Earlobe Repair in the Washington DC Area: Reston, VA and Chevy Chase, MD
Earlobe repair at The Naderi Center is performed by Dr. Shervin Naderi, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, in the procedure suite of our Reston, Virginia office. Most patients begin with a virtual consultation, and consultations are also available in person in Reston or Chevy Chase, Maryland. Torn, split, stretched and gauged earlobes are repaired in one short office visit under local anesthesia, and most patients need no time off work.
20+ Years of Facial Plastic Surgery
100,000+ Procedures Performed
4.9★ from 1,100+ Google Reviews
Dr. Shervin Naderi, named to Newsweek America’s Best Plastic Surgeons
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
- 2026
Reston, VA and Chevy Chase, MD
Your Earlobe Repair Surgeon: Dr. Shervin Naderi
Dr. Shervin Naderi, MD, FACS, is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon and the founder of The Naderi Center in Reston, Virginia and Chevy Chase, Maryland, with more than 20 years in practice and more than 100,000 procedures performed. His practice is devoted to the face and neck, and he performs every earlobe repair at The Naderi Center himself, in the procedure suite at our Reston office.
A plan for your earrings: At your consultation, he examines your earlobes, explains which repair suits them and plans your re-piercing with you, including around a wedding or event you have in mind. Out-of-town patients can start with a virtual consultation, and our patient care coordinators can help with travel and accommodations.
- Double Board Certified, FACSCertified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
- Fellowship-TrainedFellowship-trained in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, after a surgical residency in head and neck surgery.
- Board ExaminerHas served as an oral board examiner for the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
- Newsweek, Four Years RunningNamed to Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Plastic Surgeons, 2023 to 2026.
- Top Doctor, Year After YearSelected year after year as a Washingtonian Top Doctor, and an Arlington Magazine Top Doctor.
- Medical DirectorMedical director of Prince William Surgery Center since 2023.
Featured Video · 0:50
Watch Dr. Naderi Explain Earlobe Repair and Reduction
Can a stretched or torn earlobe be repaired? Yes. In under a minute, Dr. Naderi explains how earlobes that are torn, stretched, long or uneven are fixed in one quick office visit.
Key Points from Dr. Naderi
- Some people’s earlobes get larger and longer as they get older, and sometimes even at a young age.
- Earrings worn over the years can stretch the earlobes or tear completely through them.
- Earlobes that don’t match can be evened out. One side can be done, but typically both sides are.
- Earlobe repair and reduction are quick, easy in-office procedures that a lot of people don’t know exist.
Read the Transcript
“Did you guys know that earlobe reduction is an actual thing, or earlobe repair? Some people, as they get older, the earlobe gets larger, longer. Sometimes it happens even at a young age, and they want to kind of reduce the size of it. It can be done. It’s a quick procedure. Sometimes it’s because the earrings from previous years stretched the earlobes, or actually completely tore through, and they want to get it repaired. It can be done. Sometimes it’s because the two sides are so asymmetric. You do one side. Typically we do both sides. But it’s a quick, easy in-office procedure that a lot of people are not aware of. You’d be surprised how often I run into women at parties who tell me, I had no idea that you could repair this stretched earlobe. We can. Super easy. Call the office.”
What Earlobe Repair Can Do
Earlobe repair closes a torn or stretched piercing and restores a natural earlobe, so you can wear the earrings you love again.
Earlobe Repair at a Glance
Dr. Shervin Naderi, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon
The procedure suite at our Reston, VA office. Consultations are virtual or in person in Reston or Chevy Chase, MD.
Local anesthesia. You can drive yourself home.
Up to about an hour for both ears
Dissolvable, so there are no stitches to remove
Very little. Over-the-counter pain relievers are usually enough.
Right away for most patients
The day after your repair
Exercise after 1 to 2 weeks. Pools, hot tubs and open water after 4 to 6 weeks.
In the office, no sooner than 4 to 6 weeks after your repair. Most patients are re-pierced at 8 to 12 weeks.
Lightweight studs first. Heavier and dangling earrings about 6 months after re-piercing.
$2,000 to $2,600 per earlobe, including the facility fee and re-piercing
Not covered. Earlobe repair is cosmetic, and Cherry financing is available.
What Our Patients Say About Dr. Naderi
4.9 on Google from 1,100+ reviews
“One of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
“After consulting with five highly respected facial plastic surgeons, I ultimately chose Dr. Naderi, and I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
★★★★★S.J.Google review
“An expert at his craft.”
“Dr. Naderi and his staff were excellent from start to finish. He is an expert at his craft and provides the vision and confidence for an excellent and realistic outcome. Grateful for his expertise!”
★★★★★S.A.Google review
“His eye is always exactly right.”
“I’ve been seeing Dr. Naderi for more than 25 years. (I can’t believe that even as I type this.) His aesthetic and his eye is always exactly right. … He understands the face and always find balance and beauty.”
★★★★★T.B.Google review
“He truly listens.”
“… after providing a wealth of information regarding various options, he truly listens intensely to his patients thereby appreciating their concerns and ultimately offering the best individual solution.”
★★★★★C.W.Google review
“Ethically very sound.”
“Cautious plastic surgeons are not as common nowadays, but Dr. Naderi is ethically very sound & always looking out for your best interest.”
★★★★★S.B.Google review
What Is Earlobe Repair?
Earlobe repair, also called lobuloplasty, is a short procedure that closes a torn or stretched earlobe and gives it back a natural shape. The earlobe is soft tissue with no cartilage. A heavy earring, a snag on a sweater or years of gauges can stretch a piercing into a slit or pull it all the way through. Once the edges of a tear have healed over, the lobe cannot close on its own, but it can be repaired simply and comfortably in the office.
Most earlobe concerns fall into one of four patterns: an elongated piercing hole, a complete split, a gauged or stretched opening, and a long or thinning lobe from aging. Each is repaired a little differently, as the graphic below shows.
What Results Can You Expect from Earlobe Repair?
- A closed, natural-looking earlobe in place of a slit, split or stretched hole
- A fine scar that softens over time and almost always becomes very difficult to see
- A new piercing in healthy tissue, so earrings sit straight and no longer slip out
- The freedom to wear your hair up or short without your earlobes drawing attention
Who Is a Good Candidate for Earlobe Repair?
You may be a good candidate for earlobe repair if you:
- Have a piercing that has stretched into a slit, or earrings that tilt forward or slip out
- Have an earlobe that has split all the way through
- Would like to close gauged or widely stretched piercings
- Have long, creased or thinning earlobes from aging
- Have a keloid on the earlobe from a piercing
- Avoid heavier earrings, or wearing your hair up, because of how your earlobes look
If you have a keloid on the ear, or have formed a raised scar after a piercing, Dr. Naderi is glad to see you and talk about whether treatment can help. That history also helps him plan any repair and your follow-up care.
Types of Earlobe Repair and Related Procedures
Dr. Naderi tailors the repair to the kind of earlobe damage you have, and earlobe repair is often part of a larger plan.
- Torn or elongated piercing hole. The most common repair. The lining of the tear is removed and the lobe is closed with fine dissolvable sutures.
- Complete split earlobe. The soft tissue is rearranged so the lower edge heals smoothly, without a notch.
- Gauged earlobes. The stretched opening is closed and the lobe is reshaped to a natural size, for women and men alike.
- Earlobe keloids. Keloids on the ear can be treated, and Dr. Naderi is glad to see you and talk about whether treatment can help.
- Earlobe reduction. A long or droopy lobe from aging can be shortened with a small in-office procedure. More on earlobe reduction.
- Earlobe filler. A lobe that has thinned can be softened with a little hyaluronic acid filler, placed by one of our physicians, which can also make a stretched hole less noticeable.
- With a facelift or neck lift. Many patients have their earlobes repaired during a facelift or neck lift, so the result looks complete.
- Earlobe repair vs. otoplasty. Otoplasty reshapes the cartilage of ears that stick out. It is a different procedure, done under general anesthesia, as the comparison below shows.
What Is Earlobe Reduction?
Earlobe reduction makes a long or enlarged earlobe smaller. Some people’s earlobes get larger and longer as they get older, and sometimes it happens even at a young age. Years of heavy earrings can stretch the lobe too. Dr. Naderi reshapes the lobe to a natural size and proportion with the rest of your ear.
Earlobe reduction can also even out earlobes that don’t match. One side can be done for asymmetry, but typically both sides are done. If a piercing hole is also stretched or torn, Dr. Naderi plans the repair and the reduction together.
Like an earlobe repair, earlobe reduction is a quick, easy in-office procedure at our Reston office, and it is priced similarly to earlobe repair. Your exact quote follows your consultation.
We will bring the experience.
How Is Earlobe Repair Performed?
Dr. Naderi performs earlobe repair in the procedure suite at our Reston office under local anesthesia, and both ears usually take up to an hour. The earlobe has very few nerves, so the visit is comfortable from start to finish.
For a partial tear or an elongated hole, Dr. Naderi removes the thin skin lining the tear, which would otherwise keep the edges from healing together, and closes the lobe with fine dissolvable sutures. A complete split or gauged opening takes a little more planning. The soft tissue is rearranged and the damaged tissue is replaced, so the lobe returns to a natural size and shape.
Most patients start with a virtual consultation and then schedule the repair in Reston. If you would rather meet in person first, let our team know when you book a Reston consultation, and the repair can often be done the same day. Because only local anesthesia is used, you can drive yourself home.
Torn earlobe repair, up close. The lobe is numbed with local anesthesia, the lining of the tear is removed, and the lobe is closed with fine sutures, all in one office visit. Once healed, the ear can be re-pierced.Contains close-up surgical footage. No sound.
How Much Does Earlobe Repair Cost in the Washington DC Area?
Earlobe repair is priced per earlobe, and the price includes the facility fee and re-piercing in the office.
| Treatment | Price at The Naderi Center |
|---|---|
| Earlobe repair | $2,000 to $2,600 per earlobe |
| Earlobe reduction | Priced similarly to earlobe repair |
| What the price includes | Facility fee and in-office re-piercing |
| Consultation | Virtual or in person, in Reston or Chevy Chase |
Your exact quote follows your consultation. Prices are subject to change. See our full price list.
Patient Financing
Pay Over Time with Cherry
Monthly payment plans for surgery and treatments, including 0% APR options for qualifying patients. Checking whether you qualify won’t affect your credit score.
How Should I Prepare for Earlobe Repair?
Preparation is simple:
- Avoid aspirin and products that contain it for at least a week beforehand.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol for 48 hours before your visit, since both slow healing.
- Wear a top that buttons or has an open neckline, so nothing pulls over your ears on the way home.
- If you would like a quiet weekend to rest, schedule your repair toward the end of the week.
Earlobe Repair Recovery and Re-Piercing
Recovery is easy, and most patients do not take any time off work. The sutures dissolve on their own, so there are no stitches to remove. Depending on the technique used, you will go home with a special ointment or a small tape on the lobe, and over-the-counter pain relievers are usually enough for any soreness.
- The day after: You may shower and wash your hair. Use a mild baby shampoo for the first week, and do not scrub the area.
- First week: Avoid turtlenecks, holding your phone against the repaired ear, strong sun and harsh soaps.
- 1 to 2 weeks: Strenuous exercise and heavy lifting can resume.
- First few weeks: Swelling and bruising fade.
- 4 to 6 weeks: Pools, hot tubs and open water are fine again, and this is the earliest Dr. Naderi will re-pierce.
- 8 to 12 weeks: When most patients are re-pierced.
Dr. Naderi re-pierces the ear in the office, at least 3 millimeters from the scar line, where the tissue is strongest. Start with lightweight studs, and save heavier and dangling earrings for about six months after re-piercing. Our earlobe repair recovery guide and our guide to torn and stretched earlobes cover each stage in more detail.
Is Earlobe Repair Safe? Risks and Safety
Earlobe repair is a low-risk procedure. Dr. Naderi reviews your medical history to make sure it is safe for you, and he goes over the possible risks with you at your consultation.
Possible risks include:
- Infection
- Keloid or thickened scar
- Uneven scar healing
- Need for a revision
Earlobe Repair Serving Washington DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland
Earlobe repair is performed in the procedure suite at our Reston office. Most patients begin with a virtual consultation, and in-person consultations are available at both of our offices.
Reston, Virginia (repairs and consultations). 1850 Town Center Parkway, Pavilion II, Suite 551, Reston, VA 20190. Convenient for patients from Herndon, Great Falls, Vienna, Tysons, McLean, Arlington and Alexandria. Call 703-481-0002. Reston office hours and directions.
Chevy Chase, Maryland (consultations). 5454 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1655, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, in Friendship Heights. Close to Bethesda, Potomac and Northwest Washington, DC. Call 301-222-2020. Chevy Chase office hours and directions.
You can also start with a virtual consultation or book a consultation online.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Shervin Naderi, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon. Last updated October 2026.
Earlobe Repair FAQs
Who performs earlobe repair at The Naderi Center?
Dr. Shervin Naderi, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, performs every earlobe repair himself, in the procedure suite at our Reston office.
Does earlobe repair hurt?
Very little. The earlobe has very few nerves, local anesthesia keeps the procedure comfortable, and over-the-counter pain relievers are usually enough afterward.
How long does earlobe repair take?
Up to about an hour when both ears are repaired.
Can I start with a virtual consultation?
Yes. Most patients begin with a virtual consultation and then schedule the repair at our Reston office. In-person consultations are also available in Reston and Chevy Chase.
How young can you have earlobe repair?
Earlobe repair can be done for patients as young as 14 when it is needed. Patients under 18 need a parent or guardian’s consent.
Can earlobe repair be done the same day as my consultation?
Often, yes, when you meet Dr. Naderi in person at the Reston office. Let our team know when you book, and we will plan for it.
When can I wear earrings again after earlobe repair?
The old hole is closed during the repair, so the ear is re-pierced once it heals. Dr. Naderi waits at least 4 to 6 weeks, and most patients are re-pierced at 8 to 12 weeks. Start with lightweight studs.
Can a repaired earlobe tear again?
It can, if heavy earrings pull on the lobe again over time. To protect your repair, Dr. Naderi re-pierces the lobe in the office away from the scar, and you start with lightweight studs. Heavier and dangling earrings wait until about 6 months after re-piercing.
Will the scar be noticeable?
There will be a fine scar, and over time it almost always becomes very difficult to see.
Do the stitches need to be removed?
No. The sutures dissolve on their own.
Can gauged earlobes be repaired?
Yes. Dr. Naderi closes gauged and widely stretched piercings for women and men and reshapes the lobe to a natural size.
Can long or stretched earlobes be made smaller?
Yes. Earlobe reduction makes a long or enlarged earlobe smaller, and it can also even out earlobes that don’t match. Like a repair, it is a quick in-office procedure, and it is priced similarly to earlobe repair. Learn about earlobe reduction.
Can a keloid on the earlobe be treated?
Yes. Keloids on the ear can be treated, and Dr. Naderi is glad to see you and talk about whether treatment can help.
How much does earlobe repair cost?
$2,000 to $2,600 per earlobe, which includes the facility fee and re-piercing.
Does insurance cover earlobe repair?
No. Earlobe repair is cosmetic, so insurance does not cover it. Cherry financing is available if you would like to pay over time.
Can earlobe repair be combined with a facelift or neck lift?
Yes. Many patients have their earlobes repaired during a facelift or neck lift, so the result looks complete from every angle.
When can I shower, exercise and swim after earlobe repair?
You may shower the day after. Strenuous exercise waits 1 to 2 weeks, and swimming waits 4 to 6 weeks.
Is earlobe repair the same as otoplasty?
No. Earlobe repair restores the soft lobe in the office under local anesthesia. Otoplasty reshapes the cartilage of ears that stick out and is done under general anesthesia.
Where can I get earlobe repair near me?
Earlobe repair is performed at our Reston, VA office, with consultations virtually, in Reston or in Chevy Chase, MD. We see patients from McLean, Great Falls, Vienna, Arlington, Alexandria, Washington DC, Bethesda and Potomac.