedure, you need to attend an initial evaluation. It is of the utmost importance that we verify earlobe repair surgery will be both safe and effective for you. To verify that this procedure will be considered safe for you, we will discuss both your health history and present health in great detail. We will also verify that this procedure will be safe by ensuring you can follow all instructions.
Who Is a Poor Candidate for This Procedure?
You will be considered a poor candidate for this procedure if you suffer from certain medical conditions, like untreated cancer or diabetes. You also will be considered a poor fit for this procedure if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or only recently stopped breastfeeding. It is important that you have plenty of energy to recover from your procedure, and nursing exacts a significant energy toll on the body.
Furthermore, you will be considered a poor candidate for this procedure if you suffer from certain acute medical conditions, like a sunburn or skin infection. To mitigate the risk that your skin is irritated at the time of your procedure, you should do your best to avoid stressful situations for a couple of weeks prior to surgery if you have a history of phymatous rosacea. You should also avoid excess caffeine consumption.
Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today
After earlobe repair surgery, you can expect to feel far more self-confident in the appearance of your earlobes. During surgery, any tears present in the earlobe region will be repaired. Holes that have resulted from years of progressively larger gauges can also be corrected. You should also expect to feel a little tired or groggy after surgery. To find out for sure whether this procedure is right for you, contact us today at MilfordMD Cosmetic Dermatology Surgery & Laser Center in Milford, PA.
