Repairing stretched earlobes (or flesh tunnels) is now one of the fastest growing forms of cosmetic surgery in the UK.
Surgery to repair flesh tunnels involves removing the stretched area of skin, then sewing the remaining flesh back together in order to create a more natural-shaped ear.
Cosmetic surgeon Adrian Richards told The Guardian newspaper he sees ‘at least 10 new patients a month’ for the operation.
“There’s a lot of negativity around about ear-stretching,” he says.
“We recently treated a golf professional who was joining the Professional Golfers’ Association. They wouldn’t let him join with stretched ears.
“I’ve treated a man who was in a punk band but then became a teacher and needed his ears repaired.”
The procedure, which usually takes around 30 minutes to complete, is performed under local anaesthetic.
Are you a surgeon who has noticed this trend? Tweet us your thoughts @thsjournal
