Laser Surgery for Traumatic Incomplete Earlobe Clefts

Abstract

background. Various scalpel surgeries have been described to correct earlobe clefts secondary to wearing earrings. Limitations include notching, scarring, and technical difficulty operating on a small surface. objective. To report the development of a more rapid and less complicated method of using a laser to partially close an incomplete earlobe cleft.

Laser Earlobe Revision

“…One case report demonstrated the use of an erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser to treat an incomplete earlobe tear. 1 The Er:YAG laser was used to deepithelialize the anterior and posterior lower border of an incomplete earlobe tear, followed by suturing the anterior and posterior defect, resulting in a satisfactory cosmetic outcome. 1 Nonsurgical methods have also been used to treat torn earlobes.…”

“…1 The Er:YAG laser was used to deepithelialize the anterior and posterior lower border of an incomplete earlobe tear, followed by suturing the anterior and posterior defect, resulting in a satisfactory cosmetic outcome. 1 Nonsurgical methods have also been used to treat torn earlobes. De Mendonc ßa and colleagues 8 demonstrated the use of 90% trichloroacetic acid to repair 53 earlobes with incomplete tears.…”

“…T orn earlobes, also known as earlobe clefts, are a complication secondary to ear piercing and a common cosmetic complaint. [1][2][3] Earlobe tears may occur acutely from trauma such as pulling, entanglement, or abuse [2][3][4][5] or from chronic heavy earring application, prolonged traction, repetitive tension from activities such as jogging, or the facial aging process. 2 Torn earlobes are classified as complete (full tear) or incomplete (partial tear) based on whether the skin bridge at the periphery of the earlobe is intact.…”

“…2 Torn earlobes are classified as complete (full tear) or incomplete (partial tear) based on whether the skin bridge at the periphery of the earlobe is intact. 1 Generally, complete tears tend to be unilateral, whereas incomplete tears are often bilateral. Patients who develop complete tears more frequently present to cosmetic practices because of more-prominent aesthetic and mechanical complications.…”

“…4,7 More-recent techniques have incorporated lasers and chemicals for nonsurgical treatment of incomplete tears. 1,8 We describe a series of 10 patients with incomplete and complete earlobe tears that were repaired using simple linear surgical closure and concomitant carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) laser vaporization or who underwent prior surgical reconstruction with undesirable cosmetic outcomes and subsequently received CO 2 laser treatment.…”