Otoplasty: A Beautiful Face from All Angles
With otoplasty (ear surgery), the plastic surgeon reshapes the “protruding” ears, correcting their shape and size.
Otoplasty in Children and Adolescents
The procedure is suitable for children from the age of 5 (when the development of the auricle is 85%-90% complete) and older, as well as for adults. Since this feature is located on the face and is difficult to “hide,” the problem of “protruding” ears is often accompanied by particularly intense negative feelings.
Many adults spend a significant amount of time using techniques to hide this part of their face, adding difficulties to their daily lives and negatively affecting their social interactions. The lack of discretion typical of childhood creates problems in the school environment for young children with large or “protruding” ears, making them feel vulnerable to negative comments from their peers and becoming the target of unwanted attention.
How is the Procedure Performed?
Otoplasty is performed under general anesthesia up to the age of 14 and under local anesthesia for older ages. With an almost invisible incision on the posterior surface of the auricle that will never be visible, the shape of the antihelix or the angle of the concha relative to the mastoid process is corrected using sutures.
The procedure lasts 1 hour, and discharge is usually given the same day (day surgery), without the need for extensive bandaging. Returning to work or school occurs in 3-5 days, while returning to strenuous sports happens after 1 month.
Cost of Otoplasty
The cost of otoplasty mainly depends on the type of anesthesia used (general or local) and whether hospitalization is required. In any case, the cost is very affordable, and the multiple benefits of the procedure fully “compensate” those who undergo it.
Results of the Procedure
Although the aesthetic result of otoplasty is finalized and revealed within the next month, it is visible immediately after the first bandage is removed. The result, similar to that of rhinoplasty, is permanent, highlighting other features and contributing to an overall more attractive facial appearance. Patients experience impressive improvements in all aspects of their daily lives, as they forget the techniques for hiding their “protruding” ears, eliminate restrictions on presenting themselves, regain their spontaneity, and boost their self-confidence.
Otoplasty FAQs
If my ears are different, can otoplasty be performed on just one?
There are cases where the ears on a face are not identical; one may be perfect while the other differs, e.g., protrudes more from the head. This can be due to either a congenital anatomical issue or an injury that occurred on one side of the face. Both cases are addressed with a personalized approach: either unilaterally or by achieving the different correction needed for each ear to make them similar and symmetrical.
I have deformities in my earlobes due to long-term use of earrings. How can otoplasty help me?
Unfortunately, ears do not escape the aging process. Signs of aging in this area include sagging and elongation. This condition is worsened or partially caused by using various accessories, such as heavy dangling earrings, which pull the earlobes down. Traditional otoplasty does not help with this problem. However, plastic surgery has a solution: there are non-invasive methods that improve the appearance of the ears, such as using dermal implants (fillers) injected into the earlobes to restore lost volume, making them look fuller and more youthful. Hyaluronic acid, with its various types, is used to achieve the ideal aesthetic result. A major advantage of this solution is that using fillers in the earlobes lasts much longer than when fillers are injected into other facial areas. This is because the lack of muscle movement in the earlobes helps keep the material in place. However, if the earlobe is completely torn or the hole created is very large, the problem is corrected again with local anesthesia.
Can protruding ears be corrected with the use of laser?
Recently, a method for correcting ears without a scalpel, otoplasty with laser, has been promoted through the media. If the laser is used to “melt” and eliminate the memory of the cartilage and reshape it with external splints, this is a controversial procedure that is not widely accepted in the medical community, as very poor results and many complications, such as cartilage inflammation (“chondritis”) and deformities, have been reported. We are strongly opposed to this technique. If the laser is simply used as a scalpel, it still does not offer anything substantial or contribute to the permanence of the result. Therefore, in no case does the laser replace the otoplasty procedure.