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Feeling Embarrassed About the Appearance of Your Ears?
Most of us are lucky enough to be born in good health and with everything in our body properly functioning. Our health is one of the most important factors and plays a major role in how we carry about our daily activities. Good health is important for our overall well-being.
Some people, when they are born however, are not as lucky. A large number of babies are born with certain defects that may have been correctable had they been discovered at a very early stage of infancy, when the bones and cartilage of our body were still soft and malleable. In most cases, parents fail to notice that anything is wrong with their infant and realize it only in the later stages of development, when treatment is inefficient.
One of the most common malformations in infants is ear deformities. This means an irregularity in the shape, position, or proportions of the ear. When discovered within the first four weeks of birth, such deformities can be easily correct using non-invasive procedures.
Once the stage has passed, it is not possible to correct such deformities using non-invasive procedures. The condition is still correctable by means of a cosmetic procedure called otoplasty, or ear surgery.
Otoplasty Surgery
Otoplasty is essentially a cosmetic surgery that is used to correct ear deformities that are present at birth or have developed as the result of an injury.
Ear surgery brings the ear to a more natural shape by correcting its proportions and shape. It can be used to correct abnormally large ears, mistakes that occurred in a previous ear surgery, protruding ears, and more.
The Procedure
Otoplasty is an invasive procedure. The patient is first anesthetized before the procedure in order to make the procedure more comfortable. You will be given a choice between local and general anesthesia. With local anesthesia, only the area where the surgery is being performed will be numbed, meaning you will be conscious during the procedure. With general anesthesia, you will be sedated for the entire procedure.
Once this is done, your surgeon will make incisions along the inner rim of your ear or on the back of your ear. Through this procedure, cartilage can be reduced in size or resculpted, thus giving a more natural shape to the ear.
The incisions are then carefully closed using sutures so as to not give the ear an unsightly or “pulled back” appearance. Suturing must be done very carefully and without distorting any other structures in the ear.
After the Surgery
Results are visible almost immediately after the surgery. Post-surgical marks from incisions are well hidden within the folds of the ear and are not visible.
Proper rest is recommended for faster recovery. During the recovery period, it is advisable to stay away from physically exerting yourself. Make sure to avoid activities that have a direct impact on your ear. Healing varies from person to person. Some people take longer than others to recover from the surgery. Generally, complete healing can take up to three weeks.
Make an Appointment
Dr. Anita Mandal, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, can tell you more about otoplasty during a consultation at our office. Schedule your consultation by contacting us today.