What is Otoplasty?
Posted on 11. Jun, 2009 by Valerie in Surgical Procedures
Otoplasty is a relatively common surgical procedure that many people are unaware of. Also referred to as ear pinning, the surgery is used to reduce the size of large ears or to pin back ears that protrude far from the patient’s head. Many patients undergoing the procedure are quite young, as the ears are fully grown at the age of four, but many adults have the surgery done as well.
There are benefits to having the procedure done early. Children with large or protruding ears are often teased or bullied in school, and the procedure can quickly end the harassment. In addition, children have very resilient immune systems and are often able to recover very quickly from the procedure.
Before the surgery, the patient will be sedated or general anesthesia will be used. General anesthesia is almost always used when the procedure is performed on children, while many adults undergo the procedure using only local anesthesia and a mild sedative.
The otoplasty procedure is different, depending on the desired results. The methods depend on whether the ears are being pinned or reshaped. This procedure is commonly used to repair stretched earlobes and the cauliflower like appearance that is caused after taking a blow to the ear, such as is seen in many wrestlers and boxers. There are two general types of otoplasty, however.
Cartilage sparing is the term for using sutures and stitches to move and reposition the ear tissue, while cartilage scoring makes incisions in the cartilage to rearrange, add, or move the tissue. Many procedures involve using a combination of both techniques. The techniques that will be used are determined on a case by case basis. While scoring has a higher risk of scarring, it can be the most effective method of treatment in many cases.
The most common side effects of otoplasty are itching, numbness, and postoperative pain, which can be alleviated with medication. These effects are typically minimal. otoplasty is actually one of the safest plastic surgeries, though there is a risk of complication following any surgical procedure. Blood clots, infection, and loosening of sutures are the most common side effects, though even these are quite rare, and there is also a risk of overcompensation. This can be reduced by using a well trained physician who understands your desired result fully. This is a very safe procedure with positive results for virtually all patients. For more information about otoplasty, consult your cosmetic surgeon.
