What is an ear surgery or otoplasty?
Large and prominent ears can cause a number issues for both children and adults who have this condition. It can be very embarrassing and can make a person feel less confident. For children, it is sad to see that it can result in poor school performance and permanent psycho-social impairment. But otoplasty or ear surgery in our office can easily repair this by reshaping the ears and pinning them closer to the head to achieve a more natural ear appearance.
An otoplasty or ear surgery can benefit both adults and children . Otoplasty can help reshape the ears, can make them smaller or less prominent, can reposition them closer to the head, and can make both the patient’s ears proportional or balanced in size. By making the ear less prominent, an otoplasty can help restore your self-confidence and your positive self-image.
What is an ear surgery like for patients?
Patients undergoing an ear surgery will be checked for any hearing impairments, congenital deformities, and scarring problems prior to surgery. This is also the time when our team discusses what you wish to achieve to set expectations and to determine if an ear surgery is fit for what you are looking to receive.
Ear surgery or otoplasty done in our office is typically performed under local or general anesthesia, taking as long as 2 hours per ear. Incisions will be made on the back side of the ear where alterations of the ear cartilage are made to reshape and achieve the normal curves and folds of the normal ear. Permanent sutures will be used to close the incisions and maintain the new ear contours.
What can patients expect after an ear surgery?
After the ear surgery, patients have to wear a protective splint for 2 to 3 days and a headband for 3 weeks to be able to maintain the results of the otoplasty. It is normal for patients to feel pain, swelling, and bruising in the area, but they should expect this to gradually go down in a couple of days. One week after the ear surgery, patients can resume their normal activities.
Patients can fully appreciate the results of the ear surgery several weeks after the procedure. Although the healing process may be gradual, the results are definitely permanent and are very natural looking. Parents who have apprehensions about having their children go through an ear surgery may opt to have their children wear a special ear mold that should be used after birth to ensure its success.
Schedule a Consultation
For more information about ear surgery, contact Dr. Jones today at 405.418.5400 or click here to schedule an appointment.