ABOUT OTOPLASTY
Otoplasty is the surgical correction of the outer ear (pinna). Otoplasty may also be referred to as ear pinning or ear reshaping, and is commonly used to treat protruding ears, to reduce the size of large ears or to reconstruct a deformed or defective ear.
The surgery can be performed on patients whose ears have fully developed, which is usually from the age of 5 upwards. The surgery is usually performed on both ear, in order to ensure they are proportional to the face and symmetrical.
Depending on the complexity, ear procedures can be performed with either sedation and a local anesthetic or a general anesthetic. The surgery involves making an incision behind the ear and removing small pieces of cartilage, in order to change the shape.
Recommended for
- Patients who are unhappy with the shape or size of their ears
- Deformed ears
- Stretched ears
TIME REQUIREMENTS
- Number of days in hospital: 1.
Overnight stay not required.
- Average length of stay abroad: 1 weeks.
- Number of trips abroad needed: 1.
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BEFORE OTOPLASTY ABROAD
Patients will have a consultation with the doctor to discuss the desired goals and to go through the steps of how the procedure is performed.
Before the surgery, patients are usually instructed to abstain from taking aspirin, drinking alcohol and smoking in the 2 weeks prior to surgery. Patients should arrange for someone to take them back to the hotel and stay with them for the first night after surgery.
HOW IS IT PERFORMED
The specifics of this procedure are dependent on the nature of the patient’s problems. Most commonly, the incision is made behind the ear, however the incision may alternatively be made in the inner creases of ear. Once the incision has been made, the excess cartilage and skin are removed, allowing the surgeon to reshape the ear or reduce the size. Once this has been done, the cartilage is then pinned into place with internal stitches and the incision site is also closed with stitches.
Anesthesia
Often local anesthetic with sedation is used for adults, and general anesthetic for children.
Procedure duration
The Otoplasty takes 1 to 2 hours.
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER OTOPLASTY
Post procedure care
After the procedure, the ears will be dressed with bandages. The surgeon will recommend not washing hair for the first 3 to 7 days. After the bandage has been removed, patients may continue to wear a protective headband at night. It is advised to avoid swimming for 8 weeks, and any contact sports such as judo or rugby for 12 weeks.
Possible discomfort
Some discomfort and itching for the first few days is normal.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT OTOPLASTY
Potential risks
- Infection of skin or cartilage
- Overcorrection
- Under-correction
- Asymmetry
- Scarring behind the ear
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Otoplasty is usually performed using sedation and local anesthesia. The sedation will help you relax during the procedure, while the local anesthetic numbs the area where the surgeon will be working. In some cases, general anesthetic is used and you will be asleep throughout the entire procedure.
During recovery, there may be some pain and soreness for a few days. Your doctor will prescribe a pain management plan for you.
The changes made by otoplasty will be permanent. However, the final shape of the affected area may change over time due to age, and throughout the healing process.
Otoplasty can be “revised,” but what changes can be made is limited by the amount of tissue still present and the amount of scarring due to previous surgeries.
“Otoplasty” is a term which refers to a number of surgical and non-surgical procedures that alter the shape of the external parts of the ear. In medical terms, the prefix “oto-” denotes “ears” and the suffix “-plasty” refers to repairing or restoring a part or surgically reshaping it.
Otoplasty is considered a relatively safe procedure, with a low risk of complications.
As with any surgery, there is a risk of bleeding, infection, and an adverse reaction to anesthesia with otoplasty. Additionally, otoplasty poses a risk of unfavorable scarring, asymmetry of the ears, changes in skin sensation, and overcorrection. Most risks can be minimized by choosing an experienced surgeon who performs a large number of these procedures on a regular basis.
Otoplasty surgery will not alter your ability to hear. The relatively minor structural changes to the ear do not affect hearing.
