Where Is My Procedure?
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Procedure Location
Tanner Clinic — same office as your consultation
No new directions needed. Come to the exact same place you've already been.
What Is Split Earlobe Repair?
Over time, earlobes can split or elongate from the weight of heavy jewelry, a snagged earring, or years of stretching. Once torn, the earlobe will not heal back together on its own — the edges scar over and the split becomes permanent.
The repair is a surgical procedure performed in-office. Dr. Innes freshens the edges of the split to create a clean wound, then closes it precisely with sutures to restore the natural contour of the earlobe. The result is a smooth, intact earlobe that can be re-pierced once fully healed.
Before Your Appointment
Arrive with Clean Ears
- Remove any earrings on the day of your appointment
- Come with clean earlobes — no lotion, makeup, or product on or around the ears
Blood Thinners — Let Us Know
⚠ If You Take Blood Thinners
If you take blood thinners (warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto, Pradaxa, Plavix, or daily aspirin for a medical condition), please let us know before your appointment. Do not stop any prescribed medication without talking to your prescribing doctor first. In almost all cases Dr. Innes will have you continue your blood thinner — he just likes to know ahead of time.
No Special Preparation Required
You do not need to fast, arrange a driver, or take time off work. Most patients return to normal activities immediately after.
What to Expect During the Procedure
The entire procedure takes approximately 30–40 minutes per earlobe. Here's what happens, step by step:
1
Local anesthetic. Dr. Innes' team injects a numbing agent into the earlobe. The injection itself causes a brief sting — after that, the area will be fully numb and you will feel only pressure, not pain. Because you will not go under general anesthesia, fasting beforehand is not necessary.
2
Freshening the edges. The scarred edges of the split are trimmed to create a clean, fresh wound bed. This is what allows the tissue to heal together properly — scar tissue won't bond on its own.
3
Precise closure. The earlobe is closed in layers. Deep absorbable sutures hold the tissue together internally and dissolve on their own. Surface sutures close the skin precisely and will need to be removed at a follow-up visit.
4
Done. Ointment and a bandage are applied. You are fully awake throughout — you can bring someone with you, but you don't have to. You can drive yourself home and return to normal activities immediately.
Deep Sutures (Internal)
Absorbable — placed beneath the skin to hold the tissue together. These dissolve on their own over several weeks. You won't see them and they don't need to be removed.
Surface Sutures (External)
Non-absorbable — close the outer skin layer precisely. Visible as thin threads along the repair line. Must be removed at a follow-up visit 5–10 days after your procedure.
After Your Procedure
Immediately After
- The local anesthetic wears off over the next 1–2 hours — mild soreness is normal. Tylenol and Ibuprofen as needed are both fine. Ice can also be used for comfort.
- Try to sleep on your back or on the untreated side for the first few nights. Rolling onto the treated side may cause some discomfort and wake you, but is unlikely to cause any problems with the repair.
- You can drive yourself home and return to normal activities right away.
Wound Care — First Week
- Keep the bandage on for 3–4 days if it will stay on that long
- After 3–4 days, gently wash the area with soap, facewash, or shampoo when showering
- Pat dry gently — never rub
- Apply a thin layer of Vaseline or Aquaphor over the sutures after cleaning
💡 Why Keeping It Moist Matters
Keeping the wound covered in ointment speeds healing significantly. You do not need to "let it breathe." Epidermal cells migrate much faster through a moist environment than through a dry scab — meaning the two sides heal together more quickly and with a better cosmetic result when kept consistently moist.
Swimming and Submerging
The safest approach is to avoid submerging the ears in pools, lakes, or hot tubs until the sutures are removed and the wound is fully healed. That said, the risk of infection after this procedure is very low. If you do need to submerge, make sure to wash the area gently with soap and water afterward.
What to Avoid
- Earrings in the repaired earlobe until fully healed — minimum 6–8 weeks, and only after Dr. Innes has cleared you
- Touching, pulling, or rubbing the repair site
- Makeup, lotion, or skincare products directly over the suture line until healed
- Sleeping on the repaired side for the first week if possible
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Suture Removal — 5 to 10 Days After Your Procedure
Surface sutures need to be removed at Tanner Clinic approximately 5–10 days after the repair. Do not attempt to remove them yourself.
If you are not already scheduled, please text 801-776-7129 and we'll get you on the schedule.
Healing & Results Timeline
Week 1
Some redness, mild swelling, and tenderness around the repair site. Normal. Keep the wound clean, moist, and protected.
Day 5–10
Surface sutures removed. The earlobe should look significantly better already, though the scar will still be pink and slightly raised.
Months 1–3
The scar gradually fades and softens. Most patients find it nearly imperceptible by 3 months. If redness persists at 3 months, expect it to continue to fade slowly over coming months.
6–8 Weeks
Re-piercing window opens — with Dr. Innes' clearance. Piercing outside the incision scar is fine at 6–8 weeks. Piercing within the incision: wait 6 months for maximum skin strength.
💡 Scars Continue to Improve for Up to 12 Months
If at 3–6 months you're concerned about the appearance of the scar, let us know — there are treatment options available.
Things You May Notice
✓ Normal — Expected
- Redness, mild swelling, and tenderness for the first 1–2 weeks
- Bruising around the earlobe — resolves within 1–2 weeks
- Slight numbness or altered sensation in the earlobe for a few weeks, rarely months. On occasion this can be permanent.
- A pink, slightly raised scar line in the first 1–3 months — fades with time
- Mild itching as the wound heals
! Contact Us If You Notice
- Increasing redness, warmth, swelling, or pain after Day 3
- Pus or foul-smelling discharge from the repair site
- A suture pulling through the skin or breaking
- Wound edges separating or opening
- Fever over 100.4°F
- Any concern that doesn't feel right — when in doubt, text us
When to Contact Us
💬 Routine Questions & Suture Removal Scheduling
Text 801-776-7129 during business hours.
⚠ After-Hours Concerns
Text Dr. Innes directly: 801-414-8443