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Otoplasty, commonly referred to as ear reduction surgery, ear correction surgery, ear pinning surgery, or surgery to pin the ears back, corrects protruding and abnormally positioned ears by moving them closer to the head. Otoplasty may also improve the contour of the outer ear by reshaping it. It’s primarily a cosmetic ear surgery for the correction of prominent ears or ear deformities. It sometimes reduces ear cartilage to reduce the size of protruding ears as well as “flattening” them against the head. In rarer cases, it functions as a reconstructive surgery to correct ear deformities of the external ear such as a birth defect, or to correct the results of a previous ear surgery.
Many otoplasty patients are adults who have lived with prominent ears for much of their lives. This surgical technique is frequently performed on young children with oversized ears and is one of the very few plastic surgery options performed on that age group. Our plastic surgeons can determine if otoplasty is appropriate for you or your child.
expectations
What to expect for your Otoplasty surgery?
Anesthesia
Young children: Usually general anesthesia. Older children or adults: Local with IV sedation or general anesthesia.
Length of Surgery
2 to 3 hours.
In / Outpatient
Usually an outpatient procedure in our accredited office operating room suite.
The Procedure
During ear correction surgery, incisions are made along the back of the external ear. A strip of skin is removed from the cartilage incision. Normal ear contour is formed either by suturing or excising the excess cartilage. Then, incisions are closed and any scarring is well hidden within the natural contours of the area behind the ear. Keep in mind that ears are rarely symmetrical and you will retain slight differences after ear surgery. Afterward, your ears will be covered with surgical tape and a special loose headband to keep the ears held back. You must wear it for a few weeks while you heal to ensure the protruding ears don’t return to their initial position.
How old do you have to be for otoplasty?
Otoplasty can be performed anytime after the age of four years old. At this age, the auricular cartilage is developed and won’t see significant changes after surgical correction.
1-2 Months
How Long is an Otoplasty Recovery?
Back to work or school: 5 to 10 days.
Strenuous activity, contact sports: 1 to 2 months.
What Are the Risks?
No surgical procedure is risk-free, and that includes cosmetic surgery like ear surgery. During your consultation with Dr. Sabbagh or Dr. Baca, they will review the risks so you can make an educated decision.
Otoplasty in Bingham Farms, MI
With an established track record of 90 years, an accredited facility, and thousands of satisfied patients throughout Dearborn, metro Detroit, Michigan, and the U.S., the Straith Clinic has earned an excellent reputation for cosmetic surgery of the face and body. Call us today at 248-270-5272 or send us an email to schedule a consultation during which you can discuss our facial and body services and tour our facility, including our on-site operating facility.