It is not infrequent in my practice that young patients, often urged by their parents, change their minds about this gauging process and request closure of the large hole
Newport Beach, CA (PRWEB) May 23, 2015
Dr. David Benvenuti, an experienced plastic surgeon who practices in Newport Beach, California, has just posted a new article to his website that takes an in-depth look at ear gauge repair. As Dr Benvenuti explained in the fascinating blog, he has recently had several young patients who wear enlarged plugs in their earlobes.
Known as “gauging,” the technique involves placing larger and larger gauge earrings into the earlobe hole, which Dr. Benvenuti said will eventually stretch the holes out to incredible sizes. As the plastic surgeon noted in the new article, young people with ear gauges may end up with plugs that are the width of a wine cork or even a soda can.
The history of using progressively larger gauges to create often huge holes in the earlobes goes back to ancient times, the Orange County plastic surgeon explained. The gauge sizes start at 18, which is equivalent to 1.0mm, and increase in 1 to 2mm increments up to 2cm or more.
While gauging may be trendy, Dr. Benvenuti said it results in a deformity of the earlobe called ptosis.
“It is not infrequent in my practice that young patients, often urged by their parents, change their minds about this gauging process and request closure of the large hole,” he wrote, adding that reversing the gauging holes can be a complicated procedure.
For example, while reversing the size of the earrings can gradually reduce the hole, it will not completely reduce the overly-stretched earlobe tissues. In addition, Dr. Benvenuti wrote, the surgical techniques and flaps that have been designed to close the holes may actually make the earlobe longer and worsen the ptosis.
“A new self-inflicted earlobe defect (gauging) presents a reconstructive challenge,” he wrote. “A long pedicle-rotation flap allows shortening of the overlengthened earlobe with closure of the defect and minimal narrowing of the earlobe.”
Dr. Benvenuti then described how he was able to help a 21-year-old female patient with a 7-year history of enlarging ear piercings that resulted in a 3cm hole. The young woman stopped wearing earrings for 6 weeks before undergoing surgery.
“Under local anesthesia, the edges of the earlobe defect were freshened,” Dr. Benvenuti wrote, adding that a pedicle-rotation flap was then designed and based laterally.
About Dr. Benvenuti:
Dr. Benvenuti established his cosmetic surgery practice exclusively for plastic and reconstructive surgery in Newport Beach in 1983. An experienced and dedicated physician, Dr. Benvenuti has studied extensively with world experts in New York, Dallas, Honolulu, France, and Belgium and continues to incorporate their latest advances in plastic surgery techniques into his daily practice. For more information, please visit http://drbenvenuti.com/