Otoplasty, cosmetic ear plastic surgery, or ear pinning, is one of the most popular forms of plastic surgery performed in Canada and the US. This could be because about 5% of the population has prominent ears. It is a condition that can actually be corrected at a very young age. It is often performed on individuals as young as 5 years old or before they start primary school because it can help prevent psychological and social issues associated with teasing or bullying. We would like to address some of the most commonly asked questions about otoplasty in order to help you gain a better understanding of this procedure.
What is Otoplasty?
Otoplasty is more than just pinning back protruding ears. It can also involve altering the size and shape of your ears as well as ear reconstruction after an accident.
Ear pinning is performed on the outer ear (auricle) that is more visible from the front or back of a person than is considered aesthetically ideal. Typically, the ear should be less than 2 cm from your head and form an angle that is less than 25°. Protruding ears are hereditary and can be bilateral (both ears) or unilateral (one ear). The ear pinning procedure aims to flatten protruding ears. It is not considered a complex surgical procedure and recovery is not difficult at all.
Types of Otoplasty OR EAR PLASTIC SURGERY
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- Ear pinning is the most common procedure. And as we have discussed, it is basically performed if your ears stick out and you’d like them to be closer to your head.
- Ear reduction is performed if you have “macrotia” or larger than normal ears. In cases of macrotia, the size of the ear is reduced.
- Ear augmentation is performed if you have small ears or ears that haven’t developed properly. An ear augmentation can help increase the size of their outer ear.
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How is Otoplasty Performed?
Dr. Denton sculpts the ear into its new shape and position using a variety of suture techniques and cartilage modifying manoeuvers. Typically, otoplasty is performed as an outpatient procedure using procedural sedation which involves giving his patients a local anesthetic and sedatives. It usually takes about one to two hours to perform. The incision is placed in the natural crease behind each ear so there is no visible scarring. Dr. Denton works through the incision to reshape and stitch the ear cartilage into an ideal position.
How Long Does It Take to See The Result?
In most cases, the results can be seen immediately. However, the final appearance of your ears after your ear plastic surgery can take a week to see due to the swelling and bruising. It’s important to note, that even though the results of the otoplasty are permanent, Dr. Denton recommends that once the surgical dressing is removed from the ears, patients wear a headband/ski band to cover their ears completely during the day and night for about a week to hold the ears in position until they are completely healed. It is also a good idea to keep wearing the headband for about a month longer when sleeping to avoid folding or bending their ears.
Are the Results Permanent?
Similar to rhinoplasty procedures, otoplasty is permanent. You don’t have to worry about your ears returning to their original position. Once the sutures are removed, your ears will remain in their new position.
How Old Do You Have to Be for an Otoplasty?
There are cases when otoplasty is performed on pre-schoolers, but most parents wait until their children reach the age of six or seven to look into ear plastic surgery. This is actually a good idea, since the older a child is, the better he or she will be able to cooperate during recovery. It is also better if otoplasty is performed during childhood since the ear cartilage is softer and easier to mould. However, otoplasty can be performed with great success at any age.
Who is a Candidate for Otoplasty?
Otoplasty is an ideal surgical cosmetic procedure for individuals who feel that one or both ears protrude out too much. There are also individuals whose ears are noticeably asymmetrical, or larger/smaller than normal. However, like any surgical procedure, you need to make sure there are no health issues that would result in complications that can affect healing.
Contact Dr. Denton for Your Otoplasty Consultation
If you are unhappy with the shape, size, or condition of your ears and would like to change the way they look, you should consider otoplasty. Contact Dr. Denton to schedule a consultation. Dr. Denton believes that the patient must be an equal member of the decision-making team so that he or she can make sound informed decisions and will be aware of the expected result. That is why he encourages all his patients to learn as much as possible about any procedure they would like to undergo in order to determine whether it is right for them.
Our private and comfortable offices are located in the heart of Vancouver’s medical corridor, just one block from Vancouver General Hospital. Our state-of-the-art on-site surgical suite allows all patient visits – from consultation through surgery and post-operative follow-up – to be scheduled at this location, adding simplicity, familiarity, and convenience to the patient experience.
Schedule your otoplasty consultation online or call 604-879-3223 and find out how Dr. Denton can help you achieve the result that will make you feel more confident about your appearance.