It is not uncommon for earlobes to elongate with aging.

Frequently a facelift patient may have earlobes that are large either from heredity or from aging. There is, however, a very effective operation to contour the earlobes to make them smaller and therefore appear more youthful and be more compatible with their younger looking face.

It is also not uncommon after traditional facelifts for earlobes to appear to be “pulled down“ or attached to the skin of the face -  a recognizable tipoff of previous facelift surgery. This deformity can be easily corrected during a second facelift.

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Problem – Earlobe Displacement

Everyone seems to know the ear often betrays a facelift. Pulled-down earlobes may happen at the time of the original procedure, or can develop with time. The most dramatic distortion has been called “the pixie ear.”

Natural contour can usually be restored, but this is often difficult. The earlobe is often not distorted, but simply pulled forward — a tip-off to a facelift.

Click the images or arrows to see how these distortions can be repaired.

Problem – Earlobe Displacement

Everyone seems to know that it is the ear that often betrays a facelift.

Pulled-down earlobes may happen at the time of the original procedure, or can develop with time. The most dramatic of these distortions has been called “the pixie ear.”

The natural contour of the earlobe can usually be restored, but this is often difficult. Often the earlobe is not distorted, but simply pulled forward, another tip-off that a facelift has been done.

Problem – Earlobe Displacement

Everyone seems to know that it is the ear that often betrays a facelift.

Pulled-down earlobes may happen at the time of the original procedure, or can develop with time. The most dramatic of these distortions has been called “the pixie ear.”

The natural contour of the earlobe can usually be restored, but this is often difficult. Often the earlobe is not distorted, but simply pulled forward, another tip-off that a facelift has been done.

Problem – Earlobe Displacement

This "pixie ear" distortion has been corrected and a more natural contour of the earlobe has been restored in this patient.