The Gauged Earlobe: A Review of Current Treatment Methods and Presentation of a New Technique

Abstract

While not a new practice, the incidence of ear gauging is increasing. Our purpose is to review the literature (including the history of ear gauging as well as current repair techniques) and propose a new technique (the star technique) to better equip the contemporary cosmetic surgeon.

Infected auricular keloid secondary to attempted self-amputation of a gauge earring

“…Ear gauging begins similarly to the more common ear piercing with a 1 mm hole created in the auricular lobule, followed by expansion with increasing sizes of an ear plug. 1 Keloids are the atypical…”