There is no set age for earlobe repair, and it can be recommended to patients of all ages. Some young patients come in for gauge repair between the ages of 18 and 30 when they are in a different phase of life or starting a new career, while older patients may need earlobe reconstruction as the skin begins to sag and the earlobes become stretched and droopy. Children whose earlobes are deformed due to a birth defect or trauma can usually undergo the procedure as soon as their ears stop growing—around the age of seven. If the surgery is done prior to this age, the ears continue to grow and the results may become distorted. Ear surgeries, including otoplasty, must be postponed until the ears are fully mature.