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Ear Surgery
Ear surgery, or otoplasty, is
usually done to set prominent ears
back closer to the head or to reduce
the size of large ears.
For the most part, the operation is
done on children between the ages of
four and 14. Ears are almost fully
grown by age four, and the earlier
the surgery, the less teasing and
ridicule the child will have to
endure. Ear surgery on adults is
also possible, and there are
generally no additional risks
associated with ear surgery on an
older patient.
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If you're considering
ear surgery
If you're considering
ear surgery for yourself
or your child, this
information will give
you a basic
understanding of the
procedure-when it can
help, how it's
performed, and what
results you can expect.
It can't answer all
of your questions, since
a lot depends on your
individual
circumstances. Please be
sure to ask your doctor
if there is anything you
don't understand about
the procedure. |
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All surgery carries
some uncertainty and
risk
When ear surgery is
performed by a
qualified, experienced
surgeon, complications
are infrequent and
usually minor.
Nevertheless, as with
any operation, there are
risks associated with
surgery and specific
complications associated
with this procedure.
A small percentage of
patients may develop a
blood clot on the ear.
It may dissolve
naturally or can be
drawn out with a needle.
Occasionally, patients
develop an infection in
the cartilage, which can
cause scar tissue to
form. Such infections
are usually treated with
antibiotics; rarely,
surgery may be required
to drain the infected
area.
Planning for surgery
Most surgeons recommend
that parents stay alert
to their child's
feelings about
protruding ears; don't
insist on the surgery
until your child wants
the change. Children who
feel uncomfortable about
their ears and want the
surgery are generally
more cooperative during
the process and happier
with the outcome.
The initial meeting,
your surgeon will
evaluate your child's
condition, or yours if
you are considering
surgery for yourself,
and recommend the most
effective technique. He
or she will also give
you specific
instructions on how to
prepare for surgery.
Where the surgery
will be performed
Ear surgery is usually
performed as an
outpatient procedure in
a hospital, a doctor's
office-based surgical
facility, or a
freestanding surgery
center. Occasionally,
your doctor may
recommend that the
procedure be done as an
inpatient procedure, in
which case you can plan
on staying overnight in
the hospital.
Types of anesthesia
If your child is young,
your surgeon may
recommend general
anesthesia, so the child
will sleep through the
operation. For older
children or adults, the
surgeon may prefer to
use local anesthesia,
combined with a
sedative, so you or your
child will be awake but
relaxed.
The surgery
Ear surgery usually
takes about two to three
hours, although
complicated procedures
may take longer. The
technique will depend on
the problem.
With one of the more
common techniques, the
surgeon makes a small
incision in the back of
the ear to expose the
ear cartilage. He or she
will then sculpt the
cartilage and bend it
back toward the head.
Non-removable stitches
may be used to help
maintain the new shape.
Occasionally, the
surgeon will remove a
larger piece of
cartilage to provide a
more natural-looking
fold when the surgery is
complete.
Another technique
involves a similar
incision in the back of
the ear. Skin is removed
and stitches are used to
fold the cartilage back
on itself to reshape the
ear without removing
cartilage.
In most cases, ear
surgery will leave a
faint scar in the back
of the ear that will
fade with time. Even
when only one ear
appears to protrude,
surgery is usually
performed on both ears
for a better balance.
Getting back to
normal
Adults and children are
usually up and around
within a few hours of
surgery, although you
may prefer to stay
overnight in the
hospital with a child
until all the effects of
general anesthesia wear
off.
The patient's head will
be wrapped in a bulky
bandage immediately
following surgery to
promote the best molding
and healing. The ears
may throb or ache a
little for a few days,
but this can be relieved
by medication.
Within a few days, the
bulky bandages will be
replaced by a lighter
head dressing similar to
a headband. Be sure to
follow your surgeon's
directions for wearing
this dressing,
especially at night.
Stitches are usually
removed, or will
dissolve, in about a
week.
Any activity in which
the ear might be bent
should be avoided for a
month or so. Most adults
can go back to work
about five days after
surgery. Children can go
back to school after
seven days or so, if
they're careful about
playground activity. You
may want to ask your
child's teacher to keep
an eye on the child for
a few weeks.
Other ear problems
Besides protruding ears,
there are a variety of
other ear problems that
can be helped with
surgery. These include:
"lop ear," when the tip
seems to fold down and
forward; "cupped ear,"
which is usually a very
small ear; and "shell
ear," when the curve in
the outer rim, as well
as the natural folds and
creases, are missing.
Surgery can also improve
large or stretched
earlobes, or lobes with
large creases and
wrinkles. Surgeons can
even build new ears for
those who were born
without them or who lost
them through injury.
Sometimes, however, the
correction can leave a
scar that's worse than
the original problem.
Ask your surgeon about
the effectiveness of
surgery for your
specific case.
More natural-looking
ears
Most patients, young and
old alike, are thrilled
with the results of ear
surgery. But keep in
mind, the goal is
improvement, not
perfection. Don't expect
both ears to match
perfectly-perfect
symmetry is both
unlikely and unnatural
in ears. If you've
discussed the procedure
and your expectations
with the surgeon before
the operation, chances
are, you'll be quite
pleased with the result. |
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