Ear Surgery

Introduction

Ear surgery, or Otoplasty, is a procedure done to reshape the ears, reduce their size, or bring the ears closer to the head. A variety of ear problems can be corrected, including very small ears, ears missing natural folds, or very long earlobes. Surgery can also be done to re-create natural looking ears that are missing due to birth defects or injury.

Ideal Candidates

Unlike most plastic surgery, ear surgery is often done on children under eighteen. Ears are fully formed by age four, and surgery can be done at any time after this point. While the surgery can just as easily be performed on adults, early correction of ear problems can help avoid ridicule and embarrassment for children.

However, parents should not be over-eager to have the surgery performed on their children. If the child's ears are not causing the child any embarrassment, he or she may not be ready to accept surgery as a solution.

Ear surgery may also be done to repair tears resulting from ear piercing or injuries.

How It's Done

Ear surgery is generally performed on an outpatient basis in our surgery center. It is usually done under general anesthesia, particularly for younger patients. Local anesthesia combined with sedation may be used in some cases.

Even if only one ear is protruding or needs correction, surgery will usually be performed on both ears to create an even, natural result. The procedure will take two to three hours. A small incision is made behind the ear, and the cartilage is reshaped to correct the imperfection. Some cartilage may be removed as necessary to create a natural appearance. Sutures are generally used to hold the ear in its new position during healing. At this time, the surgeon may also shorten the ear lobe or perform other corrections as needed.

Recovery

Patients are usually out of bed and feeling better within a few hours after their surgery. Swelling and discomfort may be experienced for the first few days. Prescription medication will be given. The ear will be bandaged for the first day or two, and the patient will be asked to wear a headband, similar to a sweat band in appearance, for the first two weeks. The headband helps relieve any pressure on the ears, and also serves as a reminder not to touch the ears during this time.

Most patients can return to school or work within a week. We recommend avoiding strenuous exercise for three weeks. Patients should also be careful to avoid bending or jostling the ear until it is fully healed, about a month after surgery. During this time, it is best to avoid sleeping on either side, to avoid pressure on the ear.

There may be slight scarring after the procedure. Because the incision is made behind the ear, any scarring is usually not noticeable. Contrary to popular belief, ear surgery will not affect your hearing, or result in hearing loss. The incisions are made away from the inner ear.

Immediately after surgery, the ear may be pinned back more than desired. Over the first few weeks, the ear will generally relax as it heals, so the final result will be a normal looking ear.

Our patients find that ear surgery is a simple solution for an embarrassing problem. The procedure can vastly improve a patients' confidence, which can affect many areas of their lives.