Women are Having More Ear Surgery in Philadelphia
Otoplasty, the medical term used for ear pinning or ear reshaping is the plastic surgery used to improve the appearance of an unusually or abnormally shaped outer ears. Otoplasty is a common procedure once used for medical purposes only but has become popular for everyday cosmetic and long term appearance desires for change. Many women, starting from childhood, are unhappy with the shape and size of their ears. They may have been teased at school and through their teen years. Women with substantial ear imperfections go to great efforts to hide their large, protruding or imperfectly shaped ears. Often it is wonderful to discover that there is a procedure that can cosmetically alter the ears and allow the ears to be more normal shaped.
Candidates for Otoplasty
Most women have both ears needing surgical correction. Some patients may only require the surgical correction procedure on one ear, yet that is the minority. The most common reason for ear surgery is to pin ears either against or closer to the head. Basically, for ears that stick out. Here are some other deformities that ear surgery does correct:
- Elongated earlobes
- Stretched out earlobes
- Large ears
- Protruding ears
- Combined large and protruding ears
- Asymmetrical (uneven ears-side to side)
- Irregular shaped ears
- Ears out of proportion
Otoplasty Surgery
Otoplasty surgery usually lasts for about one hour however can be longer for more complicated cases. . Patients can go under general anesthesia, or be sedated and even have local anesthesia for smaller deformity corrections. The front of the ear will be marked to diagram the planned changes. The back of your ear will also be marked, to plot out how much excess skin will be removed. The incision is made on the back surface area of the ear. Excess skin is removed. In most cases, the cartilage is weakened and manipulated then reshaped, folded, contoured and strategically changed and held in that shape with permanent sutures. This moves the ears to a more natural and balanced position for each individual. Because incisions are hidden near the natural crease behind the ear, where it attaches to the head, they are not visible. Scarring is minimal, as is pain. Usually during surgery, a local anesthetic is injected, keeping post-op pain minimal. Your ears are bandaged and put in a snug wrap. This helps keep them comfortable and allows their new permanent positioning remain in place during the healing period. You will be sent home with instructions for aftercare, pain medication and antibiotics. This will help with minimal risk or complications, infection and ensure a comfortable recovery.
Women and their Recovery from Otoplasty
You will benefit greatly if you rest and leave the headband wrapping in place. This dressing is there to aide in the quickest and most safe protection, healing and maintenance of your new cosmetically repaired ears. In about a week women usually return to work or their normal routine. It is important to remember that everyone’s healing time varies. You will see Dr. Kole within the week. A headband will be worn while you sleep for two weeks to maintain the new ear placement, shape and protect the sensitive area. Usually after two weeks a return to exercise is fine as long as you avoid trauma to the area. Some women do require minor touch up adjustments over time, although, that is rare. Most report complete satisfaction, permanent results and a great impact in their self-esteem in addition to allowing you to wear your hair in an up do or bun without being self conscious.
Please contact The Kole Plastic Surgery Center at 215-315-7655 to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Edward S. Kole. Our office and Licensed Ambulatory Surgical Center is conveniently located at: [primary_address] Southampton, PA, [primary_state] [primary_postal]
