Prominent Ear Surgery – Otoplasty
Otoplasty is a surgical procedure that allows you to correct defects in the ears by changing the shape, size and shape of the ears, improving facial harmony and a person’s self-esteem. More precisely, otoplasty (also known as otoplasty) allows you to reposition and reshape prominent ears and correct congenital or post-traumatic defects (partial or complete absence or loss of the ear, ears that are too small or too large, lobes too wide or Also long, etc.) and helps us eliminate the consequences of ear termination caused by the removal of neoplasms.
Protruding ears are a birth defect that affects about 1% of the world’s population and is therefore present in about 100 million people worldwide.
Are there any age limits for surgical intervention?
There is no age limit for cosmetic ear surgery, but it is better to wait until the ear growth ends or a strong personal impulse appears. Such surgeries are usually performed on children between the ages of 6 and 14, that is, at the age when some aesthetic defects become a source of embarrassment during relationships with peers of children and can lead to a person’s insecurity. However, otoplasty; It is often requested by adults and provides an excellent aesthetic result.
What other interventions can be performed along with otoplasty?
Otoplasty can be done alone or in combination with other surgical techniques such as a face-lift or other cosmetic surgery.
Otoplasty risks and complications
Otoplasty is a very simple surgery. Very good results are usually obtained when this type of operation is performed in licensed hospitals by a plastic surgeon with special expertise in ear shaping. However it is a real surgical procedure where complications (infection and hematoma) are rare but can be resolved easily if the surgery is performed by a specialist surgeon within accredited and trusted hospitals. It is very important to carefully follow the advice and instructions that your surgeon will give you before and after the surgery to reduce the risk of complications. Smokers should quit because smoking can increase the risk of complications and also delay recovery.
Before Otoplasty Surgery
Otoplasty is a very personal intervention and therefore requires a visit to a specialist and expert doctor. At the first visit, the surgeon will have to assess the shape and size of the ears, which are often quite different from each other, and the surgeon will show you the most appropriate surgical technique to achieve the best possible result. The surgeon will also need to evaluate your condition to rule out unexpected complications such as high blood pressure, blood clots or scarring that could alter the final outcome of the surgery. At the end of the visit, the surgeon will agree with you and choose the most suitable ear shape for your face and its aesthetics. Before the operation, the surgeon will tell you about the diet before and after the operation and about the medications that you should use to avoid symptoms.
What type of anesthesia is used in prominent ear surgery?
Otoplasty is usually performed on an outpatient basis. The surgery takes about two hours and is usually performed under local anesthesia for adults (which means you’ll be awake and comfortable but numb from your pain sensations) and general anesthesia in children.
Do the effects of surgical sutures appear during ear plastic surgery?
In otoplasty, the incisions are completely invisible because they are hidden behind the ear.
How long does ear plastic surgery take?
A prominent otoplasty takes about two hours and can be considered a painless surgery.
You will need absolute rest with your head elevated for the first 48 hours after your otoplasty surgery. When the bandages are removed, a protective bandage such as a hair band will be applied for 5 days (day and night). From day 8 there is no need to stick the headband during the day, but it is recommended that the headband be kept overnight for another 3 weeks.
From the third day you can return to a normal life by avoiding strenuous activities, saunas, baths, exposure to the sun and wearing glasses. Swelling and bruising may occur around the treated area during the first 48 hours. Infection or bruising rarely occurs. And you can continue your work after 3-4 days if the work is not too tiring and hard. Two weeks after surgery, you will gradually resume all of your normal daily activities, including sports.
What results can be obtained after otoplasty?
One-sided or two-sided otoplasty usually results in satisfactory and very permanent results. Protruding ears, also called fan ears, are in both ears, but in some cases they can be in only one ear. Correction of a defect on one end may concern the ear, only the earlobe, or both anatomical regions. It is very difficult to obtain results if techniques that modify the shape of the ear cartilage are used instead of simple pulling threads.
If the techniques used to correct otoplasty defects are applied after the outcome is stable in the first trimester; There will be no major changes over time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ear Plastic Surgery
Is prominent ear surgery painful? Will the result be like a natural ear?
Otoplasty is not a painful process. The surgery is usually performed under local anesthesia for adults and adolescents, and under general anesthesia in children. If it is performed by a plastic surgeon experienced in ear surgery the aesthetic result is usually very good and natural.
At what age can otoplasty be performed?
There is no age limit for otoplasty, but it is preferable to wait until the growth of the ears has finished, which is usually around 4 years of age, or until a strong personal impulse by the patient begins. Such surgeries are usually performed on children between the ages of 6 and 14, that is, at the age when certain aesthetic defects become a source of embarrassment in relations with peers of children and can lead to a state of self-insecurity. However, otoplasty is also common in adults and allows the same excellent aesthetic results.
Can I tie my hair after the operation and is there a risk of scarring after otoplasty?
In otoplasty, the incisions are completely invisible because they are hidden behind the ear.
When can I shower?
After removing the dressing that is placed at the end of the prominent otoplasty that has been in place for about two days, you can also gently wash your ears to keep the incisions clean but take a little time to shower. You should not shower for at least ten days until the wound has completely healed. It is not recommended to swim in the sea or the pool for at least a month.
How long will it take to put my glasses back on after otoplasty?
It is not recommended to use glasses for at least a month after prominent ear plastic surgery. The incision is made behind the ear, so it will not be a problem to wear the glasses after the tissues are completely fixed.
Can ear plastic surgery contain risks to the sense of hearing?
No, because the surgery only affects the outer ear and does not touch the inner ear.
Can laser ear surgery be performed? What are the advantages of using a laser?
The laser can be used when replacing the surgical scalpel after the first incision in otoplasty, but it does not have a special advantage as the scar remains and the success of the surgery depends on the surgeon’s ability to shape and sew only the cartilage.
What should I do if the otoplasty was unsuccessful?
If otoplasty is unsuccessful, it is usually due to the surgical techniques used. The techniques that work best for correcting protruding ears are those that rely on “reshaping” the cartilaginous structures of the ear. If the operation is not successful, it is possible to intervene again with a second operation, but it is necessary to wait 6/12 months after the previous surgery until the tissues have healed and softened well before the next plastic surgery of the ear.