Ear correction (Otoplasty)

Procedure: Prominent ears are brought closer to the head, or the size of big ears is reduced. Mostly performed on children 4 - 14 years old. (Sometimes covered by insurance.)

Duration: 2 to 3 hours.

Anaesthesia: Young children: usually general. Older children or adults: general or local with sedation.

In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient.

Side Effects: Temporary throbbing, aching, swelling, redness, numbness.

Risks: Infection of cartilage. Excessive scarring. Blood clot that may need to be drained. Mismatched or artificial-looking ears. Recurrence of the protrusion, requiring a second surgery.

Recuperation: Back to work or school: 5 to 7 days.

Strenuous activity, contact sports: 1 to 2 months.

Duration of Results: Usually permanent.

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If You're Considering Ear Surgery...
Ear surgery, or otoplasty, is usually performed to bring protruding ears closer to the head or to reduce big ears.
The procedure is mainly performed on children 4-14 years old. At age four, the ears are almost completely developed, and the earlier the operation, the less teasing and ridicule the child will have to experience. Ear surgery is also done on adults, and there are usually no additional risks linked to ear surgery for people of older age.
If you’re thinking of undergoing ear surgery, this information will give you general understanding of the procedure – when it can improve your appearance, how it’s done, and what outcomes may be expected. However, it can’t cover all questions you may have because many answers depend on the individual patient and the surgeon.

All Surgery Carries Some Uncertainty and Risk
When otoplasty is done by a qualified, skilled plastic surgery specialist, complications are rare and usually minor. However, as with any surgery, complications may occur.
In a small percentage of patients, a blood clot may form on the ear. Blood clots may disappear naturally or can be removed with a needle.
A common ear surgery complication is infection of the skin and in the cartilage, which may cause the formation of scar tissue. In such case, infections are generally treated with an antibiotic medication.

Planning For Surgery
Parents should be attentive to their child’s feelings about sticking out ears; don’t press for the surgery until your child wants it. Children who feel emotional discomfort about their ears and want the surgery usually cooperate more willingly before and after the procedure and are more satisfied with the results.
In the first consultation, the surgeon will evaluate the patient’s condition and recommend the most useful technique. You will also be given specific instructions on your preparation for surgery.

Types of Anaesthesia
For young children, otoplasty is usually performed under general anaesthesia, so the child will sleep during the surgery. For older children or adults, the surgeon may prefer to use local anaesthesia, with sedation, so you or your child will stay awake but relaxed.

The Surgery
Otoplasty normally takes about 2 to 3 hours, although complex procedures may last longer. The technique will depend on the problem.
One of the most often used techniques involves small cut in the back the ear to uncover the ear cartilage. Then the surgeon will reshape the cartilage and bend it back toward the head. To maintain the new shape, non-removable stitches may be used. Sometimes, a larger piece of cartilage will be removed to create a more natural-looking fold.
Another technique involves a similar incision in the back of the ear. Skin is removed and stitches are used to fold the cartilage back on itself to reshape the ear without removing cartilage.
In most cases, ear surgery will leave a faint scar in the back of the ear that will fade with time. Even when only one ear protrudes, surgery is usually performed on both ears for a better balance.

Getting Back to Normal
Adults and children can go home the evening after the surgery, although you may want to stay for the night in the hospital with your child to let the effects of general anaesthesia subside.
The patient will have to wear a bandage around the head directly after the surgery to help the ear heal and acquire the new shape. A little throbbing and aching in the ears, which may be felt for a few days, can be relieved by medication.
Within several days, the bandages will be replaced by a lighter head dressing. The surgeon will give you directions on how to wear this dressing, so be sure to follow them, especially at night.
Stitches are usually removed, or will fade themselves, in a week or so.
Care must be taken to avoid bending or pressing the ear for about a month. Most adult patients can return to work five days or so following the operation. Children can return to school after about a week.

Other Ear Problems
Besides protruding ears, there are many other ear problems that can be corrected with surgery. The deformities include: ‘lop ear’, when the tip seems to fold down and forward; ‘cupped ear’, which is usually a very small ear; and ‘shell ear’, when the curve in the outer rim, as well as the natural folds and creases, are missing. Surgery can also improve large or stretched earlobes, or lobes with large creases and wrinkles. Surgeons can even build new ears for those who were born without them or who lost them through injury.

More Natural-Looking Ears
Most patients are pleased with the results of otoplasty. But you should bear in mind that the aim is improvement, and not perfection. Don’t expect perfect symmetry in your ears – it is neither likely nor natural. If you’ve shared your expectations with the surgeon and discussed the chances of the procedure before the operation, you’ll be thrilled with the result.

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