[219fuller]

My daughter's earring piercing split through to the bottom of her earlobe, creating a 1/4" gash about a month ago. She just informed me about it, and unfortunately it has healed. What are her options? Can it still be stitched up after so long, or will she always have the split in her ear, rendering it impossible to wear earrings? Thank you.

[Alty]

A plastic surgeon should be able to cauterize the wound and then stitch it. This same thing happened to a friend of mine. Sadly for her, the wound kept re-opening, and she gave up. But that was 30 years ago. The things they can do now are much more impressive.

I'd talk to your family doctor first, see if there's anything he can do. If not, he can refer you to a plastic surgeon.

Good luck.

[tickle]

It will heal up by itself, left unattended. A plastic surgeon will not stitch it up. Wearing one earring may not be to a disadvantage. Could be she could be a trendsetter.

It will heal and she should be able to get another piercing.

[Alty]

Actually tickle, it won't heal by itself. My friends never did. And yes, a surgeon will stitch it up, as that's the only way to heal it. Again, that's what my friend did.

The lobe won't magically grow together after a tear. The OP either gets it stitched, or lives with it for life.

[tickle]

I have never seen them 'magically grow together'; I have seen them 'mend' through a simple healing process.