Ear / Otoplasty

Ear Surgery or otoplasty is done to repair and reconstruct any defect in the ear which may be due to any mis-happening or by birth. It improves the shape, position, and proportion of the ear. There are different types of defects in the ear depending on which surgery is performed by an expert Plastic Surgeon.

Types of Ear Defects

• Microtia - Microtia is a congenital partial or complete absence of the external ear which can be reconstructed with the help of the patient's rib cartilage or implant. Normally, reconstruction is done in multiple stages over 6 months to 1 year. Best efforts are made to maintain the symmetry between the two ears.
• Bat Ear - Protruded ears or unfolded ears can be corrected by creating a normal-looking fold in the pinna. This is done through an incision on the post aspect of the pinna.
• Traumatic Ear - Other than congenital absence, the ear may be lost in the road or industrial injuries which requires immediate reconstruction to cover exposed cartilage with local muscle and skin. If immediate coverage is not possible then cartilage pieces are buried in abdominal skin which can be used later to reconstruct the ear. Complete loss of the ear is treated like congenital absence and reconstructed in stages.
• Keloid - Some people have an unnatural reaction at the ear piercing site which enlarges in size and can be up to the size of a baby potato. This can be excised and ear lobules can be reconstructed but this tends to recur after excision. So patients require further treatment in form of pressure therapy, massage, and local steroid injection.

Strict follow-up is necessary to avoid recurrence. Otoplasty can be done in a hospital or an outpatient surgical facility. Sometimes the procedure is done with sedation and local anaesthesia, which numbs only part of your body. In other cases, general anaesthesia which renders you unconscious , may be given before your procedure.

Post Surgery Precautions

• After otoplasty, your ears will be covered in bandages for protection and support.
• You'll likely feel some discomfort and itching. Take pain medication as recommended by the doctor.
• Avoid sleeping on your side of surgery.
• A few days after otoplasty, your bandages are removed. Your ears will likely be swollen band red. You may need to wear a loose headband that covers your ears at night for a few weeks. This will help keep you from pulling your ears forward when rolling over in bed.
• Resume bathing and physical activities only after consulting the doctor.