Otoplasty is a type of ear surgery in which flaws are corrected such as overly large ears, protruding ears, or defects from previous ear surgeries. This is a great procedure for anyone uncomfortable with the appearance of their ears. Otoplasty is not meant to correct hearing loss or any other hearing-related illnesses.
Many parents choose to have their children’s ears corrected at a young age. Children must be at least 5 years old to have the procedure so that the cartilage is formed enough to be stable. Children should also be able to follow directions; if they do not follow directions, infections become a very real risk. They should be old enough that they are able to voice their opinions on the subject of surgery. Our certified cosmetic surgeon can help you determine if your child is a good candidate for ear surgery.
Otoplasty is also available to teenagers and adults. These candidates:
Should be healthy non-smokers without hearing loss or other medical ear conditions.
Serious candidates should have a positive expectation of what to expect from the procedure.
No child or adult interested in otoplasty should have chronic or untreated ear infections for the safety of the procedure.
Otoplasty can solve the common cosmetic problems of oversized ears, protruding ears, and other physical defects. The results are usually seen as soon as the bandages are removed and the healing process is complete. Results are most noticeable in the correction of large ears. The decision to pursue otoplasty should be made when the patient is comfortable with the idea of surgery and has realistic expectations of the results. Patients interested in this procedure should speak to their cosmetic surgeon to find out if they are a good candidate for otoplasty.
Cosmetic surgeons hide incisions and scarring to make the results look completely natural. Patients should make sure they are completely comfortable with their cosmetic plastic surgeon and their expected results before scheduling their procedure.
