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Facts about cosmetic ear surgery or otoplasty:
Cosmetic ear surgery has the distinction of being the only kind
of cosmetic surgery that is performed more frequently on children
than on adults. This type of surgery aims to correct deformities
that exist from birth or those acquired as a result of injuries
and accidents.
The medical term for cosmetic ear surgery is otoplasty. It covers
several procedures done to correct various types of ear problems.
In some children, the visible part of the ear (known as the auricle)
is partly or completely missing from birth - a condition called
microtia. Otoplasty can reconstruct the external ear in such cases.
Others have ears that stick out excessively. This protrusion gives
them an odd appearance. By using a procedure called setback otoplasty,
the ears can be realigned to give the face a normal appearance.
Some children are born with ears that are unsymmetrical and cosmetic
ear surgery is done to correct it. It is also done to reshape deformed
ears, such as ears that have a pointed upper edge.
Although it is often referred to as cosmetic ear surgery, otoplasty
is considered to be a reconstructive procedure rather than a cosmetic
one. For patients, this is an advantage, because insurance companies
usually cover reconstructive surgeries but not cosmetic procedures.
Otoplasty deals only with the outer ear. It does not correct hearing
difficulties or conditions that affect the inner ear.
In children, cosmetic ear surgery is done under general anesthesia.
In adults, the operation is often done with local anesthesia along
with sedation. Most otoplasty operations last approximately two
or three hours.
What follows is a generalized procedure done to correct protruding
ears. Because this condition can have different causes, there is
no one single procedure that is applicable in all cases.
In one person, it may be the angle at which the ear cartilage folds
that causes the protrusion. In another, hollow of the external ear
may be oversized. Still others may have a larger-than-normal ear
lobe.
The patient is first anesthetized and sedated. The incision is usually
made behind the ear, along the line where the ear joins the head.
The ear cartilage may then be exposed and perhaps a piece of it
cut out. Or it may only be reshaped without removing part of it.
Next, the surgeon moves the cartilage back towards the head and
stitches are placed to hold it in position. Sometimes, the cartilage
is only stitched back on itself without removing or reshaping it.
The surgeon dries the area and closes the incision. The ear is then
dressed in moisturized cotton dressing.
Following cosmetic ear surgery, the patient will need to wear a
bandage around the head (shaped like a turban) for about five days.
After this bandage is removed, the patient is asked to wear a headband
around the ears at all times for approximately one month and during
the night for two months thereafter. The surgeon may also prescribe
warm compresses a few times a day after removal of the original
bandage.
Hair dryers using hot air should be avoided for a time. The surgeon
will give the patient instructions on washing their hair.
There are some risks associated with cosmetic ear surgery. They
include overcorrection of the deformity, formation of scar tissue
(this may need to be corrected after some months), numbness in the
area of the incision, infection of the incision, etc.
Most patients who undergo cosmetic ear surgery get satisfactory
results. Their ear shape is now back to normal and they experience
an accompanying boost in self image and confidence.
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