Earlobe Repair Treatment Guide

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What is an Earlobe Repair?

Earlobe repair is a short in-office procedure that surgically closes a torn, stretched or gauged earlobe. The provider numbs the lobe with local anesthetic, trims the healed edges of the split or hole so the tissue can knit together, and closes it with fine sutures. It takes roughly 20 to 45 minutes per ear, you are awake the whole time, and you go home the same day. It is minor surgery under local anesthetic, not an operating-room procedure.

The price is per lobe, and that matters, because tears from heavy earrings and stretched gauges are often on both sides. Many practices discount the second lobe rather than charging twice, so ask how the quote works.

It is not otoplasty, which reshapes ear cartilage to pin back prominent ears at several times the price. And it is not earlobe filler, which plumps a thinned, crepey lobe with temporary dermal filler: a torn lobe needs surgery, a thin lobe may want filler. One more distinction worth knowing: a lump on the lobe after a piercing is usually a keloid, which is treated with injections, not repair.

How much does an Earlobe Repair cost?

Earlobe repair nationally typically costs between $500 and $750 per lobe.

One lobe

Simple tear or split

$500‑$750

Both lobes

Second side often discounted

$800‑$1,300

Gauge closure

More tissue removed, more involved

$700‑$1,000+ per lobe

Last updated August 2026. Estimates reflect national averages and Get Clear Beauty provider data — read how we estimate prices.

What to ask your provider

Is your quote per lobe or for both ears, and what does it include, sutures out, follow-up?
Who performs the repair, and how many earlobes do they close a year?
What will the lower edge of my lobe look like, how do you avoid a notch?
I have had a keloid or thick scar before, how does that change my plan?
When can I re-pierce, and will you place or direct the new piercing?
Is my repair a simple tear or a gauge closure, and how does that change the approach?

Frequently asked questions

How much does earlobe repair cost, and is that for one ear or both?

The price you see is for one earlobe. If both lobes need repair, expect the cost to be higher, though many practices discount the second side rather than charging full price twice. Ask the practice directly whether their quote is per lobe or per pair, and whether suture removal and follow-up visits are included.

When can I get my ears re-pierced after the repair?

Not right away. Your lobe needs to fully heal first, and providers commonly wait somewhere between six weeks and three months before re-piercing, with many preferring the longer end. Just as important is placement: the new piercing should sit away from the repair line rather than through it, so the scar is not put under tension. Have the provider who did the repair handle or direct the re-piercing.

Will there be a visible scar?

There will be a scar, but it is usually a fine line that becomes inconspicuous as it matures over several months. What patients notice most is the shape of the lobe's lower edge, since a small notch can form if the edges do not align perfectly. If you have ever formed a keloid or thick raised scar, tell your provider beforehand, earlobes are a common keloid site and they may plan preventive treatment.