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Ear Surgery
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Ear Surgery (Otoplasty)
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Reduction of Prominent Ears
Otoplasty, better known as ear surgery, is a cosmetic procedure to improve the appearance of the ears. Ear Surgery does not affect hearing and provides significant psychological benefits to anyone who is teased about ear size and/or shape. This procedure includes manipulating the cartilage of the ear and removal of excess skin behind the ear to produce a more balanced appearance to the ear. The process of setting protruding ears closer to the head is also referred to as Ear Pinning. Otoplasty may also be helpful in repairing the following:
- Abnormally Small Ears
- Large, stretched or torn earlobes
- Lop Ear
- Cauliflower Ear (resulting from repeated trauma) Earlobes with large creases and wrinkles
Otoplasty Procedure
Ear Surgery is an outpatient procedure lasting about 2 to 3 hours and is usually performed in our in-office AAAASF accredited surgical center under General anesthesia. The procedure begins with a small incision behind the ear. This incision will be made in the natural crease to minimize visible scarring. Once this incision is made, the cartilage is sculpted or bent to achieve the desired appearance. Some cases require skin removal in order to manipulate the cartilage properly and create a less protruding ear.
Once the ear has been sculpted, sutures are used to hold the ear in position and bandages cover the wound until healing is complete. Your doctor may choose to operate on both ears, even if only one is protruding, to provide symmetry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ear Surgery can be performed on any individual that is self-conscious about their ears, but it is typically performed on ages 5 to 14. The ears are usually fully developed by the age of 5-6, so corrective surgery at a young age can help improve self-confidence. This surgery has a long history of successful results and patients are usually extremely happy with the overall appearance of their new surgically altered ears. Patients must be in good general health and have realistic expectations for their end result.
Patients typically do not feel much pain after surgery, but there may be an achy or throbbing feeling for a few days. Medication may be prescribed to help alleviate any discomfort. A few days after surgery, the bandages are replaced with a elastic band that is worn for another 1-2 weeks. Patients are advised to avoid sleeping on their sides for 2 weeks after surgery. Normal, light activity may be resumed after one week while being mindful of the stitches still in place. There will be faint scars behind the ears once they have healed, but these will fade over time. Generally, these scars are virtually invisible due to their placement in the crease of the ear.
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