Otoplasty (Ear Surgery)
Aesthetic plastic surgery can improve the positioning of your ears if they protrude more than normal.
Otoplasty patient shown before surgery with ears that protrude.
Surgery seen from the back of the ear. (A) Incisions are made and a small portion of skin removed. (B) The cartilage is recontoured to bring the ear into its correct position and supported with sutures. (C) Sutures close the incisions, leaving a faint scar.
Surgery seen from the front of the ear. Reshaped cartilage restores to ear fold, making the ear lie flatter against the head.
The postoperative patient with ears that are normal in appearance.
Surgery is possible at any age, but it is often recommended for children as they near total ear development at age five or six. When the ears are corrected prior to the child entering school, the surgery helps eliminate potential psychological trauma.
In this procedure, the ears are positioned closer to the head by reshaping the cartilage (supporting tissue). This is usually accomplished through incisions placed behind the ears so that subsequent scars will be concealed in a natural skin crease.
After surgery, a gauze dressing or bandage should be worn for several days to ensure that the ears heal in their new, more natural position. Strenuous activities and contact sports should be avoided for several weeks.
