Ears Surgery

The technical name for this procedure is Otoplasty, meaning shaping of the ear. An Otoplasty corrects prominent ears so that they lie flat (but not squashed) against your head.

This operation does not change the size or shape of your ear, although that can be done at the same time. Some ear shapes are difficult or impossible to correct. Fortunately, an odd ear shape is much less noticeable when the ear is flat against your scalp. Also, surgery will not make your ears perfectly symmetrical. No person has two identical ears. You will notice slight differences between your ears, if you look closely, both before and after surgery.

The commonest complication of this surgery is relapse, in which the ear, which is completely composed of cartilage, fails to hold its new shape. It may stick out again, although not as much as before. This can happen during the first six weeks, when your body is "gluing" your ear in its new place with scar tissue.

You can have this done as early as age five because your ears have reached ninety percent of adult size by then. Generally, surgery is done when a child is young to avoid unnecessary teasing which causes its own adjustment problems.

This operation is usually done on an outpatient basis in a surgery center. Adults and teenagers usually prefer local anesthesia with sedation, given by the surgeon. General anesthesia is necessary for young children because they cannot hold still. Surgery takes between one and a half to two and a half hours.

You should experience no pain from this procedure, unless a stitch is pulling on your bandage, or the bandage is too tight. Your ears will throb the day of surgery while the local anesthetic wears off, and they may throb or ache a little, especially in the evenings, for a day or so. Your head is wrapped for two to five days in a bulky bandage covering your scalp and ears and sometimes going around your chin. Once the bandage is removed, you will wear a headband as much as possible for up to six weeks. This avoids bending the ear the wrong way by sleeping on it and having some "friend" think it is "funny" to tweak you newly operated ears. Once the bandage is off, you can bathe normally. Your stitches are behind your ear. These are removed in five to seven days. You will have a long two to three inch scar in the crease behind your ear. Since your ear now lies close to your scalp, the scar doesn't show.

You can go back to work on day five after surgery. Postpone any vigorous exercises during the first two weeks. One of the most common side effects is the sensitivity of your ears to cold weather. This is most noticeable the first year after surgery. The ears may be numb for weeks after surgery.

Before	After

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