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What does ear plastic surgery involve?

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Cosmetic surgery

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Ear plastic surgery (otoplasty) is usually carried out under a short-acting general anaesthetic in children, but can be performed under local anaesthetic and mild sedation in adolescents and adults. The cormetic surgeon makes an incision behind the ear in the fold where the ear meets the head. The skin is peeled back and the cartilage beneath is reshaped. Some cartilage and skin may be removed if necessary. Stitches are then put in place to hold the ears in position until they heal.

During cosmetic ear surgery to correct protrusion of the ear, the cosmetic surgeon may make further changes to the shape or size of the ear. This creates a natural shape and maintains as much symmetry as possible between the two ears.

Ear correction surgery takes about one hour to complete, and operations are usually performed as an out-patient procedure. This means that the child or adult having the surgery is able to leave hospital on the same day. Some hospitals prefer younger children to stay one night..

Painkillers may be needed to reduce discomfort as the anaesthetic used during ear plastic surgery wears off. A bandage is wrapped around the head and over both ears, and this needs to be worn for one to two weeks after otoplasty to keep the ears in position as they heal. Special care is important at night during sleeping, and it may be necessary to sleep propped up on pillows for the first night.

Stitches are removed between five and ten days after ear plastic surgery, or if absorbable sutures are used they dissolve in their own time. The ears can start to itch during healing but it is vital to avoid scratching under the bandage as this can introduce infection.

Once the bandages come off, it is usually possible to return to school or work, but if possible a tennis headband should be worn for six weeks to keep the ears in place, even if it is only at night. Hair can be washed after two weeks but it’s best to avoid swimming for about a month after ear correction surgery.

Ear correction surgery in adults can be done at the same time as other facial cosmetic surgery.

Ear plastic surgery information summary:

Technical name	Otoplasty or pinnaplasty
Procedure time	60 minutes, longer with more complex corrections
Anaesthetic	General in children, local and sedative in adults
Time in hospital	1 night for children, adults can leave hospital the same day
Time off work	1 - 2 weeks
Ears feel sensitive for	1 week
Time for scar tissue to heal	Up to 6 months
Time to resumption of normal activities (including swimming)	1 month

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