Insecure About Your Ears?: How Otoplasty Can Help

January 8th, 2016 | Posted in: Cosmetic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Uncategorized | Tags: cosmetic surgery, otoplasty, Plastic Surgery

Growing up can be tough. More often than not, it can be especially difficult for children who have a physical feature that draws unwanted and unkind attention. Protruding ears and ears that are abnormal in shape or size are prime examples. Children who have abnormal ears are often subject to teasing, bullying, and cruel nicknames: all of which result in self-consciousness and emotional distress.

Otoplasty, or ear surgery, can improve various ear issues and bring more balance and symmetry to the face. From young children facing bullying to adults who have been dissatisfied with their ears for their entire life, this relatively simple procedure can truly make all the difference.

Am I a Good Candidate?

Candidates for this type of procedure can include healthy children and adults: the most important thing is that the ears are fully developed before surgery. In general, this puts the youngest patients around 5 or 6 years of age. Younger patients have the advantage of ear cartilage that is more pliable and easier to work with. They also have the opportunity to avoid any negative emotional distress that their condition could potentially cause, while enjoying more years with their new look.

The Procedure

Otoplasty can treat multiple types of ear conditions, with the details of the procedure varying to address the particular case at hand. However, the most common type of otoplasty surgery corrects protruding ears. In this case, the ears are “pinned” back and moved closer to the head. To achieve this, the surgeon makes a small incision behind the ear and either removes or reshapes small portions of cartilage. Sutures are then used to seal the incisions and keep everything in place.

Overall, the surgery usually only takes a few hours to complete. It’s important to note that otoplasty does not have any effect on a person’s hearing ability. In addition to correcting protruding ears, otoplasty is also used to treat the following conditions:

-Misshapen ears due to birth defect
-Ears that are overly large (macrotia)
-Ears that have become misshapen due to injury

Recovery

Following the procedure, bandages and dressings will need to be worn for the directed amount of time, which is usually several days. Patients can also expect their sutures to either dissolve or be removed in about one week, when they can resume their normal activities. Additional instructions will be given pertaining to postoperative care to avoid potential harm to the ears.

The Benefits

Before and after photos show the visible improvements made possible through otoplasty, but the benefits go even further when it comes right down to how patients feels about themselves. If you feel that you or your child may benefit from otoplasty, contact Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery today and request a consultation with Dr. Gabriel Chiu.