In our western culture, the ears are often used to exhibit symbols of our personality. While some people wear heavy, ornate earrings, others wear stretching plugs. While both are a great way of communicating our identity to the rest of the world, they can also both lead to earlobe damage. Fortunately, there are solutions.
Wearing plugs, as has been popular with young people especially for a number of years, involves stretching the earlobes with a series of plugs that gradually increase in size. The result, when the jewellery is removed, is a hole in the centre of the earlobe that is too large to naturally return to a normal size. Large earrings can have a similar effect, stretching out the earlobes. In the most serious cases, large earrings can weaken the skin and fat that makes up the earlobe to the point wear they tend to tear completely if snagged or pulled.
In order to remedy the situation, clinics have started offering earlobe repair and reconstruction to those who need it. There are two main types of procedure, but both can achieve good results with a relatively quick recovery time.
Freshening
During this treatment, the patient will receive a local anaesthetic to reduce discomfort, before a small amount of skin around the damaged area is removed carefully. The edges of the earlobe are then placed together to form a natural-looking shape, and fine sutures are used to bind the sides together. This procedure is especially good for torn earlobes, as minimal suturing is needed. Many clinics specialise in this form of earlobe repairs in London and elsewhere, such as london cosmetic skin clinic.
Lasers
Using lasers is another way to perform a similar procedure, but with less likelihood of scarring. The edges of the damaged earlobe are cut slightly by radio waves transmitted by a tungsten electrode before the lobe is sutured. This procedure causes very little bleeding, as the laser cauterises the wounds as the incisions are made. It also leaves the area less susceptible to infection.
While both procedures are effective, it is worth speaking to clinicians about which would suit your specific problem. The good thing about these types of procedures is that both are non-invasive, so you could even get the work done in your lunch break. Treatment is relatively pain-free and timely.