Ear Correction

Ear Correction or Ear Reshaping is also called “Otoplasty” or “Pinnaplasty” and refers to the non-surgical and surgical procedures for correcting the deformities and defects of the pinna (the external ear).

Surgery done to correct or reshape the ears involves remodelling the cartilage into a less protruding shape. The two most common forms of ear correction are ear splinting and otoplasty. The former involves resetting the soft cartilage and uses a splint to keep the ear in the new position. It is typically used to treat babies less than six months old. During Otoplasty or Pinnaplasty on the other hand, the cartilage is remodelled to create the missing folds and position the ear closer to the head.

While protruding ears do not usually adversely affect hearing, they may cause a great deal of social embarrassment. In children, protruding ears can lead to teasing and bullying. Adults with protruding ears may find it difficult to wear certain items of headgear, such as a motorbike helmet. In particular, women with protruding ears may also feel uncomfortable to wear their hair up and expose their ears.

While protruding ears can run in families, this is not always the case. Ideally, the outer ear is designed to stick out from the side of the head at an angle of about 20 to 35 degrees. However, in a small number of people, the angle is more than 35 degrees, resulting in protruding ears.

Protruding ears can also result if there is too much cartilage, or if the ridge of the cartilage at the top of the ear does not fold properly as it develops. It can also result from injury to the ears.

You should consult a competent cosmetic surgeon, such as Dr. Suma before deciding on whether ear correction surgery is right for you. At the first meeting, you should discuss your goals as well as medical history with Dr. Sandhyala. You should also discuss the risks, benefits, cost, and recovery.

Otoplasty, or Ear Reconstructive Surgery, can be done at any age between the ages of 7 yrs and adulthood, because that’s when the ears have reached their full size. You may consider otoplasty if your ears stick out too far from your head, if your ears are large in proportion to your head, and if you are dissatisfied with a previous ear surgery.

If you are a good candidate for ear correction surgery, your cosmetic surgeon will advise that you abstain from aspirin, aspirin-containing medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements, all of which can increase bleeding.

You may also be advised to stop smoking, as the latter decreases blood flow in the skin and can slow the healing process. Otoplasty can be done in a hospital or in an outpatient surgical facility. Sometimes the procedure is done with sedation and local anaesthesia, while at others it is done with general anaesthesia.

Otoplasty varies depending on what kind of correction is needed. The specific technique that your cosmetic surgeon uses will determine the locations of the incisions and the resulting scars. Your doctor may make incisions on the backs of the ears or within the inner creases of your ears. After making incisions, your doctor may remove excess cartilage and skin. After this, she will fold the cartilage into the proper position and secure it with internal stitches. Additional stitches will also be used to close the incisions. The procedure typically takes about two hours.

After otoplasty, your doctor will cover your ears in bandages for protection and support. You may feel some discomfort and itching. You should take pain medication as prescribed by your doctor. If your discomfort increases despite the pain medication, you should consult your doctor immediately.

To keep pressure off your ears, do not sleep on your side. Also, do not rub or place excessive force on the incisions. A few days after otoplasty, your doctor will remove your bandages. Your ears will probably be swollen and red. You will need to wear a loose headband to cover your ears for two to six weeks.

You should talk to your doctor as to when your stitches can be removed. Your stitches may dissolve on their own, or must be removed in the doctor’s office in the weeks after the ear correction procedure. You should ask your doctor when you can resume daily activities, such as bathing as well as other physical activities.