COSMETIC EAR SURGERY

What is a ear surgery?  

Otoplasty can dramatically change a person’s appearance simply by making protruding ears look more normal. Often the problem is caused by an undeveloped middle fold of the ear. There may be other deformities as well, making it necessary to perform several procedures on the ear at the same time.

Who is a suitable candidate for ear surgery? 

One or more of the following conditions may indicate that you are a good candidate for lower eyelid surgery;.

·       ·         Protruding ears

·       ·         Large ears

·       ·         Abnormally shaped ears

Otoplasty can reshape the ears, reduce their size, make them more symmetrical, and/or position them closer to the head. If you (or your child) are self-conscious about your ears, and always keep them covered with your hair, then this surgery can open up new possibilities for changing your appearance and your body image.

How isear surgery procedure performed?  

Begining with an incision just behind the ear, in the natural fold where the ear is joined to the head the surgeon will remove the necessary amounts of cartilage & skin required to achieve the right effect. Cartilage may be thinned, shaping it into a more desirable form and then secured with sutures.. In other instances, the surgeon will not remove any cartilage at all, using stitches to hold the cartilage permanently in place. After sculpting the cartilage to the desired shape, the surgeon will apply sutures to anchor the ear until healing occurs to hold the ear in the desired shape & position

Duration of operation 1-1.5hrs (local or general anaesthetic)

Hospital stay  -Ususall not necessary.

What  to expect immedaitely after surgery. Softt dressings applied to the ears will remain for a few days. Most patients experience some mild discomfort, You cannot put any pressure on the ear areas & should sleep on yıur back . Headbands are sometimes recommended to hold the ears in the desired position for two weeks after the surgery. 

How long will it be before i can get back to my normal life? 

Adults and children are usually up and around a few hours after surgery ,although you may prefer to stay overnight in the hospital with a child until all the effects of general anesthesia wear off The patients head will be wrapped in a bulking bandage to promote the best molding and healing.  The ears may throb or ache a little for a few days, but this can be relieved by medication. Within a few days, the bulky bandages will be replaced by a lighter head dressing similar to a headband. Stitches are usually removed, or will dissolve, in about a week. Any activity in which the ear might be bent should be avoided for a month or so.

When can i return to work after ear surgery? Most adults can go back to work about five days after surgery. Children can go back to school after seven days or so, if they're careful about playground activity. You may want to ask your child's teacher to keep an eye on the child for a few weeks.

Will ear surgery affect my hearing?

No. Only the outer ear is operated on, not the middle or inner ear, where hearing takes place.

Are the results of ear surgery long lasting?  Yes, results are usually permanent, although there is always some small amount of "springing back" of the ears due to the elastic recoil of the ear cartilage.

Can ear surgery be performed without scar? Scars are part of the healing process and usually scars from ear surgery are hidden in the natural crease at the back of te ear so they are not visable. By following the surgoens guidelines with time  they will fade and become barely perceptible.

In many cases ear surgery has the effect of creating normal-appearing ears that lie neatly, close to the side of the head, whilst keeping the scar hidden behind the ear.