Also called otoplasty or ear pinning, cosmetic ear surgery is generally done to reposition protruding ears more closely to the head. Protruding ears can cause emotional distress for patients and family, and results of this surgery can be very gratifying. Usually, the ear cartilage is sculpted to create more natural curves, in addition to repositioning the ear as a whole. The procedure can be performed in children from age five, as well as in adults. The ear surgery procedure is performed in a Newport Beach surgicenter, often under local anesthesia with sedation. Patients generally return home immediately after surgery, and recovery is approximately one week.
What other conditions can ear surgery correct?
Besides protruding ears, there are a variety of other ear problems that can be helped with surgery. These include: "lop ear," when the tip seems to fold down and forward; "cupped ear," which is usually a very small ear; and "shell ear," when the curve in the outer rim, as well as the natural folds and creases, are missing. Surgery can also improve large or stretched earlobes, or lobes with large creases and wrinkles.
What is recovery like for cosmetic ear surgery?
Any activity in which the ear might be bent should be avoided for a month or so. Most adults can go back to work about five days after surgery. Children can go back to school after seven days or so, if they're careful about playground activity. You may want to ask your child's teacher to keep an eye on the child for a few weeks.
For more information on ear surgery, please call or email Dr. Savalia at our Orange County area plastic surgery office.
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