7 Things to know before Otoplasty

We live in a very glamorous & media driven world. Here everyone wants to look fantastic and be perfect. Thanks to the plastic surgeries & cosmetic treatments, it’s all become possible. We have heard of botox, fillers, tummy tuck, liposuction, etc, but ear rejuvenation or beautification is not that one hears on a regular basis. Hairstyles, hats & accessories, only go so far. For permanent solutions, people consider going in for a Otoplasty surgery.

Approximately 1-2 % of the total population is affected by a problem called prominent or protruding ears. Nearly 30% of babies who have prominent ears are born with normal ears. It is only after 3 months that the problem starts to arise and can get worse when the soft cartilage is repeatedly bent over during breastfeeding.

Prominent ears can be caused due to underdevelopment or effacement of the antihelix or due to overdevelopment of the deep concha. It can also be due to a combination of both of these features.

Otoplasty is a surgical treatment done to set the prominent or protruding ears back closer to the head or to reduce the size of large ears. Here are some things you must know if considering Otoplasty:

1. Otoplasty is ideally done on children who are aged 8 years or above.
2. The surgery can also be carried out in adult patients.
3. The surgery is performed under a general anaesthesia in children and local anaesthesia in adults.
4. No two ears ever look same. Even though the main goal of the surgery is to make both ears similar in size & projection, the contours of the ears always differ and it is impossible to get perfect symmetry.
5. Although Otoplasty is a quick procedure and one can resume daily activities after 3 days, it may take couple of months for the ear to recover fully.
6. Otoplasty is done with permanent sutures rather than dissolving ones. This means that if the stitches, for any reason come off, the ear may protrude and require a revision.
7. Sports like wrestling, soccer etc where one might get elbowed in the head, can result in undoing the stitches and should be avoided or played with caution.

Otoplasty is considered as a very niche surgery and only a very few doctors are highly experienced in the field. One must consult a board certified plastic surgeon to undertake an ear surgery. To know more, consult Dr. Rajat Gupta, a highly skilled board certified plastic surgeon specialising in ear reconstruction surgery. Contact: 9251711711