Pixie Ear Correction

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in Pixie ear correction surgery. I had a facelift done two years ago and my earlobes have gotten longer as you can see in the attached pictures.How extensive is the corrective surgery and since I scare easily, will it take long to heal? Thank you for your time with this matter.

A: Thank you for sending your picture. Pixie ear correction surgery can be done by two different methods. The ‘simple’ method is a direct release of the earlobe from the side of the face with reshaping of the earlobe (shortening) and closure. This can be done in the office under local anesthesia. This will, however, leave a vertical scar line running below the newly shortened and reshaped earlobe.

The ‘complex’ way is to redo part of your lower facelift and get the earlobe shortened and the facial skin advanced up under it. This is the scarless way but requires a limited facelift approach under Iv sedation or general anesthesia. Whether thus would be effective would be based on his loose your facial skin is now and how much it will mobilize when undermined again. 

While most patients would like the results of the complex approach better, they really only want to undergo the simpler approach.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana