Otoplasty - Corrective ear surgery
What is Otoplasty?
Ear plastic surgery is most commonly performed when the ear is projecting prominently outward.
The ears grow for the first 7 or 8 years and then remain stable while the rest of the facial structures complete their development, which is why surgery is recommended at 6 years of age before starting school.
Otoplasty is a surgery that can also be performed on adults and there is little risk associated with the procedure.
Before Your Ear Operation
- In the days leading up to the surgery, use a germicidal soap to wash the body and face.
- Do not take medicines that contain salicylates such as aspirin.
- No smoking in the days before surgery.
- The patient will be given post-op care instructions after the operation and information about possible complications of surgery.
La otoplastia se practica para corregir la posición de las orejas, aumentar o dismuir su tamaño y modificar la estructura del cartílago
La otoplastia puede realizarse después de los 6 años con anestesia general para no ocasionar molestias en el niño
Otoplasty Procedure
- Otoplasty is a simple outpatient procedure performed at school age and done with general anesthesia for kids and local anesthesia for adults.
- Otoplasty takes about an hour.
- The surgeon begins by making a small incision behind the ear. This exposes the cartilage and a portion of the ear bone.
- Then he weakens the internal cartilage to form new cartilage folds so that the ear can adopt a comfortable, reclined position on the mastoid region (link wikipedia) without becoming attached to it.
- The cartilage is fixed with a white nylon and the skin is sutured with absorbable binding, thus avoiding the removal of stitches.
Otoplasty Post-Op Care
- After surgery, a bandage is placed and kept on during the first 48 hours after the operation. On the third day, a mild dressing or headband is applied.
- Avoid wetting the dressing until all bandages are removed.
- Wash the ears daily with mild soap and water.
- Massage the cream prescribed by the surgeon, the scar and the folds of the ears.
- You will feel mild to moderate pain, which is controlled with prescription painkillers. If the pain intensifies, the surgeon should be informed.
- You may experience a decreased sensation and tingling in the ears. This feeling will disappear gradually.
OTOPLASTY FAQs
Removal is not necessary since the stitches are absorbed.
No. It cannot affect them because they are independent of each other.
The scar is is behind and in the lower part of the ear and for these reasons is barely visible.
The recommended age is from the time the child's ears have reached their final size, between 7 and 8. But if the child is traumatized by the jeers of his peers, this intervention can be done earlier.
