title: Laser surgery for traumatic incomplete earlobe clefts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Various scalpel surgeries have been described to correct earlobe clefts secondary to wearing earrings. Limitations include notching, scarring, and technical difficulty operating on a small surface.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report the development of a more rapid and less complicated method of using a laser to partially close an incomplete earlobe cleft.
  
  
  METHODS
  An Er:YAG laser was used to deepithelialize the anterior and posterior lower border of an incomplete earlobe cleft followed by suturing the anterior and posterior defect.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An excellent result was obtained which left the pierced hole in its original location.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This technique is simple to perform and has definite advantages over other methods currently in use.
authors.affiliation: Cosmetic and Laser Surgery Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Herbich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004431:Ear, External / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*