Otoplasty
Ear Reshaping
What is an otoplasty?
Otoplasty refers to reshaping of the external ear.
Why would someone want an otoplasty?
People seek otoplasty for a variety of reasons. Some children are born with one or both ears misshapen. Others have very prominent ears, which can lead to a lot of teasing by other children at school or other public places. We frequently hear these referred to as “Dumbo” ears. There are also adults who are unhappy with how prominent their ears are, or the shape of one or both ears.
This is a different condition from “microtia”, in which a child is born with a significantly deformed ear, with much of the normal structure missing.
How is it performed?
The structure of the ear is supported by a framework of cartilage. This framework is reshaped during an otoplasty. The procedure is performed with hidden incisions to hide any evidence of surgery. Cartilage may be reshaped, removed, minimized, or augmented.
What age are patients who undergo rhinoplasty?
This procedure is performed on people of all ages. We rarely perform it on children younger than four years of age, however.
Is anesthesia required?
Children typically require some form of systemic sedation, in addition to local anesthesia. Often, this means a general anesthetic. Adults have the option of undergoing the procedure with or without general anesthesia. This is the choice of the patient, after consultation with the surgeon and anesthesiologist. Some prefer a general anesthetic, but many instead choose “twilight” anesthesia, in which a sedative is administered during the procedure. Occasionally, individuals prefer the procedure to be done with local anesthetic only.
What is the recovery period after this type of procedure?
The ear or ears are wrapped with bandages at the end of the procedure. This bandage is left on for a week after surgery. At that time, a decision is made as to whether additional time with the bandage is necessary. If any nonabsorbable sutures are used, these are removed one week after surgery.
Is there much pain with this procedure?
Patients are prescribed pain medicines to alleviate the postoperative pain. Most patients, however, do not experience unacceptable levels of pain. More commonly, they describe an uncomfortable pressure sensation for the first several days.
Does health insurance pay for otoplasty?
Insurance companies will at times cover otoplasty for children. This is typically not the case for adults.
Can anything go wrong with the surgery?
There are certainly no guarantees with any surgical procedure, but fortunately the complication rate with otoplasty is low. Most patients are quite happy with their results. A small proportion do not receive the degree of improvement initially sought however. Some bleeding can occur for a period of time after surgery. Numbness of portions of the ear is rather common for a period of time after surgery, although quite rare to persist. Scarring can occur which is troublesome to patients on rare occasion. Irregularities and asymmetries are also seen on occasion in patients who heal unpredictably. In individuals with significant asymmetry to their ears, some degree of asymmetry will inevitably persist.
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