WHAT DO YOU NEED?
Who can have an otoplasty?
Anyone whose ears stick out too much from their head, are too large or have an aesthetic defect. The otoplasty can be performed at any age, and is most popular among children aged 8 to 14, due to the problems and complexes involved.
What does an otoplasty involve?
Ear surgery involves naturally remodelling the external ear. This is achieved using small instruments that scrape the cartilage so that it bends as necessary to achieve the required results.
The excess skin from behind the ear is removed and stitched, leaving a scar in the sulcus behind the ear. This makes it invisible.
Duration, anaesthesia and hospitalisation in otoplasty
The otoplasty is a very short surgery that takes less than one hour. Although in adults it is performed under local anaesthesia, in children this is combined with sedation to make them more relaxed.
It is an outpatient surgery, which means that the patient can go home on the same day as the surgery.
Results of ear surgery
The aesthetic results can be seen almost immediately, although these will improve greatly over time once any bruising has disappeared. The scar, which is strategically hidden behind the ear, becomes invisible after several months.
The ears show no signs of the operation after two to three weeks.
Recommendations after otoplasty surgery
Bed rest at home is required initially and for the first forty-eight hours. Special attention must be paid to the position of the head when sleeping. You must wear a bandage, which will be removed 24 to 48 hours after the surgery.
Some bruising might appear on or around the ear, although this will disappear naturally or with the help of some kind of topical treatment after around 4 days.
The patient will be fully recovered one month after the otoplasty. They may even resume physical exercise, whatever the activity.
Recovery from an otoplasty is fast and rarely leads to discomfort. You can therefore return to everyday life and to work after two or three days.
POSTOPERATIVE CARE: AFTER OTOPLASTY SURGERY
You can follow your usual diet after surgery, although try to eat smaller meals more often for the first few days until your rhythm of digestion has returned to normal.
Bed rest is required for the first 48h, paying particular attention to the position of your head when sleeping. After this, relative rest is required, avoiding lifting heavy weights and lowering your head in front of your body when bending down.
You can shower normally once the bandage has been removed, following the advice of your plastic surgeon.
You will wear a bandage around your ears for the first 24 to 48h. This is then removed and replaced with a specific band.
If you smoke, you should try to stop before your otoplasty surgery. This will improve your health and your healing capacity.
Will I feel any discomfort after the otoplasty?
Certain discomfort, basically due to the initial swelling and tautness of the skin, depending on the ear surgery in question.
Will I have to wear some kind of bandage? For how long?
You will normally be wearing a bandage when you come out of surgery, which will be removed after 24 to 48h. Afterwards you will wear a specific band for at least one month.
Is swelling and bruising normal after ear surgery?
There might be certain bruising and swelling, which will disappear a few days after surgery.
If I have had surgery on both ears, might one recover before the other?
Recovery is not necessarily the same for each ear. It is very likely that one will be more swollen or will have more bruising than the other… this is normal procedure.
Can a minor have otoplasty surgery?
Yes, in fact a large number of otoplasty patients are children aged 8 to 14. The results are equally good at any age.
Remember that the ears have almost fully grown by the age of around 4.
Does otoplasty correct sticking out or “jug” ears?
Of course, the results are excellent in correcting sticking out or “jug” ears.
Do you know what IM Care is?
IM Care is the commitment of IM CLINIC to care for you for the first year after your surgery. You will have a 24-hour hotline for your peace of mind, and our medical team will visit you regularly to ensure the results are as expected.