Otoplasty / Surgery of the Ear

If you feel that your ears are too prominent in proportion to the rest of your head and face, you may benefit from cosmetic surgery of the ears, also called otoplasty. Otoplasty is usually done to set prominent ears back closer to the head or to reduce the size of large ears.

Otoplasty is, for the most part, done on children between the ages of 4 and 14. Ears are almost fully grown by age four, and the earlier the surgery, the less teasing and ridicule the child may have to endure. Otoplasty on adults is also possible, and there are generally no additional risks associated with otoplasty on a patient that is older.

Consultation

Dr. Pledger will discuss the procedure with you in detail during your consultation. He will perform a physical evaluation of your ears and take photographs for your medical record. He may have you look in a mirror and point out exactly what you would like to see improved. This will help Dr. Pledger understand your expectations and determine whether this can be realistically be achieved.

There are several surgical techniques that Dr. Pledger may suggest, to improve the appearance of your ears. The particular technique that Dr. Pledger recommends will depend on many factors, such as the amount of excess cartilage and skin, the position of your ears, and the shape of your face.

Surgery

Otoplasty is a same day surgery that is performed at a surgical facility. It is performed under general anesthesia and, depending on the type of procedure that is used, takes from 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours, although complicated procedures may take longer. The technique will depend on the problem and Dr. Pledger will meet with you again prior to surgery to discuss any questions you may still have.

Once in surgery, one of the more common techniques, involves Dr. Pledger making a small incision in the back of the ear to expose the ear cartilage. He will then sculpt the cartilage and bend it back toward the head. Non-removable sutures may be used to help maintain the new shape. On occasion, he will remove a larger piece of cartilage to provide a more natural-looking fold when the surgery is complete.

In most cases, ear surgery will leave a faint scar in the back of the ear that will fade with time. Even when only one ear appears to protrude, surgery is usually performed on both ears for a better balance.

Postoperative Recovery

Adults and children are usually up and around within a few hours of surgery, although you may prefer to stay overnight in the hospital with a child until all the effects of general anesthesia wear off.

The patient’s head will be wrapped in a bulky bandage immediately following surgery to promote the best molding and healing. The ears may throb or ache a little for a few days, but this can be relieved by the medication that Dr. Pledger prescribes for you.

Within a few days, the bulky bandages will be replaced by a lighter head dressing similar to a headband. Be sure to follow Dr. Pledger’s directions for wearing this dressing, especially at night.

Stitches are usually removed, or will dissolve, in about one week.

Activities that might bend the ear should be avoided for approximately one month. Adults are usually able to return to work after about 5 days of healing. Children will be able to return to school after approximately 7 days of healing, although it might be a good idea to ask the child’s teacher to keep an eye on the child for a period of a few weeks