Ear Pinning
Otoplasty, also known as cosmetic ear surgery, is a reconstructive surgical procedure to change the shape, position, or size of the ears. Typically, this procedure involves correcting ears that stick out (ear pinning) and to repair their projection. Patients may undergo this procedure at any age after the ears are fully grown, commonly after the age of 5.
Do you experience these issues?
✅ Ears that are disproportionate to your head or oddly placed
✅ Lack self-esteem because you were born with ears that appear overly large or small
✅ Feel distressed that your ears are aesthetically unappealing due to an injury that has negatively impacted the shape of your ears
Solution
This surgical procedure is commonly performed under general anesthesia for kids and local anesthesia in adults and usually takes two to three hours, depending on the complexity of the procedure. The procedure done on children might differ from that done on adults as children have softer ear cartilage.
Depending on the patient's anatomy and desired changes, an incision will be made, possibly on the backs of the ears or within the inner creases of the ears to ensure minimal scarring. Next, excess cartilage and skin will be removed. The cartilage will be folded into the proper projection and then secured with internal stitches while additional stitches will be used to close the incisions.
Patient’s ears will be covered and protected by bandages after the procedure to ensure optimal healing. Results are permanent and patients are usually able to return to normal activities within a few days.
Recovery
- Bandages should be replaced with a soft headband a few days after the procedure.
- Avoid sleeping on the sides to protect the ears from any pressure.
- Sutures will be removed a week after the procedure.
- Ears will turn tender, swollen and red for a few weeks after the procedure; patient will likely experience some discomfort, pain or itching throughout the recovery process and it is recommended to take pain medication as prescribed by the doctor.
- It is completely normal to have some numbness of the ears; this will be gone within a month.
- All activities including sports should be able to resume after four to six weeks.