EAR CORRECTION
Contents
WHAT IS AN OTOPLASTY PROCEDURE AND WHY IS IT PERFORMED?
An otoplasty procedure can help men, women and children of all
ages to overcome the embarrassment and distress caused by irregular
shaped or protruding ears.
It is now widely accepted that it can be psychologically harmful
for children and adolescents to leave protruding and irregular
shaped ears to become a point undue attention throughout the
developing years. Consequently, otoplasty is one of the most
commonly performed cosmetic procedures provided to children.
The ultimate objective is for the surgeon to create a natural,
proportionate and symmetrical (even) looking appearance, leaving no
visible sign that surgery has taken place.
An otoplasty procedure can involve the surgical refining of the
size, the shape and the position of the ear, or a combination of
all three.
WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE REQUEST THIS PROCEDURE?
- Children and adolescents who are self conscious about their
protruding ears
- Men and women who are restricted by the way camouflaging their
protruding ears causes compromise to their choice of hairstyle
- Men who find that as they grow older their hair thins, creating
a subsequent difficulty in camouflaging their ear shape
HOW IS AN OTOPLASTY PROCEDURE PERFORMED?
An otoplasty is performed by refining or thinning the
cartilaginous structure from behind the ear. Surgical incisions are
ordinarily placed behind the ear in the natural crease (where the
ear margin joins the side of the head) and consequently scars from
this particular procedure are not usually visible. Occasionally,
for the correction of large ear lobes, external incisions may need
to be positioned on or around the lobe area, but these incisions
are usually insignificant in size and tend to blend in with the
natural contour and creases around the ear lobe once healing is
complete.
Following the surgical re-contouring of the cartilage, the skin
at the back of the ear is re-draped and secured in place by
surgical sutures (stitches) and then supported in the new position
by a carefully applied, turban style pressure bandage. This
pressure bandage typically stays in place for around five to seven
days following surgery.
This procedure is usually performed as a day case under local
anaesthetic or may involve a one night’s stay in hospital if
performed under general anaesthetic. Under normal conditions a
typical otoplasty procedure can take around one to one and a half
hours to perform.
WHAT ARE THE RESULTS LIKE?
This particular procedure can provide excellent results, freeing
men and women from the unwanted attention that can be caused by
large, irregular or protruding ears.
This corrective procedure is a very precise one and should only
be performed by a Consultant Plastic Surgeon or Consultant E.N.T
Surgeon who is fully qualified and experienced to skillfully
perform this type of surgery.
Obviously improved results will take place almost immediately
following otoplasty surgery, but these results will be initially
obscured by support bandaging (turban) and then the bruising and
swelling which typically follows this type of procedure. It can
take 7 to 14 days for this initial swelling and bruising to settle
to an acceptable appearance. After initial swelling has settled
down, subtle improvements to the contour of the newly shaped ear
will take place for up to six months following surgery.
ARE THERE ANY RISKS INVOLVED IN EAR RESHAPING
SURGERY?
All surgery involves an element of risk from developing
complications. However, cosmetic surgery is usually undertaken
voluntarily and on customers in good health. Therefore, the
probability of developing complications from this kind of surgery
are substantially lower than those who undergo surgery due to ill
health.
Risks such as bleeding, alteration in sensitivity, delayed
healing, infection, asymmetry and scarring will all be discussed
quite openly at consultation, as well as our scrupulous efforts to
manage and minimise these risks to their lowest possible
potential.
It is often reported that altered sensitivity and numbness to
the ears is a common side effect for up to 12 months following
otoplasty surgery. Mostly, the fine incisions and subsequent scars
made during this procedure are well hidden behind the ear. However,
the appearance of scars (which generally fade progressively after
surgery) are a highly individual matter. Usually these fine scars
mature, soften and fade to a negligible level. Occasionally,
customers can develop firm, raised, discoloured scarring, known as
hypertrophic or keloid scarring, which may require further
corrective treatment.
HOW WILL YOU FEEL AFTER AN
OTOPLASTY PROCEDURE AND WHAT IS THE
RECOVERY PERIOD LIKE?
Following an otoplasty procedure the ear incision and
surrounding skin area are often quite tender for several weeks
following surgery. Analgesic tablets (pain killers) are always
provided for any discomfort and customers are encouraged to stay as
upright as possible during their early recovery stage to help
diminish residual swelling and bruising. Customers usually describe
the way they feel as "sore and uncomfortable" rather than
experiencing specific pain. These symptoms typically diminish
rapidly after post-operative bandaging is removed.
Following the removal of the post-operative turban style
pressure bandaging (7-14 days post operation), customers are
advised to gently shower and wash their hair on a daily basis in
order to keep early healing wounds as clean as possible.
Every surgeon's otoplasty technique can differ slightly and
surgical wounds can be sutured with either absorbable or
unabsorbable stitches. If stitches need removing, they are normally
removed five to seven days following surgery.
Customers are asked to avoid any level of activity that would
put undue strain on the newly operated areas and to avoid contact
sports for six weeks following surgery.
It is important for customers to keep their hands away from
healing wounds and to pay meticulous attention to personal hygiene
throughout the early post-operative period.
Customers will also be advised to take a specific amount of
recovery time away from work, dependent on the type of job they
perform, but it is usual to take at least a week to rest and
recover at home following this procedure.
WHAT NEXT?
The importance of a thorough pre-operative consultation with the
actual Consultant Plastic Surgeon who will perform your operation
cannot be over stressed. You need time to consider all the benefits
and risks of otoplasty surgery and the time and opportunity to
reflect and consider all the information the surgeon offers you
before you make a decision regarding your potential procedure.
At VIVE life Care each consultation is tailored to an
individual’s needs, but a consultation will always involve a
thorough evaluation of your present and past medical history and a
physical examination of the problem area. Your Consultant Surgeon
will take time to listen to your concerns and will take care to
ensure that you
have a thorough understanding of what can be done to help, the
procedure itself, the recovery stage and a clear explanation of the
risks involved.
You are positively encouraged to ask questions that you may have
at your consultation and to look at photographs of others who have
had a similar type of surgery to the procedure you are
considering.