What can be done about torn ear lobes or large ear ring holes?
By Dr Sonia Suprabha Venugopal, ENT Specialist Bangalore
The ear lobe is the most delicate and vulnerable area of the outer ear or pinna as it is made up of delicate skin and tissue with no cartilage support. Traditionally it is the favored site for the ear ring.
When does an ear lobe get torn or an ear ring hole enlarge?
An ear lobe can get torn if the ear ring is pulled upon with excess force or if heavy ear rings are worn over time or in certain situation even without any clear factor.This may be a gradual process occurring over some time and progressing or it may be a sudden event. What are the types of torn ear lobe?
The ear lobe can be torn in various ways. The most common which occurs due to wearing heavy ear rings is in the vertical direction. If the ear lobe has been injured due to a pull on the ear ring by a child or the ear ring getting caught in something the tear may be more complex.The hole may be large or the ear lobe may be completely split.The ear lobe repair treatment will vary slightly depending on the exact problem.
What can be done about a torn ear lobe?
In case it is a recent sudden tear it is best to meet your ENT Surgeon as soon as possible. If however the ear ring hole has been enlarging over time avoid using heavy ear rings and even wearing ear rings for long durations. When you get home from work- remove the ear rings and give your ear lobes some rest!
What is done in ear lobe repair?
A torn ear lobe or a large ear ring hole can be easily repaired by the experienced ENT Surgeon . The ear lobe repair may be performed under local anesthesia which is used to numb the ears so that you do not experience any pain during the procedure.In pain sensitive persons or in those who are "scared of needles" often Dr Sonia S V uses a special cream before hand to numb the ears and hence avoid the "fear and pain of the needle" ! After numbing the ear lobe the tear or large hole is repaired. There are various techniques which can be used depending on the exact type of the problem. Most commonly the tear or large hole is freshened and sutured in a precise manner using very thin delicate suture material. The best results are seen with the removable thin sutures and these are typically removed after 5 days to 7 days.