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Technique guide · UK

Split earlobe repair - the technique behind the small scar.

The auricular lobule is soft, vascular and forgiving - but only if the closure respects its anatomy. This is what a well-planned repair actually involves, and how to tell one from a rushed one.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What a split earlobe repair costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our partner UK units.

In short

£950–£1,700, home the same hour.

Procedure Indicative range
Simple linear closure, one side £550–£950
Simple linear closure, both sides £950–£1,700
Z-plasty or W-plasty closure £800–£1,500 per side
Wedge excision for gauged lobe £1,100–£2,000 per side
Local flap for recurrent split £1,400–£2,500 per side
Scar revision, six months on £450–£900
Steroid injection for hypertrophic scar £120–£220 per session
Technique-focused consultation £150–£280

Prices vary by whether the case is a clean tear, an incomplete cleft, a gauged lobe needing wedge excision, or a recurrence.

The problem

A small operation with an anatomy the closure has to respect.

The lobule has no cartilage but has a rich blood supply, a natural fold along its inferior edge, and a downward pull from gravity. A closure that ignores those three things leaves a notch, a widened scar or a recurrence.

  • Layers, not a single stitch

    Deep dermis, superficial dermis and skin - three layers spread the load and stop the free edge notching.

  • Design against the pull

    A Z or W in the closure line converts a straight-line scar contraction into a small zig-zag that resists notching.

  • Restore shape, not just skin

    For a stretched lobe, closing the split is not enough - a small wedge removes redundant tissue so the shape actually looks normal.

When it helps

When repair is the right technique.

The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means urgent review rather than a routine booking.

  • A clean, complete tear

    The classic linear tear - a linear closure or a Z-plasty gives the best scar in the fewest steps.

  • A partial or incomplete cleft

    A tear that has not reached the free edge yet - a small excision closes it cleanly before it extends.

  • A gauged or stretched lobe

    Redundant skin has to come out with a wedge, or the lobe stays long and thin even after the split has been closed.

  • A recurrent split through an old scar

    A different closure design and a fresh piercing site - not just a repeat of the previous operation.

  • An asymmetric pair

    One torn, one intact but stretched - the plan often includes a small adjustment on the other side.

  • A tear from a cyst or lesion

    A sebaceous cyst that has ruptured the lobe - the cyst has to come out with the closure or it comes back.

  • A tear related to headwear or a fall

    A less common cause, sometimes with a jagged edge - a slightly wider excision gives a cleaner scar.

  • Red flag: an infected piercing tract

    Actively infected before surgery is antibiotic first, surgery later.

Procedure options

Match the technique to the anatomy of your tear.

A clean tear, an incomplete cleft, a stretched lobe and a recurrent split each want a different closure - this is how we choose.

  • Excision of the epithelialised tract

    The tract that has healed on either side of the split is skin-lined. It has to be excised, not just apposed, or the closure fails.

  • Three-layer closure

    Deep dermis to spread load, superficial dermis to align, skin to close. This is what stops the scar widening.

  • Z-plasty and W-plasty

    Small geometric closures that break a straight line into segments - better scars along the curved lobule edge.

  • Wedge excision

    A triangle of tissue removed alongside the split, then closed in layers, restores lobe shape in gauged ears.

  • Free-edge preservation

    The lower free edge is closed with an eversion stitch and a small step to avoid a V-notch.

  • Local advancement flap

    For recurrent or notched tears, a small flap brings well-vascularised tissue in.

  • Suture choice and timing

    Buried absorbable sutures deep, fine non-absorbable on the skin removed at 7 days. Longer skin sutures widen the scar.

  • Scar management

    Silicone tape and massage from week 2. Steroid injection for hypertrophic scars at 6–8 weeks if needed.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

A well-established procedure in the right hands. The honest conversation is about recovery and expectations.

  • Local anaesthetic reactions

    Rare - a small vasovagal wobble is the usual event. We use adrenaline with lignocaine for a bloodless field.

  • Bleeding and bruising

    The lobule is vascular. Small bruises are common; a haematoma is uncommon and settles with pressure.

  • Infection

    Under 1 percent. Antibiotics only if there is a clear infection.

  • Notching

    A V-shaped step at the free edge. Careful closure design keeps it under 5 percent; a small revision fixes it.

  • Hypertrophic and keloid scars

    More common in patients with darker skin and personal or family history. Silicone from week two and early steroid injection help.

  • Recurrence

    Through the old scar or a re-pierced site, in 5–10 percent - most from re-piercing too early.

  • Asymmetry

    Ears never match perfectly. A small asymmetry is normal.

  • When to re-pierce

    Not before 6–8 weeks, and through fresh tissue offset from the scar. Small studs, no dangly earrings for 6 months.

  • Red flags after the procedure

    Spreading redness, discharge or fever needs a call or a same-day review.

Reading your notes

Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever approach was used, the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.

A UK plastic surgeon reviewing an earlobe repair operation note

A quiet reminder

Surgical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the operation note before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication and approach

    Why the earlobe repair was done, which side, and what approach was chosen.

  2. 02 Technique

    What was done

    The technique in plain terms - incisions, structures addressed, implants or fixation used.

  3. 03 Findings

    Findings and complications

    What was seen and whether anything unexpected happened during the procedure.

  4. 04 Impression

    Plan, restrictions and follow-up

    Read this first: recovery restrictions, rehab timeline, and when we look at you again.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Usually covered when medically indicated.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about the technique.

Quick answers on cost, recovery and what happens if it does not work.

  • What is the difference between correction and repair?

    They are used interchangeably in most UK clinics. On our site, correction focuses on the procedure as a day-case service; repair looks at the anatomy and the technique. Both refer to the same operation.

  • Which closure technique is best for me?

    A clean full-thickness tear does well with a simple linear or Z-plasty closure. A stretched or gauged lobe usually needs a wedge excision. A tear that has come back through an old scar often needs a flap. Photographs help us tell you in advance.

  • Will the closure hold if I get my ears re-pierced?

    Yes, if the piercing is placed through fresh tissue at least 6–8 weeks after surgery, and you avoid heavy earrings for the first six months. Piercing through the scar itself is the most common cause of recurrence.

  • How long until the scar looks its best?

    Scars mature over 6–12 months. They look their worst at 6 weeks and settle steadily after that. Silicone tape, sunblock and massage from week two make a real difference.

  • How much does a split earlobe repair cost in the UK?

    Simple linear closure is £550–£950 per side, Z or W-plasty £800–£1,500 per side, wedge excision £1,100–£2,000, and flap repair £1,400–£2,500. Bilateral cases are usually about 1.6× the single-side price.

  • Do I need general anaesthetic?

    No. Local anaesthetic is enough for almost every case, including bilateral wedge excisions. Sedation is available for very anxious patients but is rarely needed.

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