If you have protruding or overly large ears you may benefit from otoplasty to create more natural aesthetically pleasing ears. Call our office to schedule your free consultation today!
Ears are a focal point for anatomic symmetry of the face. When ears are protruding or deformed, especially in patients with short or thinning hair, this can produce significant anxiety and make one feel self-conscious. Otoplasty, or ear pinning surgery, is a cosmetic surgical procedure that corrects ears that protrude too far from the head, reduces size of the ears that are too large, corrects ear position or helps improve other ear deformity. Otoplasty corrects these multiple cosmetic deformities of the ear to procedure more naturally appearing ears and helps increase patients self-esteem. This procedure may be performed in children over the age of 6 and adults.
During your consultation Dr. Bachilo will ask you about your concerns, your medical history and will examine your ears. She will then be able to recommend whether you are a good candidate for otoplasty procedure and will discuss the benefits and risks associated with ear pinning surgery.
If you decide to pursue surgery, you will be given instructions to get ready for your procedure. For your safety and best results, Dr. Bachilo will advise you to stop taking any medications which may increase your bleeding during surgery. If you smoke, she will advise you to stop smoking for this elective procedure. You will have an opportunity to ask all your questions to make the best decision and feel confident to proceed with the operation.
Otoplasty is performed in an outpatient surgery center with general anesthesia. Surgery takes about 1 to 2 hours and you will go home after a short recovery. There are several different techniques available for correction of different ear deformities and technique used will depend on the type of deformity being corrected.
Most incisions will be placed behind the ear and well hidden from view. Shaping of the ear will be done through removal of part of the ear cartilage and/or reshaping of the cartilage through folding and stitching. Dr. Bachilo will perform the necessary steps in order to deliver you the best results. Incisions behind the ear will be closed with absorbable sutures or permanent sutures and dressings and compressive bandages will be applied.
After surgery it is normal to experience some ear swelling and bruising with will take several weeks to subside. Pain is usually minimal. It is also normal to experience some numbness to your ears immediately after surgery. You will be given detailed instructions on how to care for your ears.
You will need to wear a compressive head band to protect your ears and reduce swelling. You should sleep with your head elevated on several pillows and may use ice to your ears to further decrease the swelling. You should be able to return to work in just a few days and resume all your normal activities within 2 to 3 weeks.
You will gain a more symmetrical facial appearance which will help to alleviating the years of emotional stress that is so commonly associated with ear defects. Patients are very pleased with their otoplasty outcomes and results are usually permanent. Scars are well hidden as they are located behind the ears.
Ready to Make a Change?
If you have protruding or overly large ears you may benefit from otoplasty to create more natural aesthetically pleasing ears. Call our office to schedule your free consultation today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Ear pinning surgery, or Otoplasty, is a safe and simple procedure, and one of the few cosmetic surgeries that may be safely performed on children and in fact, is frequently performed on thousands of children and teens yearly.
In most children, the shape of the ear is fully developed by about age 4, with the cartilage inside the ear becoming hard by about the age of 7 or 8. The ideal time to perform ear pinning surgery on children is at around the age of 6 or 7, before the cartilage becomes hard, as this helps to keep the procedure as simple as possible. Young children are also apt to heal more quickly from the procedure, because the cartilage inside the ear is still soft enough for the surgeon to manipulate it easily. Otoplasty may also be performed safely on older children, as well as teens, and adults of any age.
Otoplasty is ideally suited for candidates who are in good overall health, have no contraindications to surgery, and have protruding or excessively large ears, ears that are asymmetrical, or ears that are somehow misshapen. Ideally, the procedure should be performed during childhood, at around the age of 6; however the procedure may still be performed safely on adults and older children.
Every procedure is unique because every patient is unique, but typically, ear pinning surgery or otoplasty is performed using an incision that is hidden in the natural crease behind the ear. Dr. Bachilo will use this incision to access the cartilage and skin tissue inside the ear, in order to reshape and sculpt the ears. The procedure is relatively simple and takes about one hour per ear.
Every ear pinning or ear reshaping procedure is uniquely customized to each patient, so the cost may vary widely between patients. While one patient may require a simple “ear pinning” another may require a complete re-sculpting of the ear to alter its size or shape. Typically, the cost of otoplasty may range between $4,000 and $7,000, depending on the extent of work done, but you may save money by combining your ear pinning surgery with other surgical procedures in the same surgical session.
Otoplasty is usually performed with “twilight” or local anesthesia, although in some cases, the doctor may elect to use general anesthesia.
The hairline incisions used in this procedure are normally hidden in the crease behind the ear, so they are not visible. Additionally, the scars are very thin and will fade naturally over time, becoming virtually invisible.
Yes. Many patients choose to undergo a combination of cosmetic procedures in one surgical session in order to save on money and recovery time. At your intake consultation, you may discuss with Dr. Bachilo any other procedures that you may wish to combine with your ear pinning surgery.
Typical recovery after Otoplasty takes about one week, and you may experience some soreness, swelling and bruising during this period. Fortunately, these symptoms may be managed with over-the-counter pain medication, and will naturally resolve themselves within a few days. You will need a ride home after the surgery, as you may still be groggy from the anesthesia, and you may wish to have some help around the house for a few days so you can rest and recover properly. Immediately after the surgery, your ears will be bandaged with compression bandages that you must wear for several days to support the healing process and protect the ears from impact. Dr. Bachilo may also advise that you wear a soft headband to protect your ears while sleeping. After a week of rest, you may resume light activity, but you are advised to refrain from any strenuous exercise for a period of four to six weeks in order to allow ample healing time and avoid impact or injury to the ears.
Once the ears are pinned back and re-shaped, they will usually retain their shape for many years. Some changes may occur in some patients over time as a result of aging, and the skin around the ear may begin to sag, and in some cases this may alter the outcome of your surgery.
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