It’s not just gauges that can damage earlobes

Gauges are large cylinders placed in holes in the earlobes. The holes needed to accommodate gauges go way beyond those needed for earrings – gauges can be half an inch or even bigger. If the individual decides that he or she doesn’t want the gauge anymore, the hole doesn’t just shrink and disappear. The skin is too stretched out and disfigured.

However, earlobes can become stretched out even if you don’t have gauges. Wearing heavy earrings for many years or some sort of trauma – such as having an earring ripped out of your ear – can also cause damage to the earlobe.

Correcting earlobe damage

Fortunately, the earlobes can be repaired in a fairly simple procedure. In otoplasty (the medical term for cosmetic ear surgery), your doctor will plan the reconstruction of your earlobe so that it will look completely natural. Tiny sutures may be used to help repair the damage. General anesthesia is used, and the procedure can be performed in your doctor’s office – there’s no need for a hospital stay. It typically takes less than an hour and you can return to your normal activities right after the surgery. There will be some discomfort, but most patients find that over-the-counter pain medication is enough to manage this.

Having a gauge may get your ears some attention, but the stretched-out skin you’re left with after you take out the gauge will get you even more. Otoplasty is a quick procedure that can repair your earlobes so you don’t have to keep regretting your decision to get gauges. Contact the office of Dr. Gary J. Price in New Haven or Fairfield County, CT, for an otoplasty consultation. Call (203) 453-6635 for an appointment today!

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What is otoplasty?

Otoplasty is simply ear surgery, which is sometimes referred to as “ear pinning.” It can be used to reshape or remove ear cartilage for ears that are too big, protrude too far out from the head, are asymmetric, or are too pointy. It can also be used to fix a torn or stretched ear lobe.

Who can have otoplasty?

This procedure has a very low incidence of complications, and even children can have otoplasty. By the age of 5, the ears are nearly fully developed, but the cartilage is more easily moldable than it is in the adult ear.

Ear surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, and intravenous sedation or general anesthetic can be used. The exact procedure varies depending on what the issue is and what results the patient would like to see, and both ears can be corrected during the same procedure. Any incisions can be made on the back of the ear so that any scars will be hidden.

After otoplasty, patients report only minimal pain. However, you will probably be uncomfortable, bruised, and swollen. Over-the-counter pain medication can help. Once the swelling goes down you will notice a difference right away. Although you should avoid anything too strenuous for a few weeks after the surgery, you can get back to your normal activities within a week to 10 days. You will be given compression bandages to support the ears, and you will want to make sure to protect your ears from any kind of impact.

With otoplasty, you don’t have to be self-conscious about your ears anymore – and your child doesn’t have to be, either. Contact the office of Dr. Gary J. Price for an otoplasty consultation. Call the office in New Haven or Fairfield County, CT, at (203) 453-6635 for an appointment today!

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Here at our office, Dr. Gary J. Price offers a variety of ear repair surgeries including otoplasty which is performed to correct ears that protrude too far from the head. Additionally, he performs earlobe repair surgery to help restore earlobes that have been stretched, torn, or ripped.

Your earlobes are made solely of fat and skin making them an easy part of the body to work with. Without bones or cartilage, Dr. Price can typically perform this restorative surgery in about an average of 30 minutes. During this surgery, the skin lining the tear will typically be removed, and then the hole where your gauges were will be stitched up.

During recovery, your earlobes will be a bit tender to the touch. We recommend that you avoid any contact sports or activities that could harm your ears. To help ease any pain or swelling, try taking an over the counter (OTC) pain reliever. Our office will send you home with instructions regarding what OTC drugs you can take while recovering. Many patients wonder if they will be able to pierce their ears again after surgery. Depending on how big your gauges were and how well your ears have healed from this procedure will determine whether or not you’ll be able to have them pierced again.

If you didn’t properly gauge your love for gauged ears and wanted to have them fixed, schedule a consultation with our Guilford office today!

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Otoplasty Surgery Recovery

1. Keep Bandages In Place

When your child is sent home from the hospital, they will wear a thick bandage around their ears and head that resembles a large headband. For the first few days after surgery, they will need to keep the bandages in place so that the incisions aren’t exposed to any bacteria or germs and to help with swelling. After a few days, Dr. Gary J. Price will switch out the thick bandage for a lightweight one that they will also have to wear consistently.

2. Prop Their Head Up

If your child sleeps on their stomach or flat on their back, this may be a bit of an adjustment, but it’s an important one. As your child is resting or sleeping, make sure that their head is properly propped up with several pillows. Having their head elevated will help reduce their swelling.

3. Avoid Rough Play

For the first week after your child’s surgery, they should avoid any contact sports or rough play. If your child is particularly active, try to keep them occupied with other activities that don’t have the potential to harm their incision site. For instance, try to get some new board games that they can invite friends over to play with. The more your child sits still during recovery, the better.

Schedule a Consultation

Otoplasty or ear pinning surgery is a fairly common procedure that Dr. Gary J. Price offers patients. By using the tips listed above, you can help your child have a smoother recovery. To learn more, contact Dr. Gary J. Price today at (203) 453-6635!

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Pierced ears are popular, that

However, there can be a downside, especially to the extreme piercing style known as Gauges, which found fashion popularity in the late 90’s. 

Your decision to join a band, complete with gauging your ears seemed very cool, right? Right.

Then when you found you were getting lots of negative attention and couldn’t get a job, reality set it. You wanted your normal lobes back. 

• Gauges are not simple ear piercings. They create holes that can be large and disfiguring when the gauges are removed. It is possible for the holes to shrink if they are small, but larger holes need plastic surgery to close them and reshape the earlobe. 

Perhaps one of these scenarios is all too familiar: 

• You’ve worn very large, heavy earrings for many years and the shape of your earlobes has drastically changed…to floppy and unflattering.
  • Earlobe reconstruction surgery can restore earlobes that have become stretched through many years of wearing heavy earrings. 

• You’re holding a baby on your lap when she grabs at your newest, shiniest pair of dangling ear bling and before you know it, she has ripped the earring out of your ear.
  • Earlobe tears may be complete or partial; both can be easily reconstructed.

Earlobe repair is a fairly short, simple procedure involving removal of the skin between the tears in the lobe and closing the repair with tiny sutures.

• Dr. Price specializes in repairing torn or disfigured earlobes and those that have had ear gauges removed.
• His goal is to provide the patient with normal-looking lobes.
• The surgery is usually done in under an hour in our offices under local anesthesia. There is no down time. Patients can return to their normal activities immediately.
• If you decide to re-pierce your ears, however, we recommend you wait at least six weeks following reconstructive surgery.

The results of earlobe reconstruction surgery are gratifying and amazing.

Call today at (203) 453.6635 for a consultation with Dr. Price. You ears will thank you!

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