Otoplasty

It’s a surgery designed to reduce the size of the ears or to bring them closer to the head when they are excessively separated.

Ideally the surgery should be performed when the patient reaches 5 years of age and before his school begins and can be ridiculed by this defect. At this age the patient has almost 90% of the definitive ear size. This surgery can also be carried out at mature age and doesn't have a lot of risk associated to the procedure.

Pre-Surgical Evaluation

The Plastic Surgeon will examine the patient and make him notice the opposing defects and the safest way to correct them. The patient should remember that there may be differences between the two auricular pavilions that can not be corrected and it is quite unlikely to achieve perfect symmetry.

The patient should inform illnesses suffered, if they take drugs that predispose bleeding, as the corticosteroids, anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin and its derivates, vitamin E, etc.

The type of anesthesia may be chose according to the patient's age. When they are very small and until almost the 14th year, general anesthesia is recommended. For patients older than 14, local anesthesia plus sedation can be used. In mature patients local anesthesia is used.

The Surgeon will request the necessary exams for the pre-anesthetic evaluation.

Surgical Procedure

Most of the procedures are carried out in ambulatory form and occasionally a night of hospitalization is recommended, mostly in young patients that have been treated with general anesthesia.

Many surgical techniques exist to perform an Otoplasty, most of which include a small incision in the back part of the ear where the Surgeon corrects the cartilage defects and makes the structural corrections. Some leave permanent stitches that help to maintain this correction and in other occasions some cartilage fragment is removed to give a more natural form. When concluding the procedure the patient will leave with a bandage that will cover the surgical area of one or both ears, if both have been operated, helping the wound to heal.

Post-Surgical Procedure

In most cases the patient will be able to go home the same day; if there is pain it should be controlled with the medication recommended by the Surgeon. Putting local cold on top of the bandage also helps. On the fourth day the bandage will be removed and replaced by a hair band. This garment is useful for the following days especially at night. The sutures are removed on the seventh day. Normal activities can be resumed on the fourth day. Contact games should be avoided during the first three weeks, and the patient should avoid direct exposure to sunlight for two months after the surgery.

Time needed to remain in Cali.

4 days.

Contact Dr. Bernardo Camacho right now to get more information!

Before and after photos otoplasty