Otoplasty – An Introduction

While the term otoplasty may be less familiar than other plastic surgery terms such as rhinoplasty, it is a useful surgery that you should know more about. Otoplasty is also known as ear surgery. This surgery doesn’t alter the interior of the ear or address hearing problems—instead it gives the ears a more natural and pleasing appearance.

Keep reading to learn more about otoplasty and find out who is a good candidate for the procedure.

Who should consider otoplasty?

Having ears that are stick out or are very large can detract from other features of your face and prevent you from looking your best. Even worse, having especially noticeable ears can leave young children subject to teasing, bullying, and ridicule by their peers. Being bullied and teased can significantly impact a child’s long term well being, self confidence, and academic performance, so it is wise to do what is possible to limit the chances of your child being bullied.

For this reason, otoplasty is often performed on children as young as 4 or 5 years old before they enter school. Otoplasty can also be performed on adults at almost any time.

What happens during the procedure?

An otoplasty procedure will be customized based on the patient’s particular needs, but in many cases, the surgery involves reshaping and removing some of the cartilage behind the hear. This results in ears that sit closer to the head, making them less obtrusive. If the ears need to be reshaped, this can also be done during the procedure. Because the incisions are made behind the ear where there is already a crease, scars are not noticeable.

What is the recovery process like?

This surgery is relatively quick and simple and is usually completed after an hour. After the surgery, the ears will need to be covered with special dressing for several days. Patients also usually need to sleep with dressing on the ears for an additional few weeks after the surgery to prevent any accidental damage during the healing process.

If you are concerned about the appearance of your ears, or if you are worried that your child may become subject to bullying because of obtrusive ears, consider otoplasty. To learn more about this procedure, schedule a consultation at Core Plastic Surgery.