title: Laser earlobe revision.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Earlobe tears and disfigurement often result from prolonged pierced earring use and trauma. They are a common cosmetic complaint for which surgical reconstruction has often been advocated.
  
  
  METHODS
  A series of 10 patients with earlobe tears or disfigurement treated using straight-line closure, carbon dioxide (CO2 ) laser ablation, or both are described. A succinct literature review of torn earlobe repair is provided.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Successful repair with excellent cosmesis of torn and disfigured earlobes was obtained after straight-line surgical closure, CO2 laser ablation, or both.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A minimally invasive earlobe repair technique that involves concomitant surgical closure and CO2 laser skin vaporization produces excellent cosmetic results for torn or disfigured earlobes.
authors.affiliation: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA.
authors.forename: Parisa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ravanfar
authors.forename: Tina S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Alster
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D004431:Ear, External / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012086:Reoperation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide