Can Earrings Damage Your Ear Lobes?

One of the most popular jewelry items for both men and women is earrings. From small diamond studs to large gauges, it is common to see ear lobes decorated with jewelry. However, many people do not realize that wearing earrings can damage your ear lobes, even causing them to tear. If you have pierced ears or wear gauges in your ear lobes, you should be aware of the possibility of damage to your lobes.

Earrings have been worn for centuries yet it was invention of the telephone and changing trends in earring fashion that has caused the most ear lobe damage. Large earrings and talking for hours on the phone in the ‘70’s, ‘80’s and 90’s were the cause of many misshapen ear lobes. The pressure of the phone ear piece combined with heavy earrings stretched the piercing holes and caused elongated ear lobes with large holes, often tearing in two.

Another trend that has led to ear lobe damage is wearing large gauges in the lobes. These larger holes leave less cartilage around the jewelry, making it easier to tear or stretch over time. The result can be an ear lobe that hangs in two pieces, split from the pressure of the gauge or when the gauge gets caught and tears through the cartilage.

Once the ear lobe is damaged, it can be embarrassing and be difficult to hide. However, experienced plastic surgeons can fix this issue, usually in just one visit. The ear lobe can be repaired to look like new again, removing access cartilage and stitching together pieces that have been torn apart. Many people can even have their ears re-pierced so they can wear their favorite jewelry again.

Posted on behalf of:
Atlanta Plastic Surgery Specialists, P.C.
2001 Peacthree Road #630
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 355-3566

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