Mr. Onur Gilleard
Qualifications & Experience
Mr Onur Gilleard is a distinguished consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC specialist register. He previously held an NHS consultant post at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, specialising in skin cancer and microsurgical reconstruction. In 2021, Mr Gilleard transitioned from the NHS to dedicate himself fully to private practice, allowing him to focus exclusively on providing personalised, high-quality care to his patients. He is recognised as an expert in laser treatments, having conducted research and developed advanced treatment protocols using cutting-edge laser technology to optimise both clinical outcomes and cosmetic results.
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For most people, yes: split earlobe repair is a small, low-risk, same-day procedure that permanently
restores a normal-looking lobe, so the value is high relative to the cost (£550 for one earlobe, £900 for both, after a
£100 consultation). The real question is not whether to have it done, but who does it, because a cheap
repair that leaves a notch or re-tears ends up costing more. Here is how to judge whether it is worth it for you, and how
to avoid paying twice.
What “Worth It” Really Means Here
A split or stretched earlobe does not heal on its own, so the choice is between living with it (or hiding it behind
hair and earring backs) and a one-off repair that fixes it for good. The procedure is genuinely minor: around 30 minutes
under local anaesthetic, no general anaesthetic, no hospital stay, and most people are back to normal the same day. For a
one-time fee that restores a lobe you see every day in the mirror, and lets you wear earrings again once re-pierced, most
patients feel the value is clear. The full price breakdown is in our
guide to split earlobe repair cost.
Why the Cheapest Repair Can Cost the Most
The earlobe is small and always on show, so a poor repair is hard to hide. The commonest problems with a rushed or
non-specialist repair are a notch on the lower edge, a thick scar, or a
re-tear. Putting any of these right means a second procedure, so the lowest quote often turns into the
most expensive route once a revision
is added. Reassuringly, revision of a repair we performed is free of charge; a revision of work done elsewhere is priced
as a standard repair. The image below shows a notch from a previous repair, corrected at a revision.
“I had a split earlobe repaired at this clinic. Straightforward process, decent price, the results are great and I
felt completely at ease.”Louai B., verified Google review
How to Judge Value
The repair is worth it when it is done well the first time. The things that protect your money:
- A consultant plastic surgeon who is GMC-registered, not a non-surgeon at a high-street studio, so the lobe edge is rebuilt correctly with a geometric step where needed.
- Experience and volume: London Skin Clinic performs around 500 earlobe repairs a year, with a re-tear rate of about 0.5% across roughly 1,000 repairs.
- A sterile, medical setting on Harley Street, which lowers the risk of infection and a poor scar.
- Realistic expectations: the aim is a natural-looking lobe with a fine scar line, not an invisible one. A clinic that promises perfection is overselling.
How the surgeon chooses the right technique for your lobe, and what recovery looks like, is set out in the
complete earlobe repair guide.
When It Might Not Be Worth It Yet
A repair is best timed well. If the piercing is currently infected or inflamed, that is settled first.
If only one lobe is torn and a difference is not noticeable, there is usually no need to operate on the healthy lobe just
for symmetry. And if your lobe is only partially stretched and not bothering you, it is reasonable to wait, as long as you
avoid heavy earrings that would worsen it. A consultation is the simplest way to find out whether repair is worth it for
your particular lobe; you are never under any obligation to proceed.
Common Questions
- Is split earlobe repair worth it?
- For most people, yes. It is a small, low-risk, same-day procedure that permanently restores a normal-looking lobe and lets you wear earrings again, for a one-off fee of £550 for one earlobe or £900 for both. The key to value is having it done well the first time by a consultant plastic surgeon.
- Why should I not just choose the cheapest repair?
- Because the earlobe is small and visible, a poor repair that leaves a notch, a thick scar or a re-tear is obvious and needs a second procedure to fix, so the cheapest quote often becomes the most expensive once a revision is added.
- Does the repair last?
- Yes. Once fully healed the lobe is strong; across roughly 1,000 repairs at our clinic only about 5 have re-torn, a rate of around 0.5%. A repeat tear usually comes from going back to heavy earrings or re-piercing through the scar too soon, not the repair itself.
- What result can I realistically expect?
- A natural-looking lobe with a fine scar line, not an invisible one. The aim is a lobe that looks normal and can hold an earring again once re-pierced away from the scar.
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