Torn Ear Lobe Solutions, Monster Backs, Disc Backs and More

 

Do you have a ripped or torn ear lobe? Let me share Karen’s story. It might speak to you. Karen loved jewelry. So when I ran into her after three years of not seeing her, I totally noticed that she wasn’t wearing earrings.

My jeweler antenna started quivering. In what world would the vivacious Karen not wear earrings? Evidently the world where one ear lobe slowly ripped over time until a dance party and a heavy earring finished the job. Ouch.

I usually notice when a friend of mine or future client is not wearing earrings. It’s often because one ear lobe is torn Partially or fully.

Do You Have Ear Lobe Droop?

 Ear lobe droop is caused by earrings tipping forward until they’re facing downward.   Not only is this unattractive, it’s hard on your ears and ear holes. And one of the causes is ripped or enlarged ear holes.

A Torn Ear Lobe is A Huge Bummer

This totally limits your choices in which earrings to wear. Today I’ll be talking about possible solutions to get you back into your pretty earrings. Seriously you need to wear your earrings!

For the most part I’m talking about an ear lobe that is torn, but not all the way and is still usable. But this also addresses people with fully torn ear holes.

What Solutions Are You Using?

I’ve come across people who grew their hair to cover their lobes. I’ve seen people like Karen, who just quit wearing earrings! Don’t do that!

I saw a client who had used tape on the bottom  of her lobe to keep an earring high up. That was a good idea until it starts looking funky.

Let’s Talk About Torn Ear Lobes

My jewelry blogging purpose here is to get this out in the open. I mean the feelings of people with torn ear lobes. Why? Because not wearing earrings is not the solution! And believe me people don’t notice half the stuff you think they do.

A torn ear lobe does present problems and I’d like to offer some possible solutions. I’ll start with an article about the plastic surgery for stretched ear lobes, from ABC News. “Surgery Erases a Lifetime of of Heavy Earrings Stretching Your Earlobes.”

You might not be there yet. Whatever level of action you are ready for regarding slightly or fully torn ear holes let’s see if while you wait we can get you back into some earrings.

5 Bummers About Torn Ear Lobes

  1. A torn ear lobe gives no support to the earring, so it can tilt and give you “ear lobe droop.” 
  2. A torn ear lobe can make the un-pierced cringe if they see the tear.
  3. A torn ear lobe limits the styles of earrings you can wear successfully.
  4. A torn ear lobe may rip more if you put heavy earrings in it.
  5. A torn ear lobe seriously limits your choices of dangly earrings styles.

Six Possible Solutions to Torn Ear Lobes

  1. Have your jeweler move the post down lower so the earring design rides higher on your lobe and hides your torn ear lobe.
Earrings with the post in the middle

Moving the Post Lower Makes the Earrings Ride Higher, Hiding the Ear Hole.

2. To support your torn and weaker ear lobe area, use monster backs, plastic disc backs or Silicone Sliders, which provide support and take the weight of your earrings away from the bottom of your ear hole.

Monster backs and regular earring backs for comparison

Monster Backs are Larger and More Supportive

 

Plastic Disc Backs

Silicone Sliders

3. Get a plastic surgeon to repair it. By A) sewing it up or B) Sewing it up and adding filler.

4. Choose French Clip Backs with low-set posts. This makes the earring ride higher on your lobe. Traditional French Clip Backs have a post well below the top of the earring and a clip that takes the weight of the earring and holds it upright and pertly.

Clip and post make a French clip back.

A Post and Clip Makes a French Clip Back

5. If your post is too high, (in other words if it would totally sag on your ear because it is at the top of your earring, an iffy look even with a normal ear lobe.) lift your earring so the post is at the top of the ear hole and put on the monster back or plastic disc back tightly enough to hold the earring in place. Avoid wire backs, lever backs and drop earrings with tiny or wire tops that expose your ear hole to the full weight of the earring. More tearing can occur from these.

Lever back holding dangle earrings side view

Wire Backs Don’t Work With a Ripped Ear Lobe

6. Change the tops of your dangly earrings to larger ones that hide the tear when worn with monster or plastic disc backs. If you lift the post to the top of your ear hole and snug your backs in fairly tightly, your earrings will stay up high and not pull on the bottom of your tear. The new larger earring fronts will nicely balance the large backs in gently squeezing your ear lobe to hold your earring so it does not pull on the bottom of your ear hole.

Why You Must Wear Earrings!

Your eyes are the windows to the world. Earrings enhance the beauty of your eyes. You know you spend buckets of money and time on your hair. (I do!) Earrings enhance the gorgeousness of your hair too.

Jewelry is the spice of any outfit. Earrings frame your face and enhance your look beautifully. Don’t leave your most important beauty aid in a box!

What did Karen Do?

My client Karen chose monster backs for her ears and is now wearing earrings again! A visit to the plastic surgeon is on her wish list. But until then a combination of monster backs and choosing lighter weight and large at the top, earrings, is keeping her looking her vivacious gorgeous self. And happily my jeweler antenna is relaxed and happy.

What’s the Takeaway Message Here?

Wear It Don’t Warehouse It. It’s just a torn ear lobe, not a death sentence! Wear your earrings!!

Earring Loving Jeweler,
Calla Gold

See other posts in the Ear Lobe Series:

Ear Lobe Droop: Are Your Earrings Pointing Toward the Pavement?

Confessions From a Jewelry Designer: Do You Suffer From Droopy Dangly Earrings

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About Calla Gold

Calla Gold is a Personal Jeweler and Author who takes pride in working with clients one-on-one to integrate their personal sense of style and taste into custom designed jewelry and repaired jewelry pieces.   Unlike typical Santa Barbara jewelry businesses, Calla Gold has no brick-and-mortar location. Calla Gold comes to you, bringing you the jewelry collection you want to see and collaborating with you to create unique custom jewelry. Calla also works with at-a-distance clients.

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Tracey M.
Tracey M.
8 years ago

This is so in depth about torn ear lobes. It’s a tough subject, but one I’m not surprised that you wrote about!
I’m glad to read about monster backs and I already knew about disc backs.
The wonder bras for your ear lobes are a great idea. How do you find these things?
Anyway I like your comment about our eyes being the windows to the world and the importance of wearing earrings.
This is a good public service article and I hope a lot of people see it.

Peggy Jo Donahue
Peggy Jo Donahue
8 years ago

Excellent post, Calla, on a very important subject. Brava!

Susan McCauley
Susan McCauley
8 years ago

Thanks for the post, Calla. Some women have very small lobes. I’m one of them. I did pierce years ago but would have to put my posts high on the backs of earrings I made in order to make the earrings hang straight. Now, I can only get a post through one ear and it has to be a thin post. I did have the holes re-pierced but one still closed up. AND I should be wearing earrings since I love designing them. I’m waiting a bit before updating my site with new earrings and I am adding clips with… Read more »

Kerry
Kerry
8 years ago

I stumbled across these monster backs while searching the internet for a solution for droopy earrings. Calla Gold saved me!! I completed the entire ordering transaction via email, Calla and Jeremy were very responsive to my questions, and when the backs arrived, I was thrilled!! They fit my earrings perfectly and look great! I’m so happy to be able to wear my earrings.

Kerry

engelinah Kobit
engelinah Kobit
Reply to  Calla Gold
5 years ago

Hi Calla Gold,I just came across website and read about ear lopes,i have been hiding my left ear ever since i lost my ear lope due to an illness.My ear lope was then was removed and this is an embarrassment to me because everytime someone notices it,i get embarrased and this has killed my confidence too.When i finished my university i got a job and i tried to see a cosmetic surgen to try and fix it,but unfortunately it went from bad to worse,i cannot wear earings and please advice me on what to do.The surgen too some tissues from… Read more »

engelinah Kobit
engelinah Kobit
Reply to  Calla Gold
5 years ago

Hi Calla
Thanks for your reply and please if you sell those kind of earings is it possibles to order them from?

Narinjan Lamba
Narinjan Lamba
7 years ago

I am so pleased to hear that your monster backs
and the disc back and wonder bra.
Can you send this by mail i will appreciate for this. Wants to know the price first.
Thanks and Regards,
N. Lamba

Tanya
Tanya
7 years ago

Glad to come across this site! My ears were pierced when I was 6 months old and at the age of 12, I woke up one morning to find one of my earrings in my bed – and my left ear hole totally ripped. Since then, I’ve worn my hair long and been very self-conscious about my ears. I LOVE jewelry and have always wished I could wear earrings (especially with all of the interesting new styles lately), but have been limited to boring clip-on styles (which I often end up losing, as they easily fall off!). It’s great to… Read more »

Glendoria lebby
Glendoria lebby
7 years ago

Yes do I need any other product to go with my lobe wonder because my earlope are ripped completely in I would like to wear my earnings again

Sonia Rodriguez
Sonia Rodriguez
6 years ago

I would like to be referred to reasonable plastic surgeon for torn ear libes

Anne Dale
Anne Dale
5 years ago

Very informative post, thanks for sharing the solutions…

Greta James
Greta James
3 years ago

I am a huge fan that you point out that just because your earlobe got torn by a piercing does not mean you should stop wearing earrings! About a week ago, my sister was playing with her niece when her niece grabbed a hold of her dangling earing a tore it out. My sister is the kind of person who loves dressing up and wearing jewelry. I really hope she looks for local surgeons who could fix the tear.