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Ears that appear to stick out or are overly large can be helped by ear surgery.
An incision is made in the back of the ear so cartilage can be sculpted or folded. Stitches are used to close the incision and help maintain the new shape.
Creating a fold in the cartilage makes the ear lie flatter against the head and appear more normal.
Large or prominent ears that stick out abnormally far from the head may be corrected with ear pinning surgery, or otoplasty.
About Ear Pinning Surgery
The Best Ear Surgery Candidates
Considering ear pinning surgery
Unlike many cosmetic surgery procedures, ear surgery patients tend to be children 4-14 years old. Ears are almost fully grown by age four, and the earlier the surgery, the less teasing and name-calling a child is likely to experience.
Adult men and women who have large or prominent ears and are in good physical and mental health may also choose to undergo ear surgery.
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The Ear Pinning Procedure
Treating protruding ears with ear pinning
Ear surgery usually takes about 2-3 hours, although complicated procedures may take longer. Younger patients are usually placed under general anesthesia during the procedure, whereas older patients may be given local anesthesia with IV sedation.
Even if only one ear appears to protrude, ear surgery is usually performed on both ears to ensure a symmetrical, balanced outcome.
Otoplasty is often performed by placing a small incision in the back of the ear that exposes the ear cartilage. From there, ear cartilage is moved toward the head and sculpted. If needed, permanent stitches may be used to help maintain the new ear shape. In some cases, ear skin may be removed instead of ear cartilage in order to reshape and pin back the ears.
Ear surgery scars on the back of the ear are virtually undetectable and generally fade with time.
In addition to treating prominent ears, ear surgery can also improve lop ear (folded ear tip), cupped ear (unusually small ears) and shell ear (missing ear curves, folds and creases). Earlobe repair surgery can also improve large, torn or stretched earlobes, as well as lobes with large creases and wrinkles. Reconstructive surgery to re-create ears for those who were born without them or who lost them through injury is also possible.
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Ear Surgery Risks
Complications after ear pinning surgery
Ear surgery risks are minor and may include infection and development of blood clots.
Temporary side effects after ear pinning include bruising and pain, throbbing or discomfort that may be managed with pain medication.
The most common problem ear surgery patients experience is inadvertently damaging the ear during recovery such that aesthetic results from the surgery are compromised.
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Otoplasty Recovery
Healing after ear surgery
Patients who have general anesthesia may be kept overnight in the hospital after ear pinning surgery, whereas patients who have local anesthesia may return home with help afterward.
Your head will be wrapped in a bulky bandage immediately following ear pinning surgery to keep your ears properly positioned while they intially heal.
A lighter head dressing will replace the bulky bandages within a few days after ear surgery, and you will be given instructions about when and for how long you may remove your dressing. Unless permanent stitches are used to set your ears, dissolvable stitches will usually be gone within a week.
Adults may return to work within 4-5 days after ear surgery, whereas children may return to school with about a week. Activities that may result in your ears being folded or bent should be avoided for at least a month after ear pinning surgery, so this means playground activity should be limited for children for a period of time during ear surgery recovery.
Follow all care instructions for before and after ear surgery, and remember to keep your follow-up appointments with Dr. Motlagh. Tyler Plastic Surgery is conveniently located to accommodate local Tyler patients, as well as patients visiting from Dallas, Fort Worth and Plano, Texas, and Shreveport, Louisiana.
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