Ear Piercing

The earlobe is a wedge of soft tissue covered by skin. It is the most commonly pierced body site. Ear piercing is seen in women, men and children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends postponing ear piercing in youngsters until a child is responsible enough to care for the pierced site.

The Association of Professional Piercers advises ear piercing be performed by a certified professional. Ear piercing guns used by some commercial establishments are not recommended because there is no way to guarantee sterility of the equipment. Although new earrings are used each time a piercing is done, the gun can become contaminated with germs. Wiping the outside of the gun with alcohol doesn't thoroughly remove germs from the inner parts of the device.

Fixing Earlobes

Long and/or heavy earrings may pull on the earlobe and stretch the size of the pierced hole. Aging can also cause the earlobes to sag because the elastic fibers in the tissue weaken. Sleeping with earrings or pulling on dangling earrings increases the risk of an enlarged piercing hole.

Traditionally, the common method of fixing the earlobe is surgical repair. The edges of the hole are cut to create a fresh wound and then sutured together. The hole can't simply be stitched because the skin covering in the hole prevents the ends from adhering and closing.

Facial Plastic Surgeon, Allan Wulc, M.D., improves the appearance of the earlobe by using injections of Restylane®. Restylane is made from hyaluronic acid, a substance naturally found in living organisms. It's an injectable filler that has been approved to treat moderate to severe wrinkles around the nose and mouth. When injected, it provides some extra bulk, or firmness, to the site. In the earlobe, Restylane adds volume and lift. Patients experience very little discomfort or bruising, and, because it's a natural product, there is little risk of allergic reaction to Restlyane. Earrings can be worn immediately after the injection.

The effect of Restylane is only temporary. However, Wulc says that because the earlobe tissue isn't disrupted by movement (like the tissue surrounding the mouth), he expects the treatment to last fairly long. He has been using the Restylane injections on earlobes for about a year. So far, no one has asked for a repeat treatment.

Wulc performs the earlobe fix with Restylane as an "add on" procedure for patients who are getting injections for facial wrinkles. He recommends patients seek advice from a physician with experience in using fillers because doctors need both technical knowledge and artistic ability to get the right look from the injection. Wulc says the injection technique is only useful for patients with intact earlobes. If the earlobe has torn, surgical repair is still necessary.

For information on Restylane®, http://www.restylane.com.

For information on injectables: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsAmerican Society of Plastic Surgeons

For general information on ear piercing: American Academy of DermatologyThe Association of Professional Piercers