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Ear Piercing Stretched Earlobe

March 6, 2024
6:55 pm

Ear piercing stretched earlobe issues can arise due to a combination of factors. As we age, the skin loses collagen, elasticity, and the fatty tissue that gives fullness to the earlobes. Gravity adds to this, causing the once plump lobes to thin and deflate over time. Allergies or sensitivities to metals like nickel can cause infections or inflammation that weaken the interior skin of the pierced hole. Additionally, frequently wearing heavy earrings can pull the lobes downward, eventually leading to stretched and sagging earlobes.

Some earring-wearers will set foot on that path sooner than others. People could start experiencing problems if the professional — or amateur — piercer missed the bull’s eye. “From the get-go, if the piercing was done incorrectly, if it is asymmetrical, not centered or too close to the bottom, there won’t be enough support for the earrings.

When to know that ear lobes requires medical intervention

So, how do you know if your ears require medical intervention? There are several signs: If the earring points down instead of straight.

If your ear piercing stretched earlobe is causing issues, such as different lobe lengths, or if the earring with the backing slips through the hole, there might be a problem. In the most extreme cases, the jewelry may rip through the bottom of the lobe, creating two flaps of skin.

If the hole is only slightly stretched, a dermatologist, plastic surgeon, or other cosmetics professional can inject hyaluronic acid, a temporary dermal filler, into the lobes.

For ears that are too far gone for filler, surgery is the only solution. Several specialists, including plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and otolaryngologists, can surgically repair piercings. Dr. Joshua Goldberg, a certified plastic surgeon, can help with your earlobes.

For the minor operation, the physician will remove the top layer of the skin inside the hole to create an injury similar to road rash. This is why the doctor can’t simply reduce the elongated portion with a stitch or two; the entire hole must be sealed shut.

Recovery after medical intervention

Recovery involves a lot of waiting:

– For the adhesives to fall off. For the stitches to dissolve.

– For the scar tissue to build up.

– For the lobe skin to return to at least 80 percent of its original strength.

– For six months to pass, when you can wear earrings again.

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