Otoplasty
Otoplasty is a surgical procedure that reshapes prominent or protruding ears, creating a more balanced and pleasing look.
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Otoplasty Before & Afters
Ideal Candidates
You may be an ideal candidate for an otoplasty procedure if you are looking to improve the appearance of large or protruding ears. The procedure is most often performed on children between the ages of 4 and 14, but adults may also elect to have the surgery.
As with all medical procedures, excellent candidates are those in good overall health and who have informed, realistic expectations.
Preparation
An initial consultation with Dr. Minton is the first step to any procedure. There he will discuss your health history and closely examine your ears to determine the precise changes to be made in order to meet your needs.
Painkillers like as aspirin and ibuprofen increase risk of bleeding and should be avoided two weeks before and two weeks after your otoplasty.
The Otoplasty Procedure
While each otoplasty procedure is tailored to the individual, most surgeries involve the following three steps:
- Anesthesia. Before the start of the surgery, anesthesia is administered to the patient to ensure there’s no pain or discomfort during the surgery. General anesthesia is commonly used for children while local anesthesia combined with sedation is often used for older children and adults. The surgery is typically completed within two hours.
- Incisions. Incisions are typically located on the back of the ear, which will result in a small, hidden scar.
- Adjustments. Once the incisions have been made, Dr. Minton molds and reshapes the ear cartilage. A number of techniques can be used to do this. For instance, a suturing technique can be used to set back the ear or small amounts of cartilage may be removed to reshape the ear. After the adjustments are complete, a dressing is applied to the ears.
After The Procedure
After otoplasty, a bulky dressing is applied to protect the ear and it must remain in place for about a week. Pediatric patients must wear a headband day and night for two additional weeks. Temporary throbbing, aching, swelling, redness, and numbness can occur in the surgical area after otoplasty, but any discomfort can be treated with pain medicine.
Otoplasty
Frequently Asked Questions
After the initial consultation, otoplasty usually ranges from 30 minutes to 1 ½ hours.
Most patients are up and walking a few hours after the surgery and can return to work or school within a week. However, more strenuously activity should be avoided for about a month to protect the ear from trauma.
The patient doesn’t feel anything during otoplasty. Post surgery, patients can experience discomfort such as swelling and throbbing at the site of the surgery, but this tends to resolve in a few days. Dr. Minton can prescribe medicine to help ease any discomfort.
An otoplasty surgically reconstructs protruding or prominent ears, whereas earlobe repair addresses any disfiguration of the earlobe.
Have More Questions?
Our skilled, double-board certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Minton is available to discuss otoplasty in greater detail during a consultation at our Savannah Facial Plastic Surgery office in Savannah. Arrange your consultation by contacting us today.
