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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A stretched earlobe, whether from years of heavy earrings or deliberate gauging with flesh tunnels, will not shrink back on its own once the skin has been stretched past its recoil. Surgery is the only way to restore a normal lobe. At London Skin Clinic, stretched and gauged lobes are reconstructed by consultant plastic surgeons under local anaesthetic, the same day, in around 45 minutes. Here is how repair works, what depends on the size of the hole (the 5 mm rule), the cost (from £550), and re-piercing afterwards.
Why a Stretched Lobe Will Not Close Itself
Small fresh piercings can shrink, but once a lobe has been stretched beyond its elastic recoil, by heavy earrings over years or by gauging, the skin has permanently remodelled around the hole and will not close back. Waiting does not help. The good news is that reconstruction restores a natural lobe in a single visit, and how it is done depends mainly on the size of the hole. If you are still wearing tunnels and wondering whether to stop, the causes of earlobe stretching explain why the change is permanent.
How Stretched-Lobe Repair Works
Under local anaesthetic, the surgeon removes the thinned, scarred skin lining the stretched hole and rebuilds the lobe in layers, recreating a natural rounded lower edge. It is the same family of procedure as a split earlobe repair, but a wide gauged hole needs more tissue rearrangement. Full reconstruction detail is in reconstruction for gauged lobes and closing large earlobe holes.
The full split and stretched earlobe repair procedure at London Skin Clinic.
“Great price for my earlobe repair. Super friendly clinicians. Highly recommended.”
Grant M., verified Google review
What Depends on the Hole Size
- Under about 5 mm: usually closed directly, like a split.
- Over about 5 mm: needs 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 rather than just closing the gap.
Your surgeon confirms which applies to your ear, and how much natural lobe height can be preserved, at the consultation.
Before and After
Even a wide tunnel can be rebuilt into a natural-looking lobe. The example below shows a gauge-stretched lobe before and after reconstruction. The result is a normal-shaped lobe with a fine scar line, ready to re-pierce away from the scar once it has matured.
That first pair is taken early in recovery. Healing continues well beyond it: the lobe below is a gauged, tunnelled ear photographed before surgery and again between three and twelve months afterwards, once the scar has had time to settle.
Two cases from our clinic
A gradual stretch from heavy earrings. A woman in her 40s presented with a gradually enlarged piercing after years of heavy earrings. The lobe had stretched significantly but was not completely divided. The stretched tract was excised and the lobe reconstructed, restoring the natural contour and placing the repair under minimal tension. At follow-up the lobe had healed well, with a discreet scar and a much more natural shape.
A gauged lobe needing reconstruction. A patient in their 30s presented with a significantly enlarged lobe following previous gauging. This was not a simple split-lobe repair, because a substantial amount of the normal lobe architecture had been stretched. The enlarged tissue was reshaped and reconstructed to restore a more natural contour. Healing was uncomplicated, with progressive maturation of the scar over follow-up.
“Got my split earlobes fixed recently. London Skin Clinic was the best place I found and was good value for money.”
Leanne B., verified Google review
Cost and Re-piercing
Cost is £550 for one lobe and £900 for both (consultation £100); see earlobe repair cost. Many people ask about re-piercing afterwards, and that is usually possible once the lobe has fully matured (about three months), placed a couple of millimetres away from the scar; see re-piercing after repair. View the procedure · book a consultation.
Common Questions
- Will a stretched earlobe go back to normal on its own?
- No. Once stretched beyond its natural recoil, by heavy earrings or gauging, the lobe will not close back, and waiting does not help. Surgical reconstruction is the way to restore a normal lobe.
- 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.
- Can I re-pierce a reconstructed lobe?
- Usually yes, once it has fully healed (about three months), with the new piercing placed a couple of millimetres away from the scar on healthy tissue.
- How long does stretched-lobe repair take and is it painful?
- A single lobe takes around 45 minutes under local anaesthetic. You feel a brief sting as the anaesthetic goes in, then nothing during the repair, and most people need only simple pain relief for a day or two afterwards.
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