What is wrong with Nicole Kidman’s earlobes? Star’s stretched ‘bat ears’ alarm fans – as cosmetic surgery experts reveals what can cause the condition

It’s perhaps not an area most people first notice when looking at a celebrity on our screens – however, some famous faces’ ears are so noteworthy that they simply can’t be ignored.

Take for instance, Nicole Kidman. The Australian actress’ earlobes have caused a stir online after catching the attention of fans who have declared they can’t ‘stop staring at them’.

Some suggested that the 57-year-old’s eye-catching earlobes – that appear to look ‘stretched’ towards her face – could’ve been the result of plastic surgery.

But what causes this? According to plastic surgeon Mark Solomos, who appeared on Olivia Attwood’s ITV documentary Price of Perfection, Nicole’s features are ‘pixie’ or ‘bat ears’.

But she’s not the only star to appear to suffer with the issue – Tom Cruise, Katie Price and Demi Moore also might now have ‘bat ears’ due to rumoured cosmetic surgery.

‘The effect occurs when the earlobe is pulled downward, often revealing that a facelift has been performed,’ Mark told FEMAIL, adding how the issue is ‘typically a result of poor surgical technique’.

He also explained how ‘pixie ears’ are on the rise and becoming ‘more commonplace’ as facelifts become increasingly ‘normalised and accessible’. 

‘Once seen as invasive and primarily for women in their 50s and older, facelifts are now more openly discussed and accepted. In fact, there is a growing trend of individuals in their 40s opting for facelifts,’ added the expert.

Mark continued: ‘Additionally, as public awareness of cosmetic surgery grows, so does the ability to recognize signs of facelifts, particularly among celebrities. 

‘This shift reflects the evolving perception of cosmetic procedures as routine rather than taboo.’

The expert explained what causes ‘pixie ears’, saying: ‘In an ideal facelift, the deeper structures of the face are tightened, allowing the skin to sit naturally without excessive tension. 

‘If this process isn’t done correctly, the earlobe can be displaced, creating the pixie ear effect.

‘To prevent this, surgeons can anchor the ear in its correct position and ensure the procedure focuses on tightening the inner layers of the face rather than stretching the skin too tightly. 

‘However, when facelifts are performed poorly or with excessive tension, the likelihood of this complication increases.’

Cosmetic dermatology and facials specialist Dr Laura Geige told FEMAIL how ‘pixie ear deformity is a well known but often overlooked side effect of facelifts, occurring when excessive tension is placed on the skin during surgery’.

‘Rather than allowing the deeper support structures of the face to bear the weight of the lift, some techniques pull primarily on the skin itself,’ revealed the doctor. 

‘Over time, this tension can cause the earlobe to become stretched, elongated, or appear directly attached to the lower cheek, losing its natural separation.

‘This complication is more common in patients with thinner skin or poor elasticity, as their tissue lacks the resilience to withstand excessive pulling. 

‘It can also be seen when facelifts are performed without sufficient structural support, or when too much skin is removed, leaving no room for natural movement and settling. 

‘It is not uncommon for those who have undergone multiple facelifts to develop this issue, as repeated surgeries can gradually distort the earlobe’s natural contour.’

Dr Laura said: ‘Careful incision placement, conservative tension, and ensuring the earlobe remains free floating rather than tethered all help prevent this outcome. 

‘For those experiencing pixie ear deformity, correction is possible through minor surgical adjustments, often involving fat grafting or a small local revision to restore the natural shape.’

Dr Ducu Botoaca echoed this, insisting that pixie ears are a ‘tell-tale sign that someone has had a facelift, and it happens when too much tension is placed on the skin during surgery, pulling the earlobe downward and creating that elongated or attached look’.

Fans online are speculating that actress Nicole is suffering with this issue, with one person writing on Reddit: ‘Just started watching Lioness and I can’t stop staring at her earlobes. 

‘Is this a plastic surgery mishap thing or have I never noticed that they hang super low?’

‘Don’t ever look at them, you’ll never be able to see anything but earlobe again,’ another viewer warned.

Previously on X, formerly Twitter, one fan also pointed out Nicole’s earlobes – but insisted ‘To be fair, she’s perfect (give or take some American English dialect) so it doesn’t really matter.’

Someone speculated: ‘I just discovered this too! Do you think they’re stretched out from years of heavy earrings?’

‘Me too, from watching Lioness. It’s all I can see when she’s on screen. Googled to see if anyone else had noticed,’ another person wrote recently.

‘If you look at her earlobes of 20 years ago they were nothing like this. They were actually quite cute,’ one individual insisted in the comments, while another said: ‘Something happened to her earlobes for sure.’ 

The Babygirl star has previously credited healthy lifestyle choices as the secret behind her age-defying complexion.

In 2007, she denied undergoing cosmetic surgery and said her flawless skin was down to a healthy lifestyle.

‘To be honest, I am completely natural,’ she told Marie Claire at the time. ‘I wear sunscreen and I don’t smoke. I take care of myself. I’m very proud to say that.’

However, in 2011, she admitted to getting Botox during an interview with German magazine, TV Movie.

‘I’ve tried a lot of things, but aside from sports and good nutrition, most things don’t make a difference,’ she said.

‘I even tried Botox but I didn’t like how my face looked afterwards. Now I don’t use it any more and I can move my forehead again.’

Meanwhile, Tom Cruise addressed whether he’d had cosmetic surgery in an interview with Playboy in 2012, according to People.

‘I haven’t, and I never would’, he said, crediting his ‘youthful look’ to his healthy lifestyle instead.

Elsewhere, Demi Moore is rumoured to have undergone £250,000 worth of surgery, including having breast implants and her nose straightened, according to widespread reports that circulated in the early 2000s.

But she shut down the reports as nothing more than speculation, insisting in 2007 that she had ‘never’ had any cosmetic surgery.

Katie Price, however, has been candid about her use of cosmetic surgery, and only days ago shared an update with fans ahead of going under the knife once again in Turkey for ‘tweaks’ to her sixth £10K face lift.

The ex glamour model, 46, took to her Instagram Stories from her hospital bed on Friday and said she was ‘nice and calm’ moments before being wheeled to surgery

Katie flew to Turkey last summer to undergo the expensive procedure – at a time when a warrant was out for her arrest as part of her £760,000 bankruptcy case.

She’s now back at the clinic, joined by boyfriend JJ Slater, and explained to her followers the tweaks, which are believed to include pinning back her ears and undergoing a minor eye lift, were ‘needed’.

Ahead of surgery she said: ‘From my last surgery, there are just a few little bits that I want tweaking’.

‘Well, they need tweaking. So here I am getting ready. That’s the worst bit for me, the needle. The needle’s done so now I can relax.’ 

She later returned to her Instagram Stories dressed in a hotel gown to say: ‘Just to inform you all, I’m now going down for my operation. Nice and calm.’