Earlobe repair surgery restores a natural-looking lobe by correcting tears caused by large earrings, trauma, or damage from gauges.
About Earlobe Repair
Our Richmond, VA, facial plastic surgery office offers specialized surgery to repair gauged or damaged earlobes. Double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Matthew Bridges skillfully restores earlobes stretched by heavy earrings or gauges or torn from trauma. If you have stretched or torn earlobes and are looking for earlobe repair in Richmond, VA, contact our office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Bridges today.
Our Surgical Approach
Earlobe repair surgery can often be performed in our plastic surgery office using local anesthesia, but it can be done in the operating room if needed. Torn earlobes are relatively simple to repair and are nearly always done under local anesthesia. Gauged earlobes can be very complex to repair but can still usually be done under local anesthesia. Because large gauges can distort the tissue significantly, repairing gauged earlobes requires special expertise. Dr. Bridges has extensive experience in this procedure and produces amazing results.
I LOVE what the microneedling has done for my skin - the tone and texture is unbelievable. Thanks for introducing me to Circadia, too - Love all the products you recommended. Am...
L.C.
Dear Dr. Bridges, Thank you so much for your amazing work on my nose! I'm so thrilled with how it looks, and I couldn't be happier! I hope you have a great rest of your summer.
Anonymous
Dr Bridges takes the time to know his patients conditions and explains what must be done for treatment in user friendly language. staff is proficient and seems to genuinely care...
R.S.
Dr. Bridges performed very complex surgery on my nose to repair a large loss to my left nostril due to cancer. At all times he ensured that I understood what the procedure would...
J.W.
Extremely happy with the outcome of my nose surgery. I had sleep apnea....I was a true mouth breather. My nasal passages were thin slits! Dr Bridges gave me new cartilage ...
D.B.
Dr. Bridges is an outstanding doctor. His easygoing personality and high level of expertise really set him apart from other doctors. He is a master of his craft and I know when ...
J.S.
Dr Bridges is wonderful, so relatable and made me feel comfortable from the start. Thorough assessment that led to a wonderful result. Was sent to him for my deviated sept...
J.H.
I had a most wonderful experience at this office. The staff are great and support the patient before/after surgery. I would tell everyone to come to this office. Dr. Bridges exp...
Anonymous
Truly an amazing experience. Franki explained the laser procedure with me and made me feel extremely comfortable. I would highly recommend commonwealth and Franki for any services!
A.B.
Dr. Bridges is fantastic. I always wanted a rhinoplasty but I waited to find the right surgeon. He's patient, listens, and delivers excellent results. He also fixed my dev...
T.H.
Super friendly staff. Dr Bridges did the impossible. I had gone to several consultations with plastic surgeons in the Richmond area to fix a surgery I had on my nose about...
J.D.
I got a septo/rhinoplasty with Dr. Bridges and had an amazing experience! The process was seamless from start to finish. I felt prepared for surgery and had a quick and ea...
S.R.
Dr. Bridges reminds me of the old time family doctors…empathetic, competent, efficient. I wish all of my doctors were like him. Additionally, he has surrounded hims...
V.H.
Dr. Bridges performed my rhinoplasty in June 2024 and I couldn’t be happier with the results. I wanted a rhinoplasty for years but kept putting it off. My tip really...
A.F.
Super friendly staff. Dr Bridges did the impossible. I had gone to several consultations with plastic surgeons in the Richmond area to fix a surgery I had on my nose about...
J.D.
Dr Bridges performed a Lipoma removal procedure on my forehead and I am truly satisfied. He is an excellent physician. His nurse is awesome as well. I was extremely nervou...
T.Y.
Getting rhinoplasty to correct my larger nose has been a lifelong dream of mine, but the idea of doing it has always been scary/intimidating. Dr. Bridges and his team made...
D.D.
I feel so grateful to have met Franki Lambiotte, the aesthetician at Dr. Bridges' practice!
I'd been interested in laser hair removal/reduction for...
C.B.F.
My family have been patients at this practice for over 10 years. Franki Lambiotte has been wonderful with her services. My parents gave me laser hair removal packages as a...
E.F.
Dr. Bridges is an amazing facial plastic surgeon, and we're so lucky to have him here in RVA. Amazing bedside manner, and actually listens to what you want to work with yo...
M.P.
I’m blown away, pun intended. From the moment Dr. Shaia recommended Bridges, I have felt that my level of care was akin to what the president receives. The expertise...
L.R.
Dr. Bridges is fantastic. I always wanted a rhinoplasty but I waited to find the right surgeon. He's patient, listens, and delivers excellent results. He also fixed my dev...
T.H.
I had rhinoplasty by Dr. Bridges on November 20th 2019, almost 2 months ago. I had a great experience as a whole. Dr. Bridges was easy to talk to and his staff were all ve...
J.S.
I was lucky enough to be one of the first of Franki’s clients to try the laser hair removal, Bare HR by Sciton, and loved the results on my legs and armpits. Franki ...
M.W.
Franki has been my aesthetician for several years. I visit her every 2 or 3 months for either a hydrafacial or dermaplane facial. More recently, Franki recommended that I ...
S.W.
In my teens, a mishap left my nose with a slight deviation and fractured. As the years passed, my nasal deviation worsened, turning my nose into something akin to a wilted...
Anonymous
For the past few years I’ve been watching the lines on my face getting deeper and jowls forming. It was when I started to see my neck sagging that it was time to get...
Anonymous
What To Expect
After earlobe repair surgery, patients can expect minor discomfort, depending on how complex the repair is. Minor swelling is common, and occasionally, some bruising will result. Tylenol or Motrin are effective in relieving these temporary post-surgery discomforts. Earlobes can usually be re-pierced in about 8-10 weeks following the procedure. Dr. Bridges will perform the complimentary re-piercing procedure in the office.
Earlobe Repair FAQ
Can you repair a gauged ear?
What about new piercings?
Is there a protocol after?
Does it hurt?
Can you repair a gauged ear?
Gauged earlobes can certainly be repaired, with the complexity proportional to the size of the hole. The larger the gauge, the more stretched the tissue around the hole becomes. Sometimes, this tissue becomes too thin to salvage and must be surgically removed. Other earlobe tissue can be used to recreate the normal shape and contour of the new earlobe.
What about new piercings?
Dr. Bridges can re-pierce your earlobes following the healing process. This is usually done 8-10 weeks after the procedure. Great care is taken to make sure the new piercing is as symmetric as possible to the other side.
Is there a protocol after?
Dr. Bridges will review the post-op recovery process with each patient. Patients should wait 24 hours before showering or washing their hair. Additionally, care should be taken not to scratch, touch, or disturb the repaired lobe when dressing or brushing hair. It’s recommended to avoid sleeping on the surgical site for about a week. Stitches are typically removed 7-10 days after surgery.
Does it hurt?
Earlobe repair surgery is performed using local anesthesia, which means your earlobe will be numb when the procedure is performed. During treatment, we will make every effort to ensure your comfort.
Repair Your Lobes
If you have torn or stretched earlobes from heavy earrings or gauges, we invite you to schedule a consultation with Matthew Bridges, MD, FACS, at our Midlothian office, serving the greater Richmond, VA, area. Dr. Bridges, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, can restore your earlobes to a natural appearance. Contact us today to learn more.
