Listen Up! Are Your Earrings Sabotaging Your Beauty?
Stop letting your Earlobes let you down. Dr. Anil Shah Shares How to Prevent and Protect the Price of Glamor.
“Darling years of glamor will drag you down,” purred the six foot female impersonator, dressed as Liz Taylor, gesturing towards the pair of ballroom sized chandelier earrings dangling heavily from my perky teenage earlobes.
Did the warning that limp lobes would be the price to pay for the sin of vanity literally go in one one ear and out the other? You bet.
And now we’re here…. So many glamorous years later… diamonds have finally done me in and the bill has come due. The once nearly imperceptible piercings in my ears are beginning to morph into little vertical slits.
Damn the Torpedoes
Where there’s a will there’s a way… so put this article down now if you think I’m going to suggest something so drastic and austere as giving up earrings.
No way…
Shakespeare wrote: ‘Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.’
I say: ‘Tiffany, Cartier, Harry Winston lend me your Ear(rings).
As Harry Winston said: People will stare. Make it worth their while.
Don’t Stop Wearing Earrings - Get Earlobe Savvy
Stopping the downward trend is as simple as using an earring booster, like Lobe Wonder from Kendra Scott - a simple adhesive patch you stick to the back of your earlobe before putting on your earrings. The transparent pea-size patch serves as a kind of ‘scaffolding’ to help distribute the weight of earrings and keep ear baubles in place looking perky and perfect all day.
A non-disposable option are Earring Lifters, metal sets that consist of a round disk you slide onto the post of the earring, with an almost comically sized earring back. They come in silver or gold. They work.
I’ve road tested both options and give them 5 stars.
If you’ve already paid the heavy price of glamor and you need surgical intervention - step right this way for some expert advice from Dr. Anil Shah leading facial plastic surgeon and founder of Shah Facial Plastics and Noses and Necks NYC.
Listen Up
Dr. Anil Shah, is exposing a hidden culprit in the beauty world: the long-term damage caused by heavy earrings.
Earlobes may seem like small players in your beauty routine, but they’re surprisingly delicate. Without bones or ligaments for support, they’re highly prone to stretching, which can lead to visible aging and discomfort.
“Your earlobes are more fragile than you think,” says Dr. Shah.
“But with the right habits, you can avoid pain and stretching, and
save yourself from surgery down the road.”
Dr. Shah has even developed an easy way to assess whether your earlobes might be too long: the ‘Ear Flip Test.’ Simply look in the mirror, flip your earlobe upward, and see if it reaches more than halfway up your ear. If it does, it’s likely time to address elongation concerns.
Dr. Shah explains how to spot the signs your earrings might be too heavy and shares expert tips to keep your lobes healthy while still rocking your favorite accessories:
How to Spot Trouble: If your earrings pull your earlobes downward, tilt forward, or cause redness and tenderness, they’re likely too heavy.
Why It Matters: Heavy earrings stretch the collagen and elasticity in your lobes, leading to long-term deformation, aged appearance, and even tearing. This not only alters your earlobes but can also age your overall appearance.
Expert Hacks: Shorter wear times, lighter materials, and supportive backings, that distribute weight more evenly, can help prevent damage - while keeping you stylish.
Follow this Advice and you can continue to breakfast like Audrey…
Already dealing with stretched lobes?
There are effective solutions to restore their shape and youthfulness. Since earlobes are primarily composed of soft fat, softer hyaluronic acid-based fillers like Restylane Kysse® are ideal for replenishing lost volume. Unlike thicker fillers, which can weigh earlobes down and exacerbate the problem, these soft fillers provide natural-looking results. Patients can even wear earrings immediately after the procedure. With fillers, you can expect up to a 15% reduction in ear length, helping earlobes appear more youthful and proportionate. For more severe cases, surgical earlobe reductions are a quick and virtually painless solution. Performed under local anesthesia, these procedures are often completed in under an hour—perfect for a ‘lunchtime fix.’ Scars are strategically placed at the back of the earlobe or over the piercing site, ensuring they remain discreet.
“Preventative measures are always best,” says Dr. Shah.
“Avoid heavy earrings now to avoid surgery later.”
We’re all on mission here at Haute Mess - Dr. Shah is here to help educate and empower health and glamor all over the planet. Whether you’re a fan of bold statement pieces or everyday studs, knowing how to protect your lobes can make all the difference so you can continue to sparkle…
Love the article
I won’t wear any earrings that weigh for grams and up. Nothing with too much swing either.