Having oversized, misshapen, or otherwise attention-grabbing ears can be cause for embarrassment.
Otoplasty is a surgical procedure that can help change your outer ears’ shape, size, and position. This type of surgery can also correct an ear that have been damaged by trauma. At our practice, ear surgery is performed by Dr. Namita Murthy, a double board-certified plastic surgeon with more than a decade of facial plastic surgery experience. Dr. Murthy will listen to your concerns and help you sculpt a look that will help reduce your anxiety over your ears.
Benefits of Otoplasty
Otoplasty can address a variety of issues you may face regarding your ears. For example, you may have “prominent ears” that stick out beyond what you consider a normal angle. Otoplasty can help draw your pinnae (outer part of your ears) closer to the head, so they don’t stick out.
Whatever your concern may be, otoplasty has the benefit of restoring confidence with more natural-looking ears. Dr. Murthy can customize your otoplasty using several techniques to give you the look you want.
What is Otoplasty?
Otoplasty is any surgery to correct structural outer ear abnormalities. It aims to produce a more natural appearance to your ear but does not impact your hearing.
Otoplasty procedures can be used to correct congenital conditions such as misshapen ears or ear lobes, ears that are too small for your head, ears that are missing cartilage, or protruding ears. Otoplasty is also be used to repair injuries to your ears due to animal bites, sports-related injuries, or damage sustained in an accident.
Which Otoplasty Technique Will You Need?
At Murthy Facial Plastic Surgery, we offer three basic types of otoplasty:
- pinning
- reduction
- augmentation
Ear pinning is performed when ears protrude further than desired. A simple incision at the base of the external ear is involved in the operation, and some of the ear’s cartilage is often removed to improve the finished effect.
Ear reduction assists those with ears that are larger than desired. In this option, Dr. Murthy removes some of the cartilage found along the outer ear.
Ear augmentation can help if you have a misshapen ear, ears that are smaller than normal, or underdeveloped ears (microtia). With ear augmentation, the goal is to create a normal-sized outer ear that is in balance with your face. This surgery requires cartilage grafting using cartilage taken from another area in your body.
How Do I Prepare for Otoplasty?
Your first step is a consultation with Dr. Namita Murthy. She will listen to your concerns and aesthetic goals, then examine your ears. At that point. she will be able to explain what can be done to make the necessary changes to improve your ears.
It is important to be healthy. This includes not smoking, since the harmful chemicals in cigarettes and other smokable or chewable nicotine products will decrease your body’s ability to heal properly.
As you approach your surgery date, you will be asked to stop using medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, that could increase bleeding during your surgery. If you will need more than local anesthetic for the surgery, you may also need to stop certain drugs that can affect anesthesia.
What Happens During Your Surgery?
Otoplasty procedures are usually done as an outpatient. You will go home the same day. You should have someone drive you home so you can avoid moving your head too much. You are also not allowed to drive after receiving general anesthesia or IV sedation.
Incisions are usually made on the back of your ear or in the folds of your pinna to keep them essentially hidden. Your surgery can take from one to three hours, depending on the specific procedure.
Your Otoplasty Recovery
Recovery is different for each person. Our otoplasty patients will have their ears wrapped in bandages after the procedure, for safety and support. You are probably going to feel some pain and itching. Dr. Murthy will prescribe medication for pain and provide you with instructions on managing your aftercare.
You will want to avoid sleeping on your side to keep pressure off your incisions and newly repaired ears. Do what you need to do keep your body lying on your back. Extra pillows can stop you from rolling over. Some patients choose to sleep in a recliner for the first few nights.
You should avoid touching or rubbing your ears, even if they are itchy due to the healing process. Wearing clothes that you do not have to be pull over your head, such as button-down shirts, is preferred. If you must wear a shirt that pulls over your head, put your headband on to hold your ears steady against your head.
Dr. Murthy will remove the bandages several days after your otoplasty. Once your bandages are removed, you will need to wear a loose headband that covers your ears at night for two to six weeks. When turning over in bed, this will help prevent you from pushing your ears forward and away from your head.
What Are the Benefits of Otoplasty?
Most patients will agree, the biggest benefit of otoplasty is having ears that do not stick out and are in line with the shape of your head. Once problems are corrected, you will feel increased self-confidence rather than worrying about how you look.
What Are the Risks of Ear Surgery?
As with all surgeries, you could experience excessive bleeding, develop an infection, or have damage to a nearby nerve that creates numbness or a tingling sensation in your pinnae. Luckily, complications with otoplasty are rare. The most common complication is asymmetry or need for revision surgery.
Some soreness, itchiness, swelling, and bruising is normal. These problems will slowly resolve without treatment as your body heals.
Otoplasty Results
You will notice an immediate and permanent difference when the bandages are removed. Once swelling subsides completely, which usually takes about six weeks, you will see your final results. Aging may affect your pinnae, but the surgical changes will still remain.
Call Us Today and Ask About Ear Surgery in Annapolis, MD
When you’re ready to claim the look you want, call us for an ear surgery consultation. Dr. Murthy is ready to answer all of your questions regarding otoplasty. She will make sure you have all of the information you need to make the best decision for you. You no longer need to be self-conscious or embarrassed by the appearance of your ears.
Otoplasty FAQs
Is otoplasty right for me?
Ideal candidates are those who wish to change the size, shape, or position of their ears. Children as young as 5 years old may be candidates.
Is there anything I should do immediately after otoplasty?
You will need to keep your head elevated continually for the first week to reduce swelling. This means sleeping with your head elevated, too. You also need to protect your ears from being pulled in the wrong direction, so once bandages are removed, keep a loose headband handy to hold your ears against your head when doing something that could catch and pull on them.
What is the best age to undergo otoplasty?
Ear differences may cause social anxiety at any age and can leave children vulnerable to teasing and bullying. Some will say the optimal age to have otoplasty performed is when you are a child, but successful otoplasty can happen at any age. The important thing is to discuss your concerns with Dr. Murthy so they can be addressed.
How permanent are otoplasty results?
Generally, the results you see will be permanent. Otoplasty does not stop the aging process, so there may be future changes to the ears as you get older, but the changes from otoplasty will still be there.
Is ear pinning painful?
Ear pinning does involve some pain, but Dr. Murthy will discuss ways to reduce and manage it. For pain relief immediately after surgery, you will be prescribed narcotic pain medications. but you will quickly find that over-the-counter pain medications will give you adequate pain relief with fewer side effects.
The Aesthetics of Confidence
When you are confident, it shows. Not just in your behavior or your vibe, but in all you do.
If you are self-conscious about a particular area of your body, that shows as well. Imagine the freedom that comes with not worrying about your look when you make your way through life; the freedom of knowing you are putting your best self out there. That is the aesthetics of confidence.