Split Earlobe Repair

Chandelier earrings are back in! They certainly are very pretty, but is it really all that wise to subject our poor earlobes to such pressure?  This little square centimetre of skin has been the bearer of heavy loads or adornment  through the centuries.  Earlobes tend to enlarge and sag with age naturally, and unfortunately, Dynasty-style earrings don't help much.

At Aesthetic Virtue, we are seeing more and more people coming to us for repair of torn or split earlobes. Most of the time the split earlobe occurs sue to the prolonged use of very heavy earrings.  What happens is the weight of the earring slowly cheese wires itself through the earlobe flesh, finally causing a rent.  As this is a very gradual process, most of the time , this is not painful and there is very little associated bleeding if at all.  It can also occur sure to traumatic tearing, such as if a child forcefully grabs onto an earring.

Simple split earlobes are very easily repaired at Aesthetic Virtue. After a thorough consultation, our surgeon, Dr Raina Zarb Adami, numbs the area with local anaesthetic and makes a small incision to be able to sew the split surfaces back together with stitches. The procedure takes around 20 minutes, and is done on an out-patient basis. We advise leaving at least 6 weeks before re-peircing the ear.  A 3 month wait is ideal. The surgeon will then re-pierce the ear herself, to minimise the chance  of the earlobe re-splitting.

There has recently been a trend in enlarging earring holes. The earlobe's capability of stretching is impressive. However, on many an occasion, these individuals seek to reduce this earlobe enlargement and restore it to its original size and appearance. This surgical procedure is a little more complex and may take slightly longer, but it can also be done as an out-patient.

The Daily Mail , as usual, has plenty to say about enlarging and split earlobes, and their repair.

Dynasty-style-chandelier-earrings

Rise of earlobe repair procedures

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Split earlobe repair is one of the commonest procedures carried out at Aesthetic Virtue in London's Harley Street. Split earlobe repair procedures start at £350.  As we pride ourselves in excellent patient care at every level, we make it a point to ensure the patient journey is as smooth, comprehensive and as enjoyable as possible. The follow-up appointment and ear re-piercing is therefore complimentary following the procedure.

Should you be concerned at all about you enlarged or split earlobes, please do give us a call on 0207 436 0460

Skin Care

We don't normally associate the smell of sunscreen with London, but isn't it lovely to sniff the smell of summer right over here. And many of us didn't even need to seek out a beach to lap up some sunshine. Clearly, the Brits heed the sunscreen advice. However, many of us aspire to be bronzed beauties. There is no such thing as a healthy tan. It is a myth, and the predecessor to skin cancer. And we do get a sufficient dose of Vitamin D without having to revert to sun worshiping. Never be frugal with your sunscreen. A good rule of thumb is a teaspoon on the face, and a shot glass to the body. Recent studies show that the SPF factor plays a smaller part than originally thought. It is important to apply the protection in a relatively thick layer without rubbing it in too much, and replacing it every couple of hours or so. An SPF of 20 should suffice.

We all know about the sun and its deadly link to skin cancers. How many of us know that sun exposure is the lead cause of facial and skin ageing? Excessive exposure leads to patchy hyperpigmentation, ageing spots, and the acceleration of the development of lines and wrinkles. This is due to increased DNA and cellular damage.

But what if you already suffer from hyperpigmentation and fine lines and wrinkles? The good news is something can be done about it. At Aesthetic Virtue, a thorough consultation with the doctor will highlight the cause of the problem and a management plan will be decided together to treat the problem and prevent its return. Generally such treatments consist of a series of face creams and chemical peels. At aesthetic Virtue, we employ the use of the current gold standard, the Obagi Nu-Derm system. This treatment regime provides long lasting results while improving hyper pigmentation, age spots and replenishing the skin's healthy glow, appearance and condition. As the skin is a very dynamic organ responding to both internal (hormonal and other) stimuli as well as its external environment, treatment needs to be maintained over a few months. Improvement general starts within about 2 weeks, and at 6 weeks results are already apparent.

For those wanting quicker results, or an instant glow, the Obagi Radiance peel is a brilliant alternative. It can also be used as an event peel, to give your skin that beautiful glowing appearance. It is best done one or two days before the event.

Excessive Sweating

It really is summer here in London, and it's not just for a day.  Aren't we lucky?  However, this may be the cause for concern for some of us who are prone to sweating a little more than others.  Wet armpit patches on our clothes may mean we cannot remove the jacket and let our bare arms out.

Excessive sweating (or hyperhidrosis, as we medics refer to it) is commoner than you think.  Very often, conventional over-the-counter solutions have been used with no real effect. Fortunately, a safe and effective procedure can be carried out in the doctor's office to combat this problem, with minimal ensuing discomfort. Hyperhidrosis can be treated with botox.

We think of Botulinum toxin as a facial wrinkle terminator.  Botox however, it is also used to block the release of sweat from the glands onto the skin.  The intervention is quick and relatively painless. Numbing cream is applied to the area to be treated followed by about 5 minutes of successive superficial injections with a very fine needle. Most commonly this botox treatment involves the armpits, but the plans of the hands or soles of the feet can be treated too.

So those unsightly sweaty armpits can now be banished very effectively and safely in a minimally invasive manner, with little disruption to your day.   So here's to summer (and plenty of sunscreen of course!!)

Check our google page +Aesthetic Virtue  and our website www.aesthetic-virtue.co.uk