Most people are familiar with the various facial plastic surgery procedures that can be performed. Of the “lifting” procedures are the following:
-Eyelid lift (eye lift or blepharoplasty)
-Mid-face lift (cheek lift)
-Lower face lift
-Neck lift (platysmaplsty)
There is another lifting procedure that is less commonly discussed, but can create an incredible transformation within the face, and that is the ear lift. As people age, the ears can begin to appear distorted and too lengthy on the side of the head. This is due to the breakdown in the skin’s framework cells along with the effects of gravity. The result is the skin hangs lower than it once did. The length of the ears can be exacerbated if a person has worn earrings throughout their life. Additionally, as people age, they tend to wear their hair in shorter styles, which can also draw unwanted attention to the ears.
An ear lift can be performed different ways, which allows patients to have a preference for the method used to treat their ears. The procedure can be either surgical or non-surgical. Typically, just the earlobes are transformed.
During a non-surgical ear lift, the lobes are injected with a dermal filler, such as Restylane or Juvederm, to plump deflated areas of skin, and to give the appearance of a lift. The increase in volume restores youth to these prominent features. Juvederm injections must be repeated, on average, every six to nine months in order for the ears to maintain the desired appearance. If a patient wishes for a more permanent fix, the length of the earlobe can instead be trimmed so the overall measurement of the ear is lessened. This fix may initially be more costly upfront, but the procedure will likely only need to be performed once. Repeating a series of injections will add up in cost over time.
An ear lift can be performed alongside a face lift, mid-face lift, or any other facial plastic surgery procedure aimed at correcting signs of aging.
Contact Ran Y. Rubinstein, MD if you have an interest in facial cosmetic procedures. Dr. Rubinstein specializes in all areas of the face. His expertise is reflected by a dual board certification through the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. The doctor provides his patients with great looking results and can correct any functional issues of the head and neck. Call 845-863-1772 or fill out a contact form.
