Lobe surgery ‘reduces signs of ageing’

Women are having cosmetic surgery on their earlobes to reduce the signs of ageing, reports the Guardian.

According to the newspaper, New York surgeons have announced there has been an increase in lobe surgery, especially among women who like wearing heavy earrings.

"If someone’s having a facelift, I’ll say it’s a good time to get their lobes done too," said Wendy Lewis, a cosmetic surgery adviser. "I call them ‘granny lobes’ because my grandmother had these long earlobes than can be very ageing."

Dr Rita Rakus, who specialises in non-surgical cosmetic treatments, told the newspaper that lobe plumping is becoming a popular procedure, as it can make women look younger.

She claimed patients choosing this enhancement often wear their hair back and are therefore more bothered by the appearance of their ears.

UK cosmetic surgery patients spent more money on face and neck enhancements than any other area of their body during 2006, a Mintel survey has found.

Jenny Caitlin, market analyst at the firm, attributed the figure to the fact that the face is the "key focal point" of appearance and also the most-affected by the ageing process.