AESTHETIC EAR SURGERY

Ear is an important unit that affecting the facial features both aesthetically and functionally. Deformities of ear have large variety including total absence the ears. Prominent ear is the most common deformity of the ear. If the angle is more obtuse between the ear and head surface of back side of ear, ears appear more prominent. The position of sleeping or intrauterine posture before birth does not cause to development of prominent ear.

Otoplasty can be performed at any age after the ears have reached (or nearly reached) their full size, which is around 5 to 6 years of age. For many adults and children, having large ears leads to ridicule, poor adaptation to school, inferiority complex and / or extreme self-consciousness. Therefore pre-school age is ideal timing for correction of prominent ear.

The procedure is usually performed in a hospital under general anesthesia or in the office under local anesthesia. Latter option is usually preferred for adults. The surgery takes about 1hour. Surgery begins with a skin cut just behind the ear, in the natural fold where the ear is joined to the head. This procedure generally involves reforming the cartilages that shape the ears, to pull them in, and reduce the protrusion. Stitches are placed in the cartilage on the back side of the ear to maintain the new position. Skin cuts and the resulting scars are well concealed on the back of the ear, so that there is no visible scarring. You will be able to return home within a few hours of the surgery. A headband should be worn for 3 days after surgery in order to protect the surgical repair. A shower can be had after removal of headband. Surgery causes some swelling and bruising of the ears. Bruising disappears within 7-10 days and most of the swelling subsides within 1-2 weeks, and ears gain almost similar to its actual shape. Most normal activities can be resumed within a few weeks, but you will need to be very careful to protect your ears for at least 6 weeks. In addition, bending the ears forward in the first few months after the surgery can destroy even the finest surgical result, so be very careful to follow all of your surgeon’s instructions.

Not only correction of ear shape is achieved, considerable psychological improvement is also observed after otoplasty.

You may have the details about other deformities and anomalies of the ear from our clinic.

Op. Dr. H. Nazmi BAYÇIN