We cannot choose the ears that we are born with and anyone who grew up with protruding ears knows of the effect it can have on your self-esteem. If you feel that your ears stand out too far from the head or that your ears are too large in proportion to your head, otoplasty could offer a solution. Otoplasty, also known as cosmetic ear surgery, is a procedure that is able to alter the shape and size of a patient’s ears and can also adjust their positioning. Many patients opt for otoplasty to pin back protruding ears, but this is far from the only application of cosmetic ear surgery.
Why Choose Otoplasty Surgery?
As we’ve mentioned, cosmetic ear surgery can be effective in reducing the size of the ears and pinning back prominent ears. Otoplasty can also be used to address misshapen ears, whether the cause is a birth defect or previous injury. Otoplasty is typically performed on both ears to maintain symmetry. The procedure will not change the location of the ears and only alters the positioning. This procedure will not affect a patient’s ability to hear as the focus is on the external structure of the ear.
Who can Benefit from Otoplasty?
Ear surgery is commonly performed on young children or teenagers, however, the surgery cannot be performed on children younger than 5 years. This is because the ears of children this young are still developing and the cartilage are too soft for surgery. Otoplasty can also be performed on adults and on patients that were dissatisfied with cosmetic ear surgery received in the past.
Otoplasty Procedure
Otoplasty can be performed using a local anaesthetic or general anaesthesia and typically takes between 1 and 2 hours to complete. There are different techniques that a surgeon could use, depending on the type of modification and expected results. An incision is made on either the back of the ear or on the creases of the ear. Your surgeon will use the incision as an entry point to remove excess cartilage and skin where needed. They will then tuck the ear into the desired position and secure it in place with stitches.
Recovery Period
Patients may be required to wear a bandage around their heads to protect the surgery site for about a week. They might also have to wear a headband while they sleep for a number of weeks after surgery. The area around the incisions will be tender for a while and painkillers will be prescribed to mitigate any pain. After 7 to 10 days, children are generally able to return to school. Strenuous activities and swimming should be avoided for at least 4 weeks and patients can resume contact sports after 12 weeks.
Centurion Cosmetic Clinic is dedicated to providing quality care and exceptional results to all of our patients! Contact us today for more information on any of our procedures or to book a consultation.