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Can My Ears Recover from Earlobe Stretching?

Mary McMahon
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Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 18,958
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It is possible for the ears to recover from earlobe stretching if a person decides to stop stretching or wants to actively reverse the process. In earlobe stretching, progressively larger earrings and plugs are placed into a pierced ear over time to stretch out the tissue. This practice is very ancient in some communities and can be seen in practice around the world. People may also accidentally end up with stretched ears if they have a habit of wearing very heavy earrings regularly. If stretched earlobes are no longer desirable, there are a number of options to allow them to recover their former shape and size.

In situations where the stretchers used are no larger than two gauge, the ears can often recover on their own. It will be necessary to take the earrings out to give the ears a rest, and it can be helpful to massage the ears periodically to stimulate blood flow and encourage the hole to close. Compounds like vitamin E oil can sometimes speed the process of healing. It may take several months for the holes to shrink to a manageable size and close entirely. A doctor may be able to speed the process with an injection of filler into the skin around the hole.

When ears are stretched to a larger diameter, healing is more complex. The hole is usually too big to close on its own, and the patient may need earlobe reconstruction. In a reconstruction, a plastic surgeon will close the hole manually. For very large ear stretching cases, the surgeon may need to perform a two-part surgery to create cartilage and skin grafts to close the hole. Once it heals completely, if the patient wants pierced ears again, it is possible to re-pierce, although attempting another round of earlobe stretching is not a good idea.

Some patients may perform earlobe stretching too fast, and this can endanger their earlobes. Stretching normally takes place over the course of years, and each stretch increases the gauge gradually. This allows the ears to slowly flex and stretch over time to accommodate the larger size. When stretching occurs too quickly, it is possible to tear the ears or develop tissue necrosis, where part of the skin dies because it does not get enough blood. In this case, a surgical repair is necessary to clean up the dead skin and reconstruct the earlobe.

After the ears heal completely from earlobe stretching, the lobes may look slightly different, and some scarring will be present around the site of the hole. Patients concerned about the appearance of the lobes can discuss options with a plastic surgeon to see if it is possible to minimize the scarring and give the lobes a smoother appearance.

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Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGeek researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

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Discussion Comments
By Rundocuri — On Mar 19, 2014

@raynbow- I have a nephew who had this procedure, and he is very happy with the results. The first step he had to take was to find a qualified surgeon who had experience doing this procedure. Many plastic surgeons are familiar with this type of surgery, or can refer your friend to one that is.

However, the first hurdle is paying for the procedure. It can be costly, and it's not likely that insurance will pay for it. Each surgeon has varying fees, so you may want to tell your friend to start shopping around.

My nephew said that the surgery itself was not too painful, and only took a few weeks of recovery and healing. However, this varies too, depending on how much your friend has stretched his earlobes. His best options are to find a surgeon, save his money for the procedure, and discuss how involved it will be for the doctor to do the surgery.

By Raynbow — On Mar 18, 2014

I was wondering if anyone has experience recovering from earlobe reconstruction. I have a friend who has stretched his earlobes for several years, and now wants to have them repaired.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

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