Cosmetic Ear Surgery

Cosmetic Ear Surgery Basics

The ears have a lot to do with establishing the appearance of the face. If a person's ears are too large and prominent, they can draw attention away from other positive facial features. If they are misshapen or uneven, they can make even the best-shaped face seem less appealing.

If you would like to improve the appearance of your ears, otoplasty may be the procedure for you. Otoplasty is a common and popular form of cosmetic surgery. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there were 29,828 otoplasty procedures performed in America in 2010.

Otoplasty can be performed on people of a variety of ages. Unlike many cosmetic surgeries, it can even be performed on children. It is fairly common for otoplasty to be performed on children as young or 5 or 6 years old. In some ways, younger ears can even be easier to operate on, because the ear cartilage is softer than it will be during adulthood. However, adults can still definitely benefit from otoplasty.

An otoplasty can do a number of things. It can reduce the size of the ear by trimming down the cartilage of the ear. It can also fix earlobes that have been torn or injured in accidents or by wearing heavy earrings. In some cases, no cartilage is removed or added, but the ears are moved back closer to the head so that they are not so prominent. In this sort of surgery, the ears are held in place with permanent sutures. This sort of surgery is called ear pinning or pinnaplasty. In some cases, otoplasty can even be performed without any incisions at all. This procedure is called "incisionless otoplasty." In this form of the surgery, a needle is used for all of the reshaping of the ear cartilage.

Otoplasty is usually performed under local anesthesia. However, in young children, it is relatively common to use general anesthesia or sedation. This helps to keep the child from moving around or becoming unnecessarily agitated during the surgery. The incisions for an otoplasty are typically made behind the ear, where the ycan naturally be hidden by the crease of the ear and by the patient's hair.

Once the patient is anesthetized and the incisions have been made, the surgeon will begin to reshape the ear. He or she may remove or reshape the ear's cartilage, and stitches may be inserted to keep the ear in the correct position. If the surgery is trying to reconstruct a damaged ear, cartilage may be harvested from the ribs and inserted into the ear.

Once the surgery is over, the incisions will be sutured shut, and the patient will be allowed to recover. The entire surgery will typically take one or two hours to complete. However, in some cases, the surgery can take as long as five hours. The surgery is typically performed as an outpatient surgery, so patients are allowed to return home the same day. A large bandage will be placed around the head to hold the ears in position and to help protect them. Your surgeon may also ask you to wear a headband or hat for a week or two after your surgery.

Some bruising and swelling is common, and there is also typically some amount of discomfort. However, your surgeon will advise you about how to deal with this discomfort. Otoplasty patients can typically return to work or school within about a week.

Like all forms of surgery, otoplasty has some risks. Blood clots and infections are possible, as are anesthesia-related complications. If the surgery is performed improperly, numbness of the ear is possible, and there may also be some amount of undesirable scarring. You can minimize your chances for all of these by selecting a properly skilled and experienced surgeon.

Otoplasty costs can range from around $2,000 to around $7,000. If the surgery is cosmetic in nature, insurance will not cover it. However, if it is considered reconstructive, your health insurance provider may be able to help cover some of the costs.