Ear surgery (Otoplasty)

 


What Is Otoplasty?


Otoplasty is a cosmetic surgery procedure to change the appearance of a person's ears. Otoplasty can take many forms, such as bringing the ears closer to the head (often called ear pinning), reducing the size of very big ears, or reshaping various bends in the cartilage.


Who should consider Otoplasty
Anyone, including children with parental approval, who wishes to improve the appearance of their ears may be a candidate for otoplasty.

 
 Why do people choose Otoplasty?
Sometimes genetics deals a cruel hand and some ancestor passed on a gene that made us painfully self conscious about our ears.  Perhaps teased as a child because one or both ears were out of proportion for our face, otoplasty can help patients achieve a normal look to their ears and relieve the pain of past insult and regain one’s self confidence.  Otoplasty is also performed when a deformity is present reshaping the ear to give it as normal appearance as possible. 


What are the risks?
Otoplasty, like any other plastic surgery procedure, involves risks; however, with otoplasty, complications are usually minimal and is frequently performed as an office procedure. The risks or complications associated with both reconstructive and cosmetic ear surgery include: infection, blood clots, overcorrection, loosening of sutures and in an extremely rare case minor hearing loss.

 

What is the recovery period?
There will be some bruising and swelling for the first week and you should avoid strenuous activities or any sports that may damage the ear until it is completely healed.  The doctor will also have you buy and wear a head band to maintain compression on the ears for several weeks after the surgery.  You can usually go back to work within a few days but a full recovery takes approximately six weeks.  Most patients are thrilled with the final result.