Otoplasty (Ear Pinning Surgery)
Ear surgery is performed to correct prominent or 'bat' ears or to reduce the size of large ears. Otoplasty is possible at any age, but it is often recommended for children aged five or six. Correcting the ears before the child enters school can help eliminate potential teasing and psychological trauma. Ear surgery can improve the position of your ears and overall appearance, as well as confidence and self-esteem.
The Otoplasty Procedure
The ears are positioned closer to the head by reshaping the cartilage. The cartilage is reshaped through incisions placed behind the ears so that any resulting scars are concealed in creases. Most ear surgery is performed as day surgery under local anaesthesia combined with a sedative. The procedure takes one to two hours. Any stitches are usually dissolvable.
Recovery from Ear Surgery
You should be up and about on the day of ear surgery but plan on taking it easy for the first week. You should be able to return to work or school five to six days after surgery. Any pain can be controlled by medication. A full head dressing covering both ears is usually left intact for five days after surgery. After it is removed, you may have a lukewarm shower and wash your hair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are large or poorly shaped ears inherited?
In early life, one of the main concerns is excessively prominent ears, and children can be teased by their classmates for having ears that stick out from the head too much. It is true that this can be an inherited feature from parents or grandparents but it is often an individual characteristic. It occurs in both males and females, but it is more obvious for boys as they generally have shorter hair and cannot hide their ears so easily.
Can babies' ears be taped?
It is possible to tape the ears of babies back to the head soon after they are born with sticking plaster to encourage the ears to develop a curve that places them closer to the head so they won't protrude so much. This is commonly performed in some countries where these children, at a later age, have less need for corrective ear surgery than occurs in Australia.
How can I be sure chin and cheek implants will look natural?
As with almost all surgery, moderation is the key to a natural-looking result. While a moderate increase in cheek or chin size may be aesthetically beneficial, a very large increase can look artificial and disharmonious. At Silkwood Medical, we always strive for natural-looking results in ear surgery, chin and cheek implants, and with any other procedures we perform.
Will chin and cheek implants move around?
Correct positioning of the chin and cheek implants is important, as they are designed to stay in one position and not move. However, severe facial trauma that might occur in a car accident or an assault may cause the implants to be displaced, requiring corrective surgery.
Are there alternatives to chin and cheek implants?
There is one form of facelift surgery, the lateral SMASectomy or L-lift, which can address aesthetic flaws in the cheek region. Fat injections to this area can achieve long-lasting results, but most surgeons and patients are generally disappointed as the fat fades with time and requires maintenance. Cheek implants remain the most effective permanent solution.
Ear surgery is performed to correct prominent or 'bat' ears or to reduce the size of large ears. Otoplasty is possible at any age, but it is often recommended for children aged five or six. Correcting the ears before the child enters school can help eliminate potential teasing and psychological trauma. Ear surgery can improve the position of your ears and overall appearance, as well as confidence and self-esteem.
The Otoplasty Procedure
The ears are positioned closer to the head by reshaping the cartilage. The cartilage is reshaped through incisions placed behind the ears so that any resulting scars are concealed in creases. Most ear surgery is performed as day surgery under local anaesthesia combined with a sedative. The procedure takes one to two hours. Any stitches are usually dissolvable.
Recovery from Ear Surgery
You should be up and about on the day of ear surgery but plan on taking it easy for the first week. You should be able to return to work or school five to six days after surgery. Any pain can be controlled by medication. A full head dressing covering both ears is usually left intact for five days after surgery. After it is removed, you may have a lukewarm shower and wash your hair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are large or poorly shaped ears inherited?
In early life, one of the main concerns is excessively prominent ears, and children can be teased by their classmates for having ears that stick out from the head too much. It is true that this can be an inherited feature from parents or grandparents but it is often an individual characteristic. It occurs in both males and females, but it is more obvious for boys as they generally have shorter hair and cannot hide their ears so easily.
Can babies' ears be taped?
It is possible to tape the ears of babies back to the head soon after they are born with sticking plaster to encourage the ears to develop a curve that places them closer to the head so they won't protrude so much. This is commonly performed in some countries where these children, at a later age, have less need for corrective ear surgery than occurs in Australia.
How can I be sure chin and cheek implants will look natural?
As with almost all surgery, moderation is the key to a natural-looking result. While a moderate increase in cheek or chin size may be aesthetically beneficial, a very large increase can look artificial and disharmonious. At Silkwood Medical, we always strive for natural-looking results in ear surgery, chin and cheek implants, and with any other procedures we perform.
Will chin and cheek implants move around?
Correct positioning of the chin and cheek implants is important, as they are designed to stay in one position and not move. However, severe facial trauma that might occur in a car accident or an assault may cause the implants to be displaced, requiring corrective surgery.
Are there alternatives to chin and cheek implants?
There is one form of facelift surgery, the lateral SMASectomy or L-lift, which can address aesthetic flaws in the cheek region. Fat injections to this area can achieve long-lasting results, but most surgeons and patients are generally disappointed as the fat fades with time and requires maintenance. Cheek implants remain the most effective permanent solution.