Quite often, patients who need to reduce their earlobes turn to plastic surgeons. Various types of interventions to reduce the size of the lobe are quite technically complex plastic surgery. An experienced surgeon can correct the shape, reduce the lobe, and restore its integrity.
Excessive earlobe size can be a congenital or acquired defect, combined with a change in the shape of the ear or the presence of scars. Often today, people who previously practiced wearing tunnels (rings inserted into the hole of the earlobe and stretching the tissue) resort to surgery to reduce the earlobe. In addition, the earlobe can stretch and enlarge as you age, due to wearing massive jewelry, or after an injury that damaged the earlobe area.
Various earlobe reduction techniques can correct most of the imperfections in this area, and with virtually no scars. You will no longer need to hide defects under hair or hats; you can wear any earrings.
Indications for earlobe plastic surgery
Patients often turn to the surgeon with complaints about certain cosmetic imperfections in the lobe area.
Currently, the list of complaints is dominated by deformation after wearing specific jewelry, which is commonly called tunnels. The fashion for this type of decoration appeared about fifteen to twenty years ago. Naturally, tunnels were an attribute of the youth subculture, but yesterday’s boys and girls had already grown up. Today they work in prestigious jobs, they themselves have daughters and sons, and some have grandchildren. The tunnels, as well as traces of their presence, became completely irrelevant. It is quite logical for a person to want to get rid of the consequences of this hobby during his youth and growing up.
Sewing your earlobe after wearing tunnels is very simple. But only experienced and highly qualified plastic surgeons can perform the operation so that there are no traces left on the skin in the form of rough scars!
Questions of earlobe plastic surgery are also of interest to those who have never been a supporter of this or that type of youth subculture. Patients of the middle age group turn to plastic surgeons regarding deformation of soft tissues against the background of involutional processes. Changes are manifested mainly by stretching and lengthening of the lobes. Wearing heavy jewelry contributes to age-related changes and increases their severity.
A certain percentage of patients present with congenital developmental anomalies. Lobes are characterized by inherited defects such as shortening (even actual absence) and elongation. Some congenital deformities appear in a bizarre shape - the distal part of the ear may be forked or pointed.
The last group of indications for earlobe plastic surgery is formed by deformations after injuries. We are talking about scars and scars after a break with jewelry. The injury may be the result of an accident (the jewelry was caught, sharply pulled and torn soft tissue) or a criminal act of third parties.
Stages of preparation for interventions
Before performing surgical plastic surgery in the area of the earlobes, the doctor will prescribe the necessary amount of preparation. First of all, this is a preliminary consultation, examination, determination of indications for intervention and exclusion of all possible contraindications. The surgeon will prescribe a series of tests and examinations to assess your health and eliminate any possible obstacles to surgery.
The patient undergoes blood and urine tests, including tests for HIV, exclusion of hepatitis and syphilis, and a coagulogram. A physician's report and ECG and fluorography data are required. If, based on the results of the examinations, a conclusion is given about the possibility of performing the operation, another consultation with a plastic surgeon is carried out with the choice of the day of the operation and intervention tactics.
Deformation after tunnels: is there an alternative to surgery?
One of the most pressing issues concerns the inevitability of reconstructive surgery after wearing tunnels. Patients are interested in whether it is possible to correct the earlobe without surgery; can “holes after tunnels” heal on their own?
Plastic surgeons give a universal answer to this question: if the diameter of the hole is no more than 1 centimeter, you can expect that over time it will become smaller, but will not completely close. If the diameter of the hole is more than a centimeter, you need to have surgery or put up with a noticeable cosmetic defect for the rest of your life.
Contraindications
This surgical procedure is quite simple. However, there are some restrictions that force you to postpone plastic surgery or abandon it in order to avoid serious consequences:
- blood clotting disorder;
- period of menstruation in women;
- course of taking blood thinning drugs;
- general infections in the body;
- individual sensitivity to anesthesia drugs, fillers (if they are used);
- inflammation and suppuration in the intended intervention area.
Memo for preparing for otoplasty: tests, prohibitions, recommendations
How much does it cost to seal tunnels?
In this section you will find answers to two questions: where to sew up your earlobe in Moscow, how much will such an operation cost? Answering the first question, you need to pay attention to the illusory simplicity of the operation. Many people think that suturing skin and soft tissue is the simplest manipulation that can be entrusted even to a sixth-year medical student.
In fact, even a fifth-year student can sew up the skin, but only a very experienced and qualified specialist can perform the operation so that after it the ear looks natural and there are no rough scars left on the skin. Essentially, this is a reconstructive surgery operation aimed at restoring the normal anatomy of a deformed organ.
If you are interested in earlobe plastic surgery after tunnels in Moscow, contact the Soho Clinic aesthetic medicine clinic. The medical center employs the best plastic surgeons in the capital, recognized masters of their craft with extensive practical experience and the highest qualifications.
How much does it cost to seal tunnels? Plastic surgery clinics in the capital usually indicate the standard cost in their price lists - 40,000 rubles. That's for two ears. Some clinics indicate a different price - 20,000 rubles. As a rule, in this case we are talking about unilateral correction.
In certain situations, unilateral earlobe correction, the price of which is understandably lower, is really relevant. Firstly, sometimes young people install tunnels on only one side. Secondly, unilateral plastic surgery is relevant in the case of post-traumatic deformity, for example, after a rupture.
But let's return to the tunnels. In the answer to the question of how much it costs to sew up an earlobe after tunnels, there must be one more variable - the diameter of the hole. If the diameter of the defect is no more than 1 centimeter, earlobe plastic surgery can cost less - from 10-12 thousand for a unilateral correction, from 20-24 thousand rubles. for sewing up two ears.
To find out the exact price of aesthetic correction, sign up for a free consultation with a surgeon at the Soho Clinic plastic surgery clinic (Moscow).
Ears are important
In general, ears are an incredibly important part of the body. According to the canons of Eastern medicine, they are the projection of all organs, and massage of the corresponding points on them can become a significant part of the treatment of various diseases. On the lobe, for example, there are points associated with the thyroid gland, teeth, head in general and vision, so doctors recommend that ear piercing be trusted only to professionals so as not to harm any organs.
Jennifer Aniston loves heavy earrings. Alas, this love did not pass without a trace for her.
Physiognomists can tell a lot about a person’s character and inclinations based on the shape of their ears. For example, if the upper edge of the ear is located above the line of the eyebrows, this means that their owner is very smart, proactive and has every chance of making a great career. Protruding ears reveal a person who is convinced and stubborn, ready to defend his point of view in any circumstances. A large lobe and a relatively small ear indicate a person’s balanced temperament and wisdom. A small and grown-in lobe is characteristic of decisive, energetic and reckless people. By the way, these are the lobes that are least susceptible to visual aging. Well, if you are the lucky owner of large ears with a prominent inner ridge and an elongated and full lobe, you will most likely live a very long life.
According to accepted aesthetic criteria, the length of the lobe should be 1/5 of the entire ear, and it itself should be free (unattached) and moderately plump. It is this shape of the ears that speaks about the health of their owner and looks most advantageous with most jewelry. But alas, nothing lasts forever under the sun, including the condition of the lobes.
Progress of the operation
The suturing of the hole after the tunnels is performed under local anesthesia. The plastic surgeon removes a small fragment of skin and soft tissue, forms regular skin flaps and sutures them so that the seam after the operation is least noticeable. For these purposes, special suture material and a special suturing technique are used.
Plastic surgery after injury includes one more stage - removal of the scar followed by suturing the edges of the wound with a cosmetic suture. When restoring the shape and size of a stretched lobe, a small fragment of tissue is also removed, but the manipulations are performed on the inside, which avoids the formation of visible scars.
You can have earlobe plastic surgery at the Soho Clinic (Moscow). The Soho Clinic plastic surgery center employs highly qualified specialists with extensive experience in complex reconstructive surgeries.
Why do ears get old?
There is a fairly widespread belief that a person’s nose and ears grow throughout their lives. This is only partly true. According to research by Swiss scientists, the nose, starting from 30 to 90 years old, can increase in length by about 1 cm. But the ears actually do not grow, since they mainly consist of cartilage tissue, but the lobe, like the face, and The chest, and other parts of the body, are subject to gravity and, because of this, lengthen.
The love for heavy jewelry completes what gravity started.
Over the years, the natural production of collagen in the body slows down, so the earlobes become less full, firm and elastic, and large and heavy earrings (and according to statistics in Russia, more than 90% of women wear earrings) plus the force of gravity stretch them. Sometimes, over the years, wrinkles appear on the ears, which, according to a number of studies, may indicate the development of cardiovascular diseases.
Some people develop vertical wrinkles along the tragus, the small protruding cartilage at the entrance to the ear canal, and the cartilage itself loses its elasticity and “fades,” also due to loss of collagen.
How to fix earlobe problems
What to do if simple creams can no longer correct the situation and the time for prevention has passed? There are three main types of treatment - anti-aging procedures, contouring and plastic surgery.
Rejuvenating ear treatments
If you're just starting to notice the first signs of aging, you can choose from a wide range of facial treatments, such as photorejuvenation, chemical peels or laser resurfacing. The choice of method depends on the condition of the skin and the financial capabilities of the individual patient. To achieve the greatest effect, a course of 5 to 10 procedures is recommended with a week break between them.
The same procedures are suitable for ear rejuvenation as for the face. So, by performing facial photorejuvenation, you can rejuvenate your ears at the same time.
pros
- These procedures are low-traumatic, almost painless and are usually very well tolerated. The likelihood of scars and cicatrices is excluded. After laser resurfacing, a slight change in skin color in the area of the procedure may occur, but this phenomenon is temporary and passes.
Minuses
- The visible effect of these procedures will be small. They will not be able to eliminate stretched holes for earrings and wrinkles, they will only refresh the surface of the skin.
- Before and after the procedures, a special regime is required: long-term protection of the earlobes with the help of special creams and ointments for proper restoration, neutralization of ultraviolet radiation and reduction of sensitivity.
Ear contouring
Fillers
Essentially, this is injection rejuvenation, in which various fillers are injected into the subcutaneous area to eliminate wrinkles and other imperfections. In the case of the ears, injections can not only eliminate wrinkles and sagging earlobes, but also reduce the size of stretched earring holes. This method is suitable for not too advanced cases.
Generally, hyaluronic acid-based products are used for ear contouring - for example, Restylane (the most popular choice), Radiesse, Sculptra and Repleri (for severe earlobe stretching). They help moisturize the skin, give tissues fullness and freshness, as in youth, and eliminate vertical wrinkles in the tragus area. This occurs due to the fact that hyaluronic acid stimulates the production of collagen and elastin and attracts water molecules to the tissues.
pros
- The procedure takes only a few minutes
- No anesthesia is required - you will only feel a small prick and a slight feeling of fullness. There may be minor discomfort for about a week after the procedure.
- There is almost a 100% chance of no complications, unless you are allergic to the drugs injected.
- The effect of the procedure lasts about a year, sometimes more. In foreign practice, it is customary for those who do the procedure for the first time to set the following schedule: for the first two years, injections every six months, then once a year. In our country there is no clear schedule; it all depends on the condition of the lobes and the recommendations of a specialist.
Minuses
- There is an opinion that since beauty injections increase the volume of the lobe, it does not always look beautiful.
- You definitely need to know what brand of filler has already been injected, if you have done the procedure before, and if the next injections will be performed with a different drug, you must wait until the previous one is completely absorbed.
In addition, in some cases, recently, a mixture of hyaluronic acid and a person’s own blood plasma enriched with platelets has been used for injections. This cocktail has rejuvenating properties, like any procedure based on gluronic acid, but its effectiveness is enhanced due to the fact that the plasma creates a beneficial environment for cell regeneration at the injection site.
SPRS THERAPY – rejuvenation with your own fibroblasts
The abbreviation SPRS stands for service for personal regeneration of skin, that is, a service for personal skin regeneration. This is a new technique based on the body's ability to regenerate. Fibroblasts are connective tissue cells with powerful abilities to stimulate the production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronate. The youth of our skin depends on the number, structure and activity of fibroblasts.
Taking a fibroblast sample
During SPRS therapy, a small (up to 5 ml in diameter) skin sample is taken from the patient from the area behind the ear, then the healthiest and most active fibroblasts are isolated from it under special laboratory conditions and multiplied over the course of several weeks. After this, the resulting material is injected into problem areas - in our case, into the earlobes, and fibroblasts launch active local rejuvenation processes, the results of which become noticeable after about a month. The skin begins to produce elastin and collagen, becomes smoother and more hydrated, and wrinkles are evened out. Recently, foreign fibroblasts have also begun to be used, mostly placental ones, so there is no need to wait several weeks for your own to grow. As a rule, they take root well. How long the effect of therapy will last will depend on the capabilities of your body, but it should last at least a year.
pros
- The method is still gaining popularity, but when performed correctly, it has proven to be effective.
Minuses
- SPRS therapy is still little known in our country and there are very few competent specialists who know this technique.
- High cost of the procedure
Plastic surgery
To correct pronounced problems with the earlobes, two types of operations are used - ear lifting and earlobe suturing (reduction plastic surgery).
Ear lift
Ear lifting is used for sagging and severe wrinkles. Sometimes the lobe stretches not only on its own, but also after an unsuccessful face lift. This average 20-minute lift surgery is performed under local anesthesia or general anesthesia. During manipulation, excess skin is carefully removed, and the edges of the wound are tightened and sutured, usually from the back of the ear, so traces of the operation are not visible. When finishing the work, the surgeon puts a small bandage on the ears for about a day. After removing the bandage, special inconspicuous patches are applied to the earlobes for several days. The sutures are removed after 5-6 days.
Ear lift
pros
- After this operation, the lobes usually heal quickly and without any complications. If necessary, ears can be pierced 3 months after surgery.
- The result of the operation is pronounced, radically changing your reflection in the mirror for the better.
Minuses
- The results will not be noticeable immediately; the rehabilitation period will take a week or two.
Suturing the lobe
This procedure is more complex and lasts about 50 minutes. It is usually performed under local anesthesia. The surgeon makes one or (rarely) several incisions to reduce the lobe approximately where the lobe joins the back of the head. The edges of the incisions are sutured and a beautiful full lobe is formed. Holes for wearing earrings can also be sutured. Basically, specialists try to perform internal seams. External sutures, as with a lift, are removed approximately a week after surgery. Complete healing may take up to 8 weeks. In the spring of 2022, this operation was performed by Kim Kadrashian’s forever-youthful mother, Kris Jenner.
pros
- Radical results visible to the eye.
Minuses
- Sometimes visible stitches are required on the front side of the lobe, which can later form small scars. Micro-grinding will help remove these imperfections.
- In some cases, as a result of a poorly performed procedure or individual reactions of the operated body, healing may be delayed, leaving quite pronounced scars.
For both types of operations, both a regular scalpel and a laser can be used. Laser plastic surgery is considered more gentle and less traumatic.
