AESTHETIC SURGERY OF THE EAR
The external ear (auricle) is one of the most amazing and delicate structures our bodies create. The cartilage framework has so many precise contours that even small anomalies can create noticeable differences.
Most cosmetic ear surgery is performed under local in the office or procedure room and takes about two weeks of recovery time from high-intensity activities such as exercising and swimming. Most people are able to return to work the following day. Final results are usually seen at 6 weeks to 3 months.
EAR PINNING
Otoplasty (ear pinning) refers to the correction of prominent ears, where the upper auricle sticks out too far, creating ears that are very noticeable in photographs or looking in the mirror. Through incisions tucked behind the ear, Dr. Shore is able to tighten and reshape the cartilage framework so the auricle has an improved shape and sits closer to the head. This procedure may be performed under local or under sedation. A protective headband is worn 24/7 for the first week, and then at night for four weeks after the procedure.
TORN EARLOBE REPAIR
Torn Earlobe Repair is performed when an earring has pulled partially or all the way through the lobe, creating a large hole or a rent in the earlobe. Performed under local anesthetic in the office, Dr. Shore is able to repair the segments so that the earlobe has a neat, uniform shape. Repiercing is performed 6 weeks after the repair, after allowing time for the earlobe to heal fully.
EARLOBE RECONSTRUCTION AFTER GAUGES
Sometimes gauges are no longer fit a person’s daily life. Whether for military service, a new profession, or simply because it’s no longer your fashion, reconstruction can help restore an earlobe’s original shape.
The procedure can be performed under local anesthesia in the office, removing excess tissue and repairing the segments so that the new earlobe has a neat, uniform shape. Repiercing a small hole can be done 6 weeks after the repair.
Before reconstruction, gauges are removed for several months, to allow the earlobe tissues to partially shrink down, thanks to their natural elasticity.
KELOID EXCISION AND RECONSTRUCTION
A Keloid is a type of scar that grows markedly in response to a puncture in the skin. While keloids can occur in anyone, they more often affect people of color. In some cases, they develop after an ear piercing in either the lobe or the cartilage, appearing as firm, hard knots that are noticeable and interfere with the ability to wear jewelry. Treatment is often performed as a combination of steroid injections (to shrink the keloid) and surgical removal of the keloid and reconstruction, followed by radiation therapy to reduce the risk of regrowth.
I’M ALL EARS