Earlobe correction

Repair torn or oversized earlobes with an earlobe correction procedure.

Good to Know

Anesthesia: Procedure under local anesthesia
Duration: 20 minutes per earlobe
Recovery: 1–7 days
Price: starting at €500 (one earlobe)

Free consultation

5,000+Treatments

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Page checked by: Dr. P. van der Heijden on 25 August 2026

About earlobe correction

Earlobes that have been torn from years of wearing jewelry, or earlobes that are naturally too large, can be corrected with an earlobe correction procedure. Under local anesthesia, the tissue is reshaped, allowing you to have your ears pierced again later.

An earlobe correction is possible from €500 for one earlobe. The final cost depends on the desired correction and whether one or both earlobes are treated. During a free, no-obligation consultation, the ENT doctor will discuss your wishes and the options, and you will receive a transparent cost overview.
For torn earlobes (for example, from years of wearing jewellery or stretchers), reducing earlobes that are too large, or to improve the overall appearance of the face after a facelift.
On average 3 to 7 days. The earlobe(s) may still be red, swollen, tender or, on the contrary, numb 1 to 2 weeks after the procedure.
At Boerhaave, earlobe corrections are performed by experienced ENT doctors with an eye for safety, quality and a natural result. You can count on personal guidance and extensive aftercare, so that you know where you stand throughout the entire treatment process.

Here's how the treatment works

Here you will find all the important information about this treatment, from the consultation and the treatment itself to follow-up care, the results, and potential risks.

Earlobe correction is suitable for correcting:

Torn earlobes;

Ear lobe reduction;

Improving the overall appearance of the face following a facelift.

For a torn earlobe repair, only a small incision is made in the torn area. In many cases, the damage can be repaired, but keep in mind that scars will always remain visible.

In the case of earlobe reduction or the repair of a stretched earlobe resulting from wearing ear rings, your earlobe will take on a different shape. Through multiple incisions, part of your earlobe can be repositioned and/or removed. It is then sutured into the desired shape and in the correct position. The procedures for these last two types of earlobe corrections are more extensive than repairing a torn earlobe.
The Surgeon
The consultation always takes place with the ENT specialist who will be treating you. During this consultation, you’ll have the opportunity to explain what bothers you the most and what your expectations are for the final result. The ENT specialist will ask you a few medical questions and will then examine your earlobe(s).

In front of the mirror, you’ll have another opportunity to express your preferences. The ENT specialist will also explain whether your expectations can be met through an earlobe correction.

At the end, your consultation will be summarized in a treatment plan. This plan and the associated costs will be discussed with you immediately, allowing you to make an informed decision.

Consultant
After your consultation, you’ll have a meeting with your consultant. The purpose of this meeting is to inform you about the general matters that need to be arranged regarding your earlobe correction.

Would you like to know more about your consultation? Read more information here.
Before the surgery, the ENT specialist will mark the area according to the treatment plan. Your earlobe will then be numbed.

If your earlobe is torn , the tissue surrounding the tear will be removed, and the skin will be brought together and sutured. This scar will always be visible.

If your earlobe is too large or if you are undergoing earlobe reconstruction , the location of the incision and the scar will depend on the type of reconstruction. In the case of a reduction, for example, the incision will run along the bottom of your earlobe. After the reconstruction of your earlobe, the edges of the wound are sutured together.
Since an earlobe correction is performed under local anesthesia, you can usually go home right away. Be sure to have someone pick you up so you don't have to drive yourself.

Recovery
Once the anesthesia wears off, you may experience some discomfort, though the pain is usually mild. For the first few days, you’ll still feel a pulling pain around your earlobe. It’s also possible that your earlobe(s) will remain red, swollen, and more sensitive—or, conversely, numb—for one to two weeks after the procedure. This is a natural reaction of your body. These symptoms will subside after a few weeks.

Scars
As you recover, your scars will gradually fade. However, they will remain visible and will not disappear completely.

It’s good to know that every scar takes one to one and a half years to fully settle. That’s why it’s important to keep them out of the sun and care for them properly. You’ll receive a special scar cream for this purpose during your first follow-up visit. Once the wound has closed and the scabs have fallen off, you can start applying this scar cream. Applying it twice a day to the closed wound will increase the likelihood of a smooth, even healing.

A few months after an earlobe correction, it may be possible to have new piercings done again.
Although plastic surgery procedures generally involve healthy individuals, there is a possibility of risks and complications. This applies to any surgical procedure.

Through our thorough patient education, comprehensive medical history review, and professional approach, we minimize these risks to an absolute minimum. In addition, you can help reduce certain risks by carefully following the instructions you received beforehand.

Possible complications may include:

Postoperative bleeding

Infection

Changes in sensation

Permanent visible scars

Unsatisfactory aesthetic result

Smoking
It is important to stop smoking at least four weeks before the procedure and to continue abstaining throughout the entire recovery process. Patients who smoke or use nicotine products at the time of surgery are at a higher risk of complications. These include skin necrosis and impaired wound healing. In addition, smoking can also have a negative effect on anesthesia, potentially resulting in an increased risk of bleeding.

People exposed to secondhand smoke may also face an increased risk of such complications. People with no exposure whatsoever have a significantly lower risk of complications.

Results from real patients who underwent earlobe correction

Take a look at the results of earlobe correction procedures performed on patients who have been treated at our clinic before you. The before-and-after photos provide a realistic picture of what this treatment can achieve.

View all results

Before
After
View before and after
Earlobe correction
Drs. G.F.J.P.M. Adriaensen
39 years old
Before
After
View before and after
Earlobe correction
Drs. S. Fortuin
Before
After
View before and after
Earlobe correction
Dr. P.K.E. Börjesson
55 years old

View all results

How much does an earlobe correction cost?

The exact price depends on the treatment that’s best for you. Because every body and every goal is different, we’ll develop a treatment plan during a personal consultation, including a clear, transparent price.

Earlobe correction – one ear
Procedure under local anaesthesia
€500
Earlobe correction – both ears
Procedure under local anaesthesia
€800
Extended earlobe correction – one ear
Procedure under local anaesthesia
€800
Extended earlobe correction – both ears
Procedure under local anaesthesia
€1,200

Frequently Asked Questions

For torn earlobes (for example, from years of wearing jewellery or stretchers), reducing earlobes that are too large, or to improve the overall appearance of the face after a facelift.
It is usually possible to have new piercings a few months after the earlobe correction.
With a torn or split earlobe, only a small incision is made in the damaged part and the skin is stitched back together. When reducing or repairing a stretched earlobe, the procedure is more extensive: part of the earlobe is moved and/or removed via several incisions, after which it is stitched into the desired shape and position.
The earlobe correction is performed under local anaesthesia and takes about 30 minutes.

Earlobe correction

Good to Know

About earlobe correction

Here's how the treatment works

Results from real patients who underwent earlobe correction