Tribal earlobe repair is increasingly requested for earlobes that have significantly stretched due to tribal earlobe piercings. Earlobe piercings that are greater than 1 cm in diameter mean the ear lobe is highly unlikely to retract back to its original size. Stretched-out earlobes can appear misshapen and be a significant source of anxiety and distress that can lead to loss of self-confidence and potentially affect career progression in the workplace.
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Tribal earlobe repair, also known as stretched earlobe repair, is a highly effective earlobe reduction surgical procedure that is designed to correct the appearance of excessively stretched earlobes from tribal ear piercings. When considering stretched ear lobe repair, it is important to choose an experienced plastic surgeon with experience in both aesthetic and reconstructive ear surgery. The goal of the procedure is to create a natural curvature of the earlobe to minimise the risk of developing an unnatural appearance which may appear uneven. Centre for Surgery is the leading clinic in the UK for tribal repair, and our London clinic is home to some of the best consultant plastic surgeons. They all have specialist expertise in corrective ear surgery.
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Am I suitable for tribal earlobe surgery?
The first step is to have an in-person consultation with a surgeon experienced in tribal earlobe repair. During the consultation, your surgeon will conduct a detailed clinical assessment to assess your eligibility for tribal ear surgery, followed by a discussion of the most appropriate treatment options. Your surgeon will review your medical history and want to learn about your expectations from having earlobe surgery. The potential risks and complications of tribal earlobe repair surgery will be discussed. You will have an opportunity to ask any questions about the procedure. You will then be seen by your dedicated patient coordinator, who will act as your personal point of contact throughout your journey with us at Centre for Surgery. Once you have booked the procedure, you will have a preoperative assessment to ensure you are fit for the procedure. Tribal earlobe repair is routinely performed with a local anaesthetic which is well tolerated by most patients. You may need to stop certain medications in the days or weeks before the procedure to minimise the risk of bleeding after the procedure.
What does tribal earlobe repair surgery involve?
Tribal earlobe surgery is performed as an outpatient, so you can go home immediately after the procedure. The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes per ear to perform, depending on the extent of surgical correction required. Once you arrive at the clinic, your Surgeon will go through any aspect of the procedure before allowing you to sign the consent form. Photos of the ears will be taken and added to your electronic medical record. The nursing team will then prepare you for the procedure. Once you are in the operating theatre, the surgeon will inject a local anaesthetic into the earlobe. They will then surgically remove a wedge-shaped piece of tissue from the ear. Any redundant tissue is surgically removed. The incision lines are then closed with dissolvable stitches. A sterile dressing will then be placed to protect the incisions. Once you have recovered from the anaesthetic effects, you will be able to go home to continue the rest of your recovery.
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Does tribal earlobe repair hurt?
There should be little or no pain during the procedure. Your surgeon will apply a topical numbing cream followed by a local anaesthetic injection to ensure the earlobe is numb before performing the tribal earlobe correction. Immediately after the procedure, your earlobe may feel slightly sore as the local anaesthetic wears off. This does not require any pain relief in most cases, although over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol can be useful for some patients.
How long does it take to recover from tribal ear surgery?
After the procedure, you’ll be given detailed after-care instructions, which you must follow to minimise the risk of complications occurring. You may be given a prescription for painkillers or antibiotics, and you should take these as instructed by your surgeon. If you have any questions or concerns during the recovery period after tribal earlobe surgery, please contact us via the dedicated nurse helpline. There is little or no downtime after tribal earlobe correction, with the vast majority of patients able to return to work the next day. Strenuous exercise should be avoided for approximately three days after the procedure. You will attend a post-operative follow-up appointment with one of our nurses one week after your procedure. This will involve an assessment of your incision lines, and you will receive postoperative after-care information to help your recovery. You will be reviewed by your surgeon six weeks after your procedure. You should be fully healed by the stage, and your surgeon will provide customised recommendations on how to minimise scarring after tribal earlobe repair.
What is the scar like after tribal earlobe repair surgery?
All surgical procedures that involve an incision will leave a scar. Tribal earlobe repair is no different. The incision will appear as a thin linear scar on the yellow. Initially, it might appear red and raised above the level of the surrounding skin, but it will gradually fade to white colour over time and flatten to form a faint line. You’re Surgeon will provide detailed after-care instructions on how to improve the appearance of your scars. Silicone gel sheets may be recommended four weeks after the procedure once your incisions have fully healed.
Is tribal earlobe surgery permanent?
The results from tribal ear surgery or permanent unless you decide to apply tribal piercings to your ear again. The earlobe will not return to its stretched-out state over time.
How much does tribal earlobe repair cost?
The exact cost of tribal earlobe repair surgery will be determined by the extent of surgical correction required to create a natural-looking earlobe. Tribal earlobe repair costs more than split earlobe repair as the procedure may involve complex reconstructive techniques to improve the appearance of the ear lobe. Prices for tribal earlobe repair start from £800 for one earlobe. Once you have had an in-person consultation, your dedicated patient coordinator will give you an accurate quotation.
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Tribal earlobe repair at Centre for Surgery
Centre for Surgery is the leading cosmetic surgery clinic in London and is home to some of the top consultant plastic surgeons in the UK. We are especially Centre for all types of ear reconstruction including tribal earlobe correction and earlobe reduction. Contact us today at 020 7993 4849 to schedule an in-person consultation at our state-of-the-art Baker Street clinic in Marylebone.
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