Otoplasty

Ear surgery is a common procedure among children aged four to fourteen. Unfortunately, unbalanced ears can be a great source of distress for our younger patients – as well as a cause for bullying.

When this occurs, correcting the ears can put an end to these negative experiences and help children rebuild their confidence. Most children have their otoplasty procedure performed at around six years of age, when the ears have reached their full size, but are still easily remodeled.

Your otoplasty surgery will take between one to two hours to complete, depending on the changes you need to make. It will be done under local anesthesia and a sedative for adults, and general anesthesia for children. The entire procedure will be completely tailored to your needs, with the goal of restoring balance and symmetry to your appearance.

To begin, we will create an incision behind the ear to expose the underlying cartilage. If your ears are too large, we will remove unwanted cartilage and skin. We will then reshape the ear and trim away any excess tissue to sculpt a more natural and proportionate shape. From there, we will focus on moving protruding ears closer to the head using strategically placed sutures.

Immediately after surgery, we will place a compressive head wrap to protect the area. You will be free to return home shortly after the procedure to begin the healing process, you will need to return to the office within 24 hours so that we can evaluate your progress.

The total recovery period will last between seven to ten days. You will need to wear a soft headband for several weeks to maintain the new position of your ears. In addition, your physical activity will be limited for two weeks and contact sports should be avoided for up to eight weeks.

Ear surgery is a simple procedure that can dramatically improve your facial appearance. To begin planning for your transformation, please contact our Del Mar or Coronado office today and schedule a consultation.