Otoplasty
What is otoplasty?
Who is a good candidate?
Risks
Recovery
What is otoplasty?
Otoplasty is surgery to improve the appearance
of a person’s ears. Though the procedure
does not affect hearing, it can provide great
psychological benefits to people who have been
teased about the size or shape of their ears,
had a serious ear injury or want to improve
the look of their ears.
Ear pinning, or surgery to make ears less prominent,
is the most common type of otoplasty. Though
the surgery is usually performed in childhood,
adults do also have the procedure.
There are several ear surgical techniques.
Your surgeon will choose a technique based on
your specific needs.
- Rearranging or sculpting existing cartilage
in the ear
- Adding cartilage through grafts from elsewhere
in the body
- Rearranging, excising or adding skin
Otoplasty techniques can also be used to address
these conditions:
- Lop ear (top tip of the ear folds down or
inward)
- Cupped ear (a small ear)
- Shell ear (no outer curve in the cartilage)
- Stretched or torn ear lobes
- Loss of an ear or an ear missing at birth
Who is a good candidate?
If you are very self-conscious about your ears,
and have been for a long time, you may be a
good candidate for otoplasty.
During your consultation
talk honestly with the plastic surgeon about
the outcome you want. Though the majority of
patients are very happy with their results,
it’s important to be realistic about what
otoplasty can do for you.
Depending on your condition, your surgery may
be considered cosmetic. Be sure to clarify with
the doctor’s office whether you will be
required to pay for the surgery or if it will
be covered by insurance.
Risks
Surgery has risks,
but you can help prevent complications by carefully
following your physician's instructions both
before and after surgery. Talk with your plastic
surgeon to be sure you understand the potential
risks and complications. If you don't understand
something, ask!
Recovery
After the procedure, your doctor will give you
specific instructions about how to care for
your ears. Carefully following these guidelines
will help you look your very best.
When you leave the hospital or doctor’s
office, your head will be bandaged. After a
few days the bandages are removed and you will
wear a smaller headband-like bandage for about
two weeks.
Adults can usually return to work and their
normal activities about a week after their surgery.
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