“Earlobe repair sounds simple, but technique decides whether the result holds for life or pulls open again at the next earring. As a double-board-certified facial plastic surgeon trained at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Michigan, and through an AAFPRS fellowship in Beverly Hills, I close every layer of the lobe — not just the skin — so the repair is durable enough to be re-pierced and elegant enough that the scar reads as the natural edge of the ear. Every earlobe repair I perform is done by me personally, in our private Beverly Hills office, in a single short visit.”
What earlobe repair can do for you
Earlobe repair corrects stretched, split, or elongated lobes from years of heavy earrings, traumatic tears, or gauge piercings. Dr. Truesdale closes every layer of the lobe in a single short, in-office visit under local anesthesia — producing a smooth, intact lobe that holds for life and is ready to be re-pierced six weeks later.
- A clean, intact lobe — no more split, slit, or pulled-through hole drawing the eye.
- Re-piercing in six weeks — once the repair has healed, the lobe is ready for earrings again.
- A permanent fix — surgical repair holds for life; sutures and self-care cannot reattach torn tissue on their own.
- One short, in-office visit — under an hour, local anesthesia only — no general, no operating room.
- A discreet, fading scar — the incision lies along the natural edge of the lobe and softens to near-invisibility over the year that follows.
Understanding the earlobe repair
What the earlobe repair is
Earlobe repair corrects stretched, split, or elongated lobes from years of heavy earrings or traumatic tears. It's an in-office procedure under local anesthesia that takes under an hour and restores a smooth, intact lobe ready to be re-pierced.
Who the earlobe repair is for
If any of the following describes you, the earlobe repair may be worth exploring:
What makes Dr. Truesdale’s approach different
Dr. Truesdale’s approach to every procedure reflects a consistent set of principles — the same standards that inform every consultation, every surgical plan, and every post-operative follow-up.
Restraint, Not Over-Correction
The most over-done procedures in facial aesthetics are over-done because someone kept going past the right stopping point. Dr. Truesdale's rule: when the result is right, stop — even if more could technically be done. For earlobe repair, that means restoring the lobe’s natural curve — not over-resection that leaves a thin or pinched lobe.
The Artist's Eye
Before becoming a surgeon, Dr. Truesdale was a trained portrait artist. That lens shapes every decision — proportion, light, shadow, the relationship between every feature — in a way purely clinical training alone does not. For earlobe work, that lens reads the lobe’s geometry so the final scar follows the natural shadow line.
Personal, Start to Finish
Every consultation, every surgical plan, every procedure — performed personally by Dr. Truesdale. No delegation to coordinators, PAs, or residents. Dr. Truesdale is personally involved every step of the way. Every earlobe repair is performed by Dr. Truesdale — small procedure, but the scar position determines the result.
Natural Is Non-Negotiable
The only acceptable outcome is one that no one can identify as a procedure — a result that reads as a better version of you. No pulled look, no frozen expression, no obvious work. The earlobe-repair goal: a lobe that simply looks intact, with a scar most people never notice.
“A small operation with a large return — confidence back in earrings, back in photographs.”
— Dr. Carl Truesdale, MD
From first consultation to final reveal
We always tell our patients to ‘trust the process.’ You are in good hands on every step of the journey to your unique masterpiece.
Consultation
Evaluate the damage and plan the reconstruction with Dr. Truesdale personally.
Procedure Day
In-office repair under local anesthesia. Both earlobes are typically repaired in the same session.
Healing
Sutures come out at Day 7 — or, if they’re dissolvable, there’s nothing to remove. Minimal restrictions; normal activity resumes within 48 hours.
Re-Piercing
Ears can be re-pierced at 6 weeks, usually in our office as part of your procedure — or by a local piercer if you’re home by then. Wear your favorite earrings again.
Individual timelines vary. Dr. Truesdale sets realistic, patient-specific expectations during your consultation — not exaggerated claims.
Meet Your Surgeon
Dr. Truesdale on technique, philosophy, and patient stories — from his self-produced Beyond the Surface docuseries and his educational content library.
Earlobe Repair FAQs
Bring your own questions to consultation — Dr. Truesdale personally answers every one. Below are the questions patients ask most often about earlobe repair.
The strongest candidates have stretched, split, or torn earlobes from heavy earrings, trauma, or years of gauging. Dr. Truesdale evaluates you personally in consultation and only recommends the procedure when it will genuinely help. If a different approach would serve you better, he’ll tell you that too.
The lobe can be re-pierced at 6 weeks after repair. It’s usually done in our office and included in the price of your procedure; if you’re home by then, a local piercer can do it instead. Re-piercing is ideally placed to avoid the original scar line, and Dr. Truesdale’s team can guide you on timing and placement at follow-up.
Most patients describe the discomfort as mild to moderate. The procedure is performed in-office under local anesthesia. Dr. Truesdale’s team is available throughout recovery — you are not managing discomfort on your own.
Our surgical procedures utilize a patient-focused anesthesia technique known as MAC (Monitored Anesthesia Care) and IV Sedation, ensuring your maximum comfort and safety. This method provides a level of gentle, deep sedation comparable to the comfortable experience many patients have during a colonoscopy, which we have found helps make patients less fearful. The anesthesia is administered intravenously and meticulously monitored by a hand-picked group of board-certified anesthesiologists, who are dedicated to your well-being throughout your entire procedure.
Plan on 1–3 days off work of social downtime. Expect sutures removed at day 7–10; mild redness fades over 2–3 weeks. Most patients resume normal activity within 48 hours. Your follow-up appointments along the way are conducted by Dr. Truesdale and our physician assistant, with Dr. Truesdale seeing you personally at the key milestones.
That’s the entire standard Dr. Truesdale designs for. The repair should be so subtle that no one notices — including you. Every patient is evaluated in a seated, relaxed state beforehand so the target is based on your real anatomy — never on an idealized template.
Permanent. A repaired lobe is as durable as an unstretched one — provided earrings are worn sensibly.
Yes. A significant portion of Dr. Truesdale’s patients travel from across the United States and internationally. The process begins with a virtual consultation with Dr. Truesdale himself (not a coordinator), followed by in-person pre-procedure evaluation. Our patient-care coordinators help arrange travel, accommodations, and local transportation, and Dr. Truesdale’s team conducts virtual follow-ups after you return home.
Request a consultation through the form at the bottom of this page, email contact@doctortruesdale.com, or call (424) 363-4112. Our team responds within one business day to schedule either an in-person consultation at 150 S. Rodeo Drive, Suite 360, Beverly Hills, or a virtual consultation worldwide. Every consultation is conducted personally by Dr. Truesdale.
Earlobe repair can be performed at any age. Most patients pursue it in their 40s through 60s, after decades of heavy earrings have gradually elongated the piercing channel or torn the earlobe entirely.
The cost of earlobe repair can vary based on the patient’s situation, including if it is a revision surgery and if this surgery will be combined with other surgeries or treatments. The total cost may include the surgeon’s fee, operating room fees, and anesthesia fees. At Truesdale Facial Plastic Surgery, we believe the surgeon’s philosophy and experience, and your comfort with him, are just as important as the final cost of the surgery. We can provide an approximate range for this procedure over the phone, and your patient care coordinator (PCC) will confirm the pricing for you after your consultation with Dr. Truesdale.
Schedule your earlobe repair consultation
Every consultation is conducted personally by Dr. Truesdale. We respond same-day, Monday-Friday. International patients: WhatsApp (424) 363-4112.
Book a Surgical Discovery Call online
After clicking the booking link, select “new patient” under Schedule Your Appointment and fill out the form to see our current availability for a Surgical Discovery Call with a Patient Care Coordinator and book immediately. Call us (424) 363-4112 for additional appointment times and information.All times are based on Los Angeles, Pacific Time (PT).
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