Dear Dr. Man, I’m a 63 year old woman from Boca Raton. I’ve worn heavy earrings my entire life and now I’m paying for it. One of my earlobes is completely torn through and the other one is just about torn. Now I can’t wear earrings at all. Worse yet, everyone always asks me what is wrong with my ears. Can this be fixed? Can I wear earrings again one day?
The condition that you are experiencing is not uncommon; and there is surgery to help repair the damage to your ear lobes. Ear reconstruction can involve the entire ear or only a part - the lobe. Otoplasty is a general term for ear reshaping. Ear lobe reconstruction is much less involved than other forms of ear reshaping.
While earrings can add to a woman’s beauty, they can also add significant weight or trauma, causing the tissue in your earlobe to pull with enough pressure over time. A tear in the lobe or margin can leave a notch in an otherwise smooth, continuous edge. Large or heavy items will gradually elongate the hole and eventually tear through the lobe. This defect in one’s ear is usually very visible and difficult to cover up.
Most ear holes gradually enlarge over time- this is relatively normal for someone with pierced ears. The final tear is usually just through a tiny piece of tissue at the bottom of the lobe. If only the bottom is actually torn, immediate repair will not take care of the skin covered slot. However, if the tear starts from a tiny pierced hole, immediate repair is an option. Otherwise, reconstruction should be delayed until after the wound has healed and tissues are not inflamed.
Depending on the deformity, reconstruction can take different forms. In all methods, the skin lining the slot is removed, creating a raw edge to rebuild. Depending on the type of tear or the amount of damage in your ear, your plastic surgeon can use different techniques for surgery. When you meet with your board certified plastic surgeon, be sure to discuss the technique he or she plans to use for your surgery.
During most of these surgeries, local anesthetic is used to numb the earlobe. After surgery, most patients do not need anything stronger than an over-the-counter pain medication.
It is important to care for your earlobes after surgery. You should wash your wound with soap and water three times a day. Your doctor will prescribe you an antibiotic ointment that should be applied as well. You may experience some drainage from the wound after surgery. Sutures are usually removed by your surgeon within about seven days.
You should hold off wearing earrings for at least six weeks after surgery in order to give your earlobes time to heal properly. When you do resume wearing earrings, you should wear small, light earrings for at least two months after surgery. If your holes have been closed and you would like new holes pierced, I generally recommend waiting about six months after surgery.
Dr. Daniel Man is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has dedicated his life’s work to helping people look younger and improve their appearance through cosmetic surgery. He is a noted author, artist, inventor and educator. Dr. Man has been featured on major television networks, as well as national and local magazines and newspapers for his work as both a plastic surgeon and an artist. Dr. Man has a private practice in Boca Raton, FL.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Ask Dr. Man - Blepharoplasty
Dear Dr. Man, I just turned 60 years old and I am an attorney in Boca Raton. I have a beautiful wife who looks like she’s half my age. I feel that my saggy eyes make me look older than I am. I’m considering surgery to correct this, but I’m wondering if men typically get this kind of plastic surgery and if it can look natural. Also, what can I expect from surgery with regards to recovery?
Both men and women alike often opt for eye lifts in order to appear younger and more energetic. A blepharoplasty is the medical term for an eye lift, which is used to reduce the appearance of saggy eyes. Eye lifts are also used to treat ptosis, a medical condition that causes drooping eyelids and can sometimes impair vision, due to poor muscle tone or nerve damage.
More and more men are opting to have plastic surgery An increasing number of men today are having cosmetic surgery to help them look younger and more attractive. Like women, men have discovered the benefits of cosmetic surgery, both personally and professionally. Men are recognizing that wrinkles, frown lines, crow’s feet, droopy eyelids, baldness and double chins may make them look old and tired, and appear less competitive on the job and in their personal lives.
As we age, our skin loses elasticity, and thus eyelids and the area under the eye can begin to sag, aging our appearace drastically. An eyelid lift can help improve this condition drastically. During the procedure, the plastic surgeon first makes an incision in the eyelid, and then removes fatty tissue from inside the eyelid. Next, the surgeon will pull the skin to a tighter position and reattach the skin. Surgery typically lasts from 2-3 hours.
After surgery, your surgeon will provide you with a list of ways to care for your eyes and a list of rules for what to do and what not to do. He or she will also prescribe an antibiotic in order to prevent infection, so be sure to let the doctor know if you have any medication allergies. Your surgeon will also prescribe you with lubricating eye drops in order to keep your eyes from becoming too dry or irritated. While recovering, you should refrain from wearing contacts or eye makeup, reading or watching television, or drinking alcohol. Pain can be managed with over-the-counter pain killers. Any substantial pain should be reported to your plastic surgeon.
Patients can usually return to work in 7-10 days and resume full activities in about 3 weeks. Candidates for a blepharoplasty include both men and women who are unhappy with the effects of aging on their appearance, but are otherwise physically healthy. People who have certain eye conditions, including glaucoma, may be ineligible for a blepharoplasty, and should consult with their surgeon before undergoing this, or any other type of surgery.
Dr. Daniel Man is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has dedicated his life’s work to helping people look younger and improve their appearance through cosmetic surgery. He is a noted author, artist, inventor and educator. Dr. Man has been featured on major television networks, as well as national and local magazines and newspapers for his work as both a plastic surgeon and an artist. Dr. Man has a private practice in Boca Raton, FL.
Both men and women alike often opt for eye lifts in order to appear younger and more energetic. A blepharoplasty is the medical term for an eye lift, which is used to reduce the appearance of saggy eyes. Eye lifts are also used to treat ptosis, a medical condition that causes drooping eyelids and can sometimes impair vision, due to poor muscle tone or nerve damage.
More and more men are opting to have plastic surgery An increasing number of men today are having cosmetic surgery to help them look younger and more attractive. Like women, men have discovered the benefits of cosmetic surgery, both personally and professionally. Men are recognizing that wrinkles, frown lines, crow’s feet, droopy eyelids, baldness and double chins may make them look old and tired, and appear less competitive on the job and in their personal lives.
As we age, our skin loses elasticity, and thus eyelids and the area under the eye can begin to sag, aging our appearace drastically. An eyelid lift can help improve this condition drastically. During the procedure, the plastic surgeon first makes an incision in the eyelid, and then removes fatty tissue from inside the eyelid. Next, the surgeon will pull the skin to a tighter position and reattach the skin. Surgery typically lasts from 2-3 hours.
After surgery, your surgeon will provide you with a list of ways to care for your eyes and a list of rules for what to do and what not to do. He or she will also prescribe an antibiotic in order to prevent infection, so be sure to let the doctor know if you have any medication allergies. Your surgeon will also prescribe you with lubricating eye drops in order to keep your eyes from becoming too dry or irritated. While recovering, you should refrain from wearing contacts or eye makeup, reading or watching television, or drinking alcohol. Pain can be managed with over-the-counter pain killers. Any substantial pain should be reported to your plastic surgeon.
Patients can usually return to work in 7-10 days and resume full activities in about 3 weeks. Candidates for a blepharoplasty include both men and women who are unhappy with the effects of aging on their appearance, but are otherwise physically healthy. People who have certain eye conditions, including glaucoma, may be ineligible for a blepharoplasty, and should consult with their surgeon before undergoing this, or any other type of surgery.
Dr. Daniel Man is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has dedicated his life’s work to helping people look younger and improve their appearance through cosmetic surgery. He is a noted author, artist, inventor and educator. Dr. Man has been featured on major television networks, as well as national and local magazines and newspapers for his work as both a plastic surgeon and an artist. Dr. Man has a private practice in Boca Raton, FL.
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