Ear surgery, also known as otoplasty, is a surgery that seeks to improve the shape, position, or proportion of the ear.
Otoplasty can correct a congenital defect that becomes apparent with development or can treat deformed ears from injuries.
Ear surgery creates a natural shape and pursues the balance and proportion of the ears and face. Correcting even minor deformities can have profound benefits for appearance and self-esteem.
Specifically, ear surgery can treat:
- Ears that are too large – a rare condition called macrotia
- Ears too small – microtia.
- Prominent ears that affect one or both sides We also talk about handle ears or blow ears.
- Adult dissatisfaction with previous ear surgery.
Otoplasty Candidates:
- Children usually from 8 years of age as long as they are able to communicate their feelings and agree to have surgery.
- Healthy, non-smoking adolescents and adults with a positive attitude and realistic goals for ear surgery.
- Ear surgery is a highly individualized procedure and has to be done by oneself and not to fulfill the wishes of another person or to try to adapt to any type of ideal image.
Steps of Surgery:
Step 1 – Anesthesia
Otoplasty is a surgery that is usually performed under local anesthesia although if you want it can also be done with sedation or general anesthesia.
Step 2 – The incision
Correction of prominent ears uses surgical techniques to create or increase the fold of the antehèlix (just inside the edge of the ear) and to reduce the width of the atrial shell (the largest and deepest concavity of the outer ear). Depending on the structure we treat, we can use retroauricular approaches (behind the ears) or also through the atrial shell. In any case, the incisions are usually practically invisible in a short period of time.
Step 3 – Correction is performed by folding or cutting the cartilage in excess and subsequently adapting the skin.
Step 4. Suture
Step 5. Bandage
Results and perspectives:
Ear surgery offers almost immediate results in cases of prominent and visible ears when dressings that support the new ear shape are removed during the initial phases of healing. With the ear permanently positioned closer to the head, scars are hidden behind the ear or hidden within the natural folds of the ear.
Postoperative:
Immediately after ear surgery it is normal to feel discomfort and pain controllable by analgesics. There may also be an itching sensation under the bandages.
The stitches are usually removed between 6 and 9 days. During the first two weeks we will recommend sleeping with a bandage to avoid twisting of the ear and loss of the result.