Ear Fixing (Otoplasty)

About the Surgery:

People seek otoplasty for a variety of reasons. Some children are born with one or both ears misshapen. Others have very prominent ears, which can lead to a lot of teasing by other children at school or other public places. There are also adults who are unhappy with how prominent their ears are, or the shape of one or both ears.

The structure of the ear is supported by a framework of cartilage. This framework is reshaped during an otoplasty. The procedure is performed with hidden incisions to hide any evidence of surgery. Cartilage may be reshaped, removed, minimized, or augmented.

Children typically require some form of systemic sedation, in addition to local anesthesia. Often, this means a general anesthetic. Adults have the option of undergoing the procedure with or without general anesthesia. This is the choice of the patient, after consultation with the surgeon and anesthesiologist. Some prefer a general anesthetic, but many instead choose “twilight” anesthesia, in which a sedative is administered during the procedure. Occasionally, individuals prefer the procedure to be done with local anesthetic only.

The ear or ears are wrapped with bandages at the end of the procedure. This bandage is left on for a week after surgery. At that time, a decision is made as to whether additional time with the bandage is necessary. If any non-absorbable sutures are used, these are removed one week after surgery.