Otoplasty
Surgery
Otoplasty, also known as "Ear job"
Otoplasty, or an ear job, is a surgical procedure designed to set prominent ears closer to the head, to improve their overall shape, or to reduce their size. Prominent ears can be in a myriad of forms, including cup ear, shell ear, bat ear, and lop ear. Many patients attempt to camouflage the deformity with hairstyling.
Plan your treatment
The consultation
Full medical history and examination including history of excessive bleeding, poor wound healing as the lobular and the back of the ear are one of few areas that are prone to keloid scaring. General assessment of the auricles: asymmetries, irregularities, position, size and shape of the ear will be noted and discussed with the patient. Auricles should measure 5-6 cm in height, and the long axis should recline approximately 20o from the vertical plane. The auricle should diverge from the occipital scalp at no greater than a 35o angle. The antihelix should form a 75-105o angle between the scaphoid fossa and the concha.
Preoperative photographs will be taken in standard frontal, lateral, and oblique positions. Additionally, a bird's eye view from above and/or posterior views can help document lateralization. Close-up lateral and oblique photographs can aid in analysing the particular deformities in each ear.
A patient must also be judged to be cooperative with the postoperative regimen.
The surgery
The surgeon makes a small incision on the back of the ear to expose the cartilage. The resulting scar will be hidden behind the ear.
Dr Barnouti will then fold the cartilage towards the head or, where a greater reduction is required, remove some of it, before inserting sutures to keep it in its new position.
An otoplasty typically takes from one to two hours.
After surgery
Recovery from ear surgery is very quick.
A large bandage need only be worn for the first few days, after which it will be replaced with a lighter dressing similar to a hair band.
Stitches are usually resorbable, the wound will be checked after a week and there is very little in the way of bruises or swelling.
Getting you back to school, work and normal duties
You can return to work almost immediately, even the day after surgery if you wish.
However, extra care should be taken to avoid activities where the ear may be pulled or bent for the first month, especially kids who could be teased by their siblings or friends.