| Otoplasty,
sometimes described as "pinning back" the ears,
is designed to change their shape and contour. It may be performed
on anyone over the age of five or six years old, the age at
which ear growth is almost complete. For those children with
severely protruding ears, it is recommended that the surgery
be performed at an early age, before they are subjected to
psychological stress related to the condition.
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Photos Available Upon Request |
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 Before
Surgery
Prior to surgery, a medical history is taken in order to evaluate
your general health. A careful examination is also conducted.
Dr. Edds and you, or in the case of a minor, a family member,
discuss how the ears should look and what can realistically
be expected. The type of anesthesia to be used, the procedure,
and possible risks and complications are also discussed.
Photographs are usually taken before and
after surgery. Preoperative instructions may include the elimination
of certain drugs which contain aspirin for several weeks before
the procedure in order to minimize the possibility of excess
bleeding. You will be instructed to shampoo your hair with
an antiseptic shampoo the night before and morning of surgery.
The
Procedure
Otoplasty can be performed in our surgical facility, an outpatient
surgical facility or a hospital, depending upon Dr. Edds and
your preference. It can be done under general anesthesia or
local anesthesia with IV sedation. Premedication may be administered
to relax you.
There are several surgical procedures which
are designed to bring the ears closer to the head. A basic
procedure involves an incision made at the back of the ear
to expose firm, pliable tissue called cartilage. Dr. Edds
may either fold down the cartilage and use sutures to keep
the folds together or remove excess cartilage. After reshaping
the cartilage, the incisions are closed with small sutures
and the ears are covered with bandages. The procedure can
take up to two hours or more depending upon the extent of
surgery.
Following
Surgery
Pain connected with the surgery is minimal to moderate and
is controlled with oral medication. Bandages are removed within
a few days but may be replaced with a lighter head dressing.
Wearing a tennis headband for a period of time to hold back
the ears may also be recommended. Bruising around the area
occurs but fades within a few weeks. Some temporary swelling
occurs but this condition can be alleviated by keeping the
head elevated when reclining. You may be advised to sleep
on a soft pillow but not directly on the ears. Six to eight
days after surgery, you may be allowed to shampoo your hair.
Scars from the incisions fade significantly in time and are,
for the most part, inconspicuous because the incisions are
made within the creases of the ears. Although you are usually
up and around one or two days after surgery, the decision
as to when normal activities can be resumed is determined
by Dr. Edds and is based on the extent of surgery and your
healing process.
Each year thousands of otoplasties are successfully
performed. Occasionally a second procedure is necessary if
an ear begins to protrude again. Complications of infection
are rare; however there are certain inherent risks connected
with every surgical procedure which should be thoroughly discussed
with Dr. Edds prior to surgery. You can minimize complications
by carefully following directions given by Dr. Edds.
If you are interested in learning more about
this procedure, please call our office at (270) 926-9033
and we will be happy to answer questions about the
procedure itself or about procedure cost and financing.
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