FAQ otoplasty

Q. Is the operation to correct sticking-out ears painful? Will the result be natural?
A. Otoplasty is not a painful kind of surgery. The operation is normally performed under local anaesthetic with sedation for adults and teen-agers and under general anaesthetic for children. If the operation is performed by a specialist in plastic surgery, experienced in auricle contouring, the result is usually very good and natural.

Q. At what age can one go for otoplasty?
A. There are no age limits to undergo otoplasty, but it is preferable to wait for the end of the development of the auricle - which occurs around the age of 4 - or for a strong personal motivation.
In children, this kind of operation is usually performed between the age of 6 and 14, that is the age in which certain physical defects may cause embarrassment with the other boys and a strong feeling of insecurity.
Anyhow, otoplasty is often requested even by adults and allows the same excellent results to be achieved.

Q. After otoplasty surgery, will I be allowed to pin up my hair without showing the scars?
A. In otoplasty, the incisions are absolutely invisible in that they are hidden behind the auricles.

DQ. When will I be allowed to shower?
A. After removing the “turban-like” dressing that is applied at the end of the operation and that must be worn for about two days, you will be allowed to wash your ears with caution, also to keep the wounds clean, but before showering you’ll have to wait about 10 days for the incisions to heal. It is unadvisable to bathe in the sea or in a swimming pool for at least 1 month.

Q. When will I be able to wear glasses once again?
A. After otoplasty surgery, the use of glasses should be avoided for at least one month. Anyway, the incision is made behind the auricle and, thus, once the tissues have consolidated, there will be no problems with wearing glasses.

Q. I’ve always been in the habit of wearing very heavy earrings that, with the passing of time, have lengthened and expanded the hole of the lobe. What can be done?
A. This defect can be repaired through a plastic surgery operation which allows the hole to be closed and the so-called “forked” lobe to be repaired. A few weeks later, it will be possible to make a new hole in a different place with respect to the previous one not to traumatize once again the tissues just repaired.

Q. Can otoplasty impair hearing?
A. No, because the operation concerns only the auricle and does not involve the inner ear.

Q. Can otoplasty be performed with laser? What are the advantages of using laser?
A. In otoplasty, laser can be used in place of a scalpel when making the initial incision, but it offers no advantages because the scar will be the same and the success of the operation depends on the surgeon’s skillfulness at contouring and suturing the cartilage of the auricle and not on the incision made.