Ear Surgery (Otoplasty)

What should you know about an ear surgery (otoplasty)? What happens during the first consultation?

The shape and the size of the ear determine the character of the full face. In the course of the ear surgery there is an opportunity to make the overgrown earlobes smaller, correct the arch of the external ear and the projecting ears.

The most important part of preparing for the ear surgery is the consultation, where after an examination you get a personalized expert opinion regarding to the suggested plastic correction. The ear surgery can be performed from the age of 5. The advantage of the ear surgery at a young age is that the cartilage and the external ear are more elastic than in adulthood so it easier to form them. At the consultation you have the chance to see the reference photos of the plastic surgeon.

Preparing for the ear surgery

Before the ear surgery you must go for a complete medical check-up. The reason for this is to find out whether you have any health problems that could have an influence on the ear surgery. All preliminary examinations are made at our Plastic Surgery Institute, so you do not need to queue up and wait in other health centers. In the course of the medical check-up laboratory tests and as occasion requires, other examinations (ECG, X-rays, etc.) are performed according to the surgeon’s suggestion.

In certain cases we advise our patients to change their lifestyle in the days preceding the ear surgery. To facilitate proper recovery it is important that you do not smoke because nicotine slows down the process of regeneration and harmfully influences the healing of the wound. In the days before the ear surgery you should eat light foods, drink lots of fluids and take some vitamins (vitamin C, selenium, zinc). Two weeks before the ear surgery you should avoid the use of aspirin, ginkgo biloba and other naturopathic products.

Ear surgery

The angle between the external ear and the cranial surface is anatomically 15-20 degrees. In the case of correction of projecting ears the aim is to reach this angle, fixing the ears to cranial surface is done considering this value. With the ear surgery the shape of the external ear and the extent of the earlobes can be corrected if it is reasonable. Ear surgeries are performed under general anesthesia. The average duration of the plastic surgery procedure is 1 hour.

Techniques of the ear surgery

The technique of the operation means the choice and localization of the necessary incisions. In the case of correction of projecting ears the plastic surgeon makes an incision on the back part of the external ear, by the insertion of the external ear then he liberates the tissues under the skin. If it is necessary he removes those cartilage parts, which cause the deformation of the ear, and adjusts the dissensions of the gristly framework, and extracts excess skin behind the ear. After this he rotates the ear to the cranium to reach the proper angle and fixes it in that position. As a consequence of former accident and developmental abnormality a new external ear can be formed by cartilage transplant.

Recovering and risks of an ear surgery

In our Plastic Surgery Institute we aim to make the period after the ear surgery as convenient as possible for you. After the ear surgery the plastic surgeon place a pressing bandage on the ears which is needed to be checked once before releasing you from the institute. After the ear surgery you must spend one night in our Plastic Surgery Institute. At home you must wear a headband day and night for 2 weeks. To achieve the perfect result and look we work with self-absorbing stitches, this way the scars heal much more aesthetically and we save you the possible inconveniences of stitch removal.

During the first 2 weeks of the recovery all demanding physical activities must be avoided. After 2 weeks you can return gradually to your previous life-style. 3 weeks after the ear surgery you can start to do light exercises. Sunbathing, the use of solarium and sauna must be avoided for 2 months. After the ear surgery you have to attend control examinations on the 7th and 14th day, and the 6th and 12th week. The recovery time of the outer scars is 6 months, while the inner scars heal completely in 2 years. To facilitate the healing of the wound it is advisable to use scar creams.

Before the ear surgery we aim to filter out the possible risk factors with preliminary examinations but even so unpredictable complications may occur. Ear surgeries count as a routine plastic surgery procedures. The chance for the occurrence of complications is extremely slight, but it cannot be excluded. These complications can be the following: infection, oedema and serous oedema, formation of the keloid scar and asymmetry between the ears.

Results of the ear surgery

After the ear surgery you can wear any hairstyle, because you do not need to cover anything. The size and shape of your ears will harmonize with your face and your appearance. There are no visible scars after the plastic surgery procedure, so only your old friends will realize the change, anybody else will have no idea about your ear surgery.

Book your appointment NOW!