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Home > Face Surgery > Protruding Ear Correction (Otoplasty)
Protruding Ear Correction (Otoplasty)
Otoplasty is a procedure designed to reposition protruding ears
to a more natural position closer to the head. Other deformities of
the ear folds are also correctable. Dr. Zemplenyi treats patients of all
ages at the Bel-Red Center for Aesthetic Surgery. School-aged children as young as
four
years-old are excellent candidates for this corrective surgery, but otoplasty may be performed at any age. A properly-timed procedure in
early
childhood avoids labeling (such as "Dumbo ears") that may adversely affect normal psychological
development.
General anesthetic is preferable for very young children while older
children and adults tolerate this surgery very well under local
anesthesia with "twilight-sleep" conscious sedation. More limited
aspects of ear surgery are sometimes performed using straight local
anesthesia. Otoplasty is performed through an incision placed behind the
ear thus hiden from general view. A
bandage is worn for about two days after surgery to maintain the ears in their
newly molded position. An elastic headband is worn for three to four weeks at night
following the surgery to protect the ears. Discomfort from this
procedure is usually minimal and easily controlled with post-operative
analgesic medications. With the exception of contact sports, patients
may return to normal
activities in just a few days.
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