Otoplasty Description & Benefits

An otoplasty is a cosmetic surgery to change the appearance of a person's ears. The otoplasty procedure has many variations, such as bringing the ears closer to the head, which is called ear pinning, reducing the size of very big ears, or reshaping various bends in the cartilage. Other ear reconstructive procedures deal with the deformed, or absent ears. The otoplasty procedure can be performed on children as young as 5 years old.

Otoplasty Procedure Steps

The otoplasty procedure usually takes about one to two hours to complete. Typically, your surgeon will suggest a general anesthesia for young patients and a local anesthetic combined with a mild sedative for older children and adults. The otoplasty procedure genreally has two variations. Most commonly, an incision just behind the ear is performed to remove the necessary amounts of cartilage and skin.  In other instances the surgery consists of stitching the ear to hold the cartilage permanently in place.

Otoplasty Recovery

Following the otoplasty, soft dressings are applied to the ears and will remain for a few days. Most patients experience some mild discomfort. Headbands are sometimes recommended to hold the ears in the desired position for two weeks after the surgery. After the otoplasty procedure adult patients can typically resume their normal routines after a few days. Children generally require a week of rest before going back to school.

Shop for Otoplasty Recovery Products

You can find a way variety of products designed to help you have the best preparation and recovery from your procedure at the:

Otoplasty Store

Otoplasty Side Effects & Risks

The most common risks associated with otoplasty are swelling, bruising, bleeding, infection, and scarring.

Otoplasty Costs

The average cost of a procedure is anywhere from $2,000-5,000 depending on the physician and areas treated.

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