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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People say “split” and “torn” to mean the same thing, a piercing that has given way, but clinically there is a useful
spectrum: a complete split (torn right through the edge), a partial tear (the hole has
elongated but not broken through), and a gauge-stretched lobe. All three are corrected with the same
minor day-case procedure (lobuloplasty) under local anaesthetic, but the technique differs with the type:
a straight closure, a small Z-plasty, or a wedge excision or flap. This guide explains how to tell which you have, how
each is treated, and the less obvious case of a split running up to where the lobe meets the face.
The Split-to-Torn Spectrum
Earring damage sits on a spectrum rather than in two neat boxes:
- Complete split (fully torn through): the piercing has torn right through the lower edge, leaving an open cleft. This is often sudden, from a snagged or pulled earring, or it is the end point of years of heavy-earring stretching.
- Partial tear or elongated hole: the hole has stretched downward into a long slit but has not broken through the rim. See fixing elongated piercing holes.
- Gauge-stretched: deliberate stretching with tunnels leaves a wide hole that will not shrink back, covered in reconstruction for gauged lobes.
In everyday use “split” tends to mean a complete tear and “torn” any of the above, but the repair plan depends on which one you actually have.
How to Tell Which Type You Have
A quick look in the mirror usually places you on the spectrum, though the surgeon confirms it at the consultation. As a
simple guide: if light passes right through a gap at the bottom of the lobe, the split is complete; if the
original piercing has drifted into a long teardrop slit but the rim is still intact, it is a partial tear;
and if you wore tunnels or plugs and are left with a wide ring of thin skin, the lobe is gauge-stretched.
It is common to have a mix, for example a partial tear that is on its way to splitting completely. The distinction matters
because, as below, it changes the closure the surgeon uses.
Splits Where the Lobe Meets the Face
Most earring tears are at the lower edge of the lobe. Less commonly the piercing sits high and the split
runs upward to where the earlobe joins the cheek. These higher splits are still repairable, but the join
with the face makes a tidy, well-contoured closure more demanding. This is exactly the kind of repair where a
consultant plastic surgeon’s technique, and a small geometric step where needed, matters most. If your
split is high on the lobe, point it out at the consultation so the closure is planned for that position.
How Treatment Differs by Type
All are day-case repairs under local anaesthetic, but the technique tracks the damage:
| Type | What the surgeon usually does |
|---|---|
| Complete split | A small Z-plasty rebuilds the rim and prevents a notch on the lower edge. |
| Partial / incomplete tear | A clean straight closure is usually enough. |
| Gauged or stretched over about 5 mm | A wedge excision or local flap reshapes the lobe so it is not left distorted. |
The full procedure, recovery, re-piercing and cost are in our
complete guide to split and stretched earlobe repair,
and the short answer on whether any of these can be fixed is in
can a split earlobe be repaired?
“Highly recommend this practice. I had a split earlobe repaired there.”
Cara L., verified Google review
Recovery Is the Same Whichever Type
Whatever the closure, recovery is quick and much the same. The repair takes around 30 minutes for a single lobe, you go
home the same day, and the outer stitches come out at about 10 days. Most people return to work straight away. The scar
settles to a fine line over the following months, and you can usually re-pierce, away from the scar, once the lobe has
fully matured at around three months.
“I had my split earlobe treated 4 weeks ago. Fast and efficient process, good communication about aftercare, and the
surgeon saw me two weeks later to remove the stitches and check all was ok, which was reassuring. Would recommend.”Carlie W., verified Google review
See more earlobe repair results on our Instagram,
follow @london.skin.clinic.
Common Questions
- Are “split” and “torn” earlobes the same thing?
- In everyday use, roughly. Clinically there is a spectrum: a complete split (torn through the edge), a partial tear (an elongated hole that has not broken through), and a gauge-stretched lobe. All are repairable, but the technique differs with the type.
- My earlobe is splitting where it meets my face. Can that be fixed?
- Yes. A split running up towards where the lobe joins the cheek is repairable; it just needs careful, well-contoured closure because of its position. Point it out at the consultation so the repair is planned for that spot.
- How do I know which type I have?
- A quick consultation settles it. The surgeon checks whether the split is complete or partial and how much the tissue has stretched, then explains which closure suits your lobe.
- Does a torn lobe cost more to repair than a split one?
- No. At London Skin Clinic the price is the same for the common types: £550 for one earlobe and £900 for both, with a £100 consultation. A very deformed, heavily gauged lobe that needs major reshaping is assessed individually.
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