Before and after bilateral earlobe repair and repiercing in a 23 year old woman. She had recently had an attempted repair at a non-Plastic Surgeon’s “place of business”. Do your homework before any cosmetic procedure. Tattoo parlors are not the place to have delicate surgery, no matter how low the price!
Her old piercings were repaired and her earlobes repierced at the same procedure, performed under local anesthesia in the office. Tylenol plain is generally the only pain medication required after surgery, and a week off exercise is recommended. Work can resume the next day.
Patients are asked to bring earrings with them to their procedure with the following specifications: a continuous (“infinity”) hoop that is made of wither sterling silver, surgical steel or 14K gold (to avoid irritation of the wound while it is healing, as can happen with cheap nickel earrings).
The hoop earring diameter should be no larger than a dime since it will be worn for at least 6 weeks during healing. Inexpensive earrings can be found online at Amazon or at inexpensive jewelry stores like Claire’s. The hoop conceals the dissolving sutures and takes attention away from the repair so it is not noticed at a social distance.
Follow up photos are shown at 6 weeks after surgery. She has been given permission to change her earrings and wear other ones including post earrings. However, if heavy or very dangly earrings are worn, they should be taken out as soon as the special event is over and they should not be slept wearing them to avoid stretching out the new piercing.
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
