Earlobe Rejuvenation: A Fat Grafting Technique

BACKGROUND: The earlobe demonstrates stereotypical signs of aging, including wrinkles and volume depletion. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to review the outcome of the earlobe rejuvenation developed by the senior author. METHODS: We describe our earlobe rejuvenation technique refined over 10 years that uses fat grafting to the earlobe. Three raters assessed preoperative and postoperative photographs of 40 earlobes in 20 patients. Each earlobe was evaluated for volume deficiency, number of deep creases, depth of creases, and number of fine wrinkles. Inter-rater reliability was calculated. Earlobe length was also measured. RESULTS: Seventeen females and 3 males with average age of 63 years were followed for an average of 26 months. Postoperative improvements were observed in earlobe volume deficiency and number of fine wrinkles (P < .05). Improvements were seen in number and depth of creases and the earlobe height, but these were not significant (P > .05). No complications relating to the earlobe were observed in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: Fat grafting can be an effective means for earlobe rejuvenation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Therapeutic.