title: Earlobe Rejuvenation: A Fat Grafting Technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The earlobe demonstrates stereotypical signs of aging, including wrinkles and volume depletion.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  4 Therapeutic.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Plastic Surgery, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: Hongyang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pi
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Plastic Surgery, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Kurlander
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Plastic Surgery, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: Bahman
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guyuron
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000637:transplantation*; D000368:Aged; D004431:Ear, External / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012060:Rejuvenation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D015361:Rhytidoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D015595:Skin Aging; D016896:Treatment Outcome