Gauged Earlobe Repair
Earlobe Damage from Earlobe Gauges
Earlobe gauging is a body art treatment where people place sequential “plugs” or gauges into the hole in a pierced ear. Slowly increasing the size of the gauges produces dilated and sometimes extremely holes in the earlobes.
Assortment of earlobe gauges
Selected cases
The case below show a large, stretched lobe before and after repair.
The case below was complex in that there were expanded lobes and Dr. Niamtu had to repair a large cartilage piercing in each conchal bowl.
Repair is performed with local anesthesia and usually involves 2-3 procedures. The first procedure closes the hole and takes about 20 minutes to perform. The patient is seen about a month later and the earlobe is then sculpted to a more normal configuration with radiosurgery or laser. Finally, a third appointment may be required to treat the surgical scar or refine the lobe.
Additional Gauged Earlobe Repair Examples
The above patient started out with gauges that could fit a beer can. He is shown after repair by Dr. Niamtu
The above picture of an actual patient of Dr. Niamtu
Actual repair by Dr. Niamtu. Note the lobe is still pink from the CO2 laser procedure to improve the scar.
In most cases the earlobe can be restored to a very natural appearance. After the repair, Dr. Niamtu will sometimes perform a reshaping of the repaired lobe using lasers to improve the scar.
If patients leave out their gauges or plugs for several months, the holes will get smaller, thus making the surgical repair easier.
Patient with ear gauges in place
This actual patient of Dr. Niamtu’s left her gauges out for 90 days and the holes closed significantly, making the repair easier.
This patient is shown before, immediately after and 6 weeks after surgery. The redness of the lobes is from laser treatment to improve the scar and will improve with healing.
More information about Eyelid Surgery from Dr. Niamtu’s library of articles
The following video shows Dr. Niamtu using radiowave surgery to repair a gauged earlobe. This technology is basically bloodless and no bleeding surgery means faster healing, less bruising and less discomfort.
Dr. Niamtu has published multiple scientific articles on his technique of performing this surgical procedure.
- Dr. Niamtu, J
Cosmetic Otoplasty
Cosmetic facial surgery, St. Louis, 2011, Mosby Elsevier. - Dr. Niamtu J.
The art and science of otoplasty. Plast Surg Pract 2009;(19):15-18 - Dr. Niamtu, J
Eleven Pearls for Cosmetic Earlobe Repair
Dermatol Surg. 2002 Feb;28(2):180-5. - Dr. Niamtu, J
Repair of cleft earlobes
(In) Cosmetic Facial Surgery
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics of North America
W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia
2000, Nov;12(4):781-89 - Dr. Niamtu, J.
Surgical Repair of Cleft Earlobe
J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1997 Aug;55(8):886-90.