Otoplasty
What is otoplasty?Otoplasty, popularly known as cosmetic surgery of the ears, is a surgical procedure that allows the shape, the size and the base of the ears to be modified, thus improving the features of the patient's face and his/her sense of self-esteem.More precisely, otoplasty allows the repositioning and the contouring of prominent ears (the so-called "sticking-out ears", "flapping ears" or "jug-ears"), the correction of congenital or post-traumatic defects (absence or partial or complete loss of the ear , too small or too large ears, too wide or too long lobe, etc.) and of the outcomes of radical operations on the auricles due to the removal of tumors. Are there age limits to undergo this surgery?There are no age limits to undergo otoplasty, but it is preferable to wait for the end of the development of the auricle or for a strong personal motivation.In children, this operation is usually performed between the age of 6 and 14, that is the age in which certain physical defects may cause embarrassment with their peers and a strong feeling of insecurity. Anyhow, otoplasty is often sought after even by adults and allows the same excellent results to be achieved. What surgical interventions can be performed together with otoplasty?Otoplasty can be performed alone or in association with other surgical techniques such as face-lift, blepharoplasty or other jobs.What are the risks and the complications of this kind of operation?The cosmetic surgery of the ears is a rather simple surgical procedure. When this kind of operation is performed by a specialist in plastic surgery, experienced in auricle contouring and in qualified facilities, the results are usually very good.However, it is a real surgical procedure whose complications (infection and haematomas) are rare but may occur and can be easily resolved only if the intervention is performed by a specialist in plastic surgery and within duly qualified facilities. In order to reduce the risks of complications, it is anyhow essential to follow the advice and the instructions given by the surgeon carefully before and after the operation. Smokers should reduce the use of cigarettes because smoking may increase the risk of complications and slow down the recovery. What does the preoperative examination consists in?Otoplasty is a very customized kind of surgery that, as such, needs a meticulous specialist examination.During the first examination, the surgeon will assess the shape and the size of your ears, which are often very different from each other, and show you the most appropriate surgical technique to achieve the best possible results. The surgeon will also assess your physical condition in order to exclude the presence of troubles, such as high blood pressure, clotting or healing disorders, which might affect the final result of the operation. At the end of the examination, the surgeon, in tune with you, will choose the shape of the ears most suitable for the appearance of your face. Before the operation you will receive specific information about the preoperative and postoperative diet and the use of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. What kind of anaesthetic is given?Otoplasty is normally performed in outpatient care.The operation lasts about two hours and is normally performed under local anaesthesia with sedation on adults (which means that you will be awake but relaxed and insensitive to pain) and under general anaesthesia on children. Are the incisions visible?In otoplasty, the incisions are absolutely invisible in that they are hidden behind the auricles.
How long is the operation?The otoplasty operation lasts about two hours, it is painless and ends with a "turban-like" dressing to be worn for about two days.What happens during the post-operative period?During 48 hours following otoplasty surgery, you will have to rest up, keeping your head raised.Starting from the third day, you will be able to resume your normal life, avoiding, nevertheless, tiring activities, saunas, sweat-baths, sunbathing and the use of glasses. During the first two days, swelling and ecchymoses may appear around the treated area. Very seldom may infections, haematomas or keloidal scars appear. After 3-4 days, you will be able to resume work, provided that it is not excessively tiring. Two weeks after the operation, you will gradually resume all your normal activities, including the sports activity. What kind of result can be achieved?Otoplasty, whether unilateral or bilateral, usually gives highly satisfactory and permanent results.If you wish to take this subject further, we advise you to visit the FAQ page about otoplasty, where you will find the answers to the most frequent questions asked by the patients. |
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Chirurgia-plastica-estetica.it Prof. Mario Dini Chairman and Director of Plastic Surgery Dept. - University of Florence |
