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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Stretched and gauged earlobes do not shrink back on their own, so if you are near
Hitchin or anywhere in Hertfordshire and want a gauged lobe restored, surgery is the way to do it.
At London Skin Clinic, a consultant plastic surgeon rebuilds the lobe under local anaesthetic as a same-day procedure,
in around 30 minutes for a single lobe. The cost is £550 for one earlobe and £900 for both
(consultation £100), and you do not need a GP referral. Here is how gauge repair works and how to reach us.
What Gauge and Stretched-Lobe Repair Is
Gauge ear surgery, a form of lobuloplasty, is a minor procedure that rebuilds an earlobe left with a wide hole after
wearing tunnels or plugs, or after years of heavy earrings. The thinned, scarred skin lining the hole is removed and the
lobe is reconstructed into a natural rounded shape. It is the same family of repair as a
split earlobe repair, with
more tissue rearrangement for a wide gauge. Full detail is in
reconstruction for gauged lobes
and closing large earlobe holes.
Why a Gauged Lobe Will Not Close Itself
Once a lobe has been stretched beyond its elastic recoil, the skin has permanently remodelled around the hole and will
not shrink back, however long you leave the tunnels out. Waiting does not help. Reconstruction is the only way to restore
a normal lobe, and the good news is it is done in a single visit. How it is done depends mainly on the size of the hole,
as explained in our stretched earlobe repair guide.
How the Reconstruction Works
Under local anaesthetic, with the lobe fully numbed, the technique tracks the size of the hole:
- Under about 5 mm: usually closed directly, like a split.
- Over about 5 mm: a wedge excision or local flap so the lobe is not left distorted.
- Very deformed, heavily gauged lobes: a local flap rebuilds the lobe’s shape, preserving as much natural lobe height as possible.
Your surgeon confirms which applies to your ear at the consultation.
“Dr Alamouti expertly repaired my split earlobe. Recovery was easy. I have recommended London Skin Clinic to
another family member and have been completely satisfied with them.”A verified Google reviewer, verified Google review
Getting Here from Hitchin and Hertfordshire
Treatment is at our clinic at 101 Harley Street in central London. It is an easy journey from Hitchin
and across Hertfordshire: direct trains from Hitchin reach London King’s Cross in around 35 minutes, and Harley Street is
a short Underground or taxi hop away. Because the procedure uses local anaesthetic with no sedation, you can travel to and
from your appointment the same day, and you do not need a GP referral to book a consultation.
“I recently had a split earlobe repair and I must say, I have been super impressed with London Skin Clinic from the
outset. The team was friendly and efficient about the process and pricing.”Selda M., verified Google review
Cost, Recovery and Re-piercing
- Consultation: £100
- Single earlobe repair: £550
- Both earlobes: £900
Recovery is quick: most people return to normal activities straight away, outer stitches come out at about 10 days, and
the scar settles to a fine line over the following months. You can usually re-pierce once the lobe has fully matured at
around three months, placed away from the scar; see
re-piercing after repair.
View the procedure ·
see repair cost ·
book a consultation.
Common Questions
- Is my gauged hole too big to repair?
- Almost certainly not. Holes under about 5 mm usually close directly; larger ones are rebuilt with a wedge or flap, and even heavily gauged lobes can be reconstructed. The bigger the hole, the more reshaping is involved.
- Do I need a GP referral?
- No. You can book a consultation directly. The surgeon assesses the lobe and explains the reconstruction and cost at that visit.
- Where does the surgery take place?
- At our clinic at 101 Harley Street in central London, easily reached from Hitchin and across Hertfordshire (direct trains from Hitchin to King’s Cross take around 35 minutes). It is a day-case procedure under local anaesthetic.
- Can I re-pierce a reconstructed lobe?
- Usually yes, once it has fully healed at around three months, with the new piercing placed a couple of millimetres away from the scar on healthy tissue.
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