EDISON, NEW JERSEY – some children and adults suffer from ears that protrude significantly from the sides of the head, making the ears appear larger than they really are.
If you or your child suffers from this condition, ear surgery – also known as otoplasty – may be the answer. This surgery can pin back the ears, reshape them, reduce their size or make them more symmetrical.
“Ears that stick out or are misshaped can be a great source of self-consciousness for many people,” said Dr. Andrew Miller, an otoplasty specialist in New Jersey. “Fortunately, this procedure can be performed in patients from the age of 6 to adulthood.”
For those wondering how otoplasty can change the way they look, they need to first understand how the surgery is performed and what they can expect from this procedure.
Surgery can treat:
- Overly large ears
- Protruding ears on one or both sides with varying degrees
- Adult unhappiness with previous ear surgery
You will meet with an NJ facial plastic surgeon before undergoing the procedure. during this consultation, the surgeon will examine your ears, discuss your goals and review your medical history. he or she will also take your age, skin type and feelings toward surgery into consideration when deciding whether an otoplasty is right for you. The surgery process, required anesthesia and the surgical facility, along with risks and the costs involved, will be discussed and any questions you have will be addressed.
Adults should understand that the firmer cartilage of their fully developed ears does not provide the same molding capacity as in children. for children, the earlier the better is the general rule for two reasons: the cartilage is extremely flexible and the child will experience psychological benefits from the cosmetic procedure.
“Children are the ones who suffer the cruel nicknames in school, which is why we recommend they have the surgery as soon as their ears are fully developed,” said tummy tuck NJ expert, Dr. Miller. “Aside from the aesthetic benefits, parents tend to see their child’s behavior change and their outlook improve as soon as they are healed.”
How the surgery is performed
- Using IV sedation, the patient is put to sleep for one and a half hours.
- An incision is made behind the ear.
- The cartilage is reshaped with sutures to hold the new shape. sometimes cartilage is removed.
- Sutures are placed to position the ear closer to the head.
- The incision is closed with sutures.
- A dressing is placed over the ears.
Some adults may choose to have this surgery in conjunction with other facial plastic surgery procedures, such as a nose job.
Post SurgeryThe dressings will remain applied to the ears for a few days. Most patients experience mild discomfort, which is easily controlled with pain medication. Patients who are accustomed to sleeping on their side will experience a disruption in sleep pattern, as they cannot put any pressure on the ears for a week or so. The expected recovery time is one week.
“This surgery is quick and easy and results are immediate,” said Dr. Miller, who offers New Jersey breast augmentation and rhinoplasy. “By changing how the ears look, patients can in turn change the way they feel about themselves, which is why this surgery is so great for young children.”
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March 22nd, 2012 Posted in