Posted June 12, 2015 in Earlobe, Home

Yes, you can do both at the same time.

Torn earlobes are incredibly common. Sometimes the earring pulls all the way through (complete tear); sometimes it just stretches out the hole, so that you have droopy earrings–or you start losing your studs. Either way, it would be nice to get your torn earlobe repaired and get new earrings all at once.

I know that many plastic surgeons recommend that you wait 6 to 8 weeks after earlobe repair to have your ears repierced. This has the following disadvantages:

  1. You have to come back to the office a second time for a second procedure.
  2. You have to have local anesthetic injected into your ears a second time.
  3. You have to go without earring for 6 to 8 weeks–when the whole point of the procedure is to allow you to wear earrings.

After practicing plastic surgery for over 20 years and repairing over 50 earlobes per year, I can state that it is perfectly safe to repierce your ears at the same time they are repaired. The keys to doing this successfully are:

  1. The new piercing cannot be performed in exactly the same spot as the old piercing. Otherwise the earring will simply pull through the new scar. This is true whether you have the repair/repierce at the same time or on separate dates.
  2. The new earring should be small, preferably a stud. This will allow you to care for your stitches as your repair is healing.
  3. The new earring must be left in place for at least a month before trying to change it. The danger is that you will accidentally place the earring through the adjacent repair site (see first point).
Before After (1 year)
Before Repair and Repiercing After Repair and Repiercing
59 year-old woman underwent earlobe repair and repiercing at the same time.
Before After (2 Months)
Before Earlobe Repair and Repiercing After Earlobe Repair and Repiercing
28 year-old woman underwent earlobe repair and repiercing at the same time.
Before After (2 months)
Before Earlobe Repair and Repiercing After Earlobe Repair and Repiercing
36 year-old woman underwent earlobe repair and repiercing at the same time.

Why wait 6 to 8 weeks for new ear piercings? Out with the old, in with the new–all at the same time.

Ronald M. Friedman, M.D.
Director, West Plano Plastic Surgery Center
Former Chief of Plastic Surgery, Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas
www.https://www.plasticsurgerydallas.com