Are your earlobes holding you back?

In recent times, more and more people have been approaching plastic surgeons in order to have their earlobes reconstructed. As we age our earlobes expand and enlarge, plus, if you wear heavy earrings then they’re likely to stretch your lobes even further.
However, many of today’s young adults might face earlobe-related issues far earlier because they took up ear stretching as a fashion statement. A large number of alternative subcultures have appropriated the practice, which goes back to ancient times, to show individuality and to stand out from the rest of society.

Changing fashions

Well, despite individualistic tendencies, some of you might experience a change in fashion, or decide that you want to pursue a career in a corporate environment.
When you stretch your ears, the diameter of the piercing is increased gradually, to eventually allow plugs or flesh tunnels to fit comfortably inside the lobe. Those of you who have taken up ‘tribal’ ear piercing know that on average, if you stretch your lobe beyond 1.5cm in diameter, then it won’t naturally go back to its original shape.
So if you remove your jewellery once you’ve passed that point, then your lobes will unfortunately look floppy and somewhat unappealing. If you have a short hairstyle it’s particularly difficult to hide them.

Some professions won’t put much weight on your appearance and some employers will be more liberal than others. However, The Guardian has revealed that there are roles, which will see potential employees at a disadvantage at interviews because of the state of their earlobes.
Whether we like it or not, employers will often want their staff to present themselves in a certain way. People can be biased towards people with gauged earlobes and it’s a regrettably your over-stretched ears might be fiddling with your job prospects.
Moreover, if you’ve been thinking of joining the armed forces, your lobes might also manifest as an obstacle. If they’re stretched beyond 2cm then you might not be allowed to start basic training until you’ve had them stitched up.
Fortunately having your stretched earlobes repaired is usually a straightforward procedure that can be done in about an hour.

What does an Earlobe Reconstruction involve?

Different techniques can be used depending on the state of your lobe. If you have a smaller diameter then all that may be required is a few stitches. On the other hand, if your lobes are of a larger persuasion, then it might be necessary to trim them before reshaping them.
The price of such a repair will vary depending on the complexity of the repair, the extent of damage and the amount of scar tissue involved. A surgeon’s approach will also be affected by whether you plan on piercing your ears in future. As such, prices will usually start at £1,000.
Luckily it’s a very short procedure, lasting about 30 minutes per lobe and done under local anaesthetic. There’s no downtime involved, so once you’re done, that’s it and you’re free to go.

The Private Clinic

During our 30 years in the aesthetics industry, we’ve come to know that little imperfections can become bothersome over time. That’s why we’ve gathered some of the best Consulting Plastic Surgeons to work with us and provide our patients with the best care and attention available. Like us, their main focus is patient satisfaction and that’s what’s driven us to work together so successfully.
Earlobe Correction Surgeons

• Mr Mark Lloyd, BM MRCS (Eng), MSc IM&T (Health), MPhil FRCS (Plast), ECFMG – GMC Number: 4425050
• Mr Adel Fattah, FRCS (Plast.) GMC Number: 4764599
• Mr Philip Lim, BSc (Hons), MB ChB, AFRCS (Ed), MRCS (Eng), FRCS (Plast) – GMC Number:4219068
• Mr Dario Rochira, BS, MD – GMC Number: 6130664
• Mr Kenneth Kok, MBChB MRCS MSc(Hons) FRCS(plast) – GMC Number: 4701147
• Mr Mrinal Supriya, FRCS, (OTOL-HNS) – GMC Number: 6066458
• Mr Michael Mouzakis, S.C.F in Plastic Surgery – GMC Number: 7237640
• Mr Khurram Khan, MBBS, Bsc, MRCS (Eng), FRCS (Plast) – GMC Number: 6102778

Tribal earlobe surgery is available at our London Harley Street, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Northampton clinics.