Otoplasty in a Nutshell
1 – 2 Hours
- Invasiveness 50%
- Pain Factor 60%
Local or General Anesthesia
What is
Otoplasty?
Also known as ear pinning or pinnaplasty, otoplasty is a cosmetic surgical procedure that most often involves pinning the ears back to prevent them from protruding what you may feel is too far from the sides of your head. Otoplasty can also reshape, enlarge, or reduce the size of the ears (including the ear lobes) to achieve an aesthetically pleasing contour.
Otoplasty generally involves less risk than other invasive cosmetic surgical procedures. It’s important to note that ear pinning targets the appearance of the outer ears only, not the inner ear, or your hearing ability.
How is Otoplasty
Performed?
If you decide to proceed, otoplasty is an outpatient procedure, meaning you'll be able to go home the same day. Make sure a friend or loved one can accompany you as you'll be groggy from the general anesthesia used during the surgery. The otoplasty procedure normally takes approximately two to three hours to perform.
Your surgeon will make a minor incision at the back of the ear, and will remove any excess skin or cartilage that is causing the protrusion. Then, your doctor will reshape the cartilage, and apply permanent stitches to hold everything in its new location.
Our surgical staff will then apply bandages to your ears. You may feel some slight discomfort as the anesthesia wears off, usually a dull ache or throbbing. Your doctor may prescribe pain medication, but in most cases, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is sufficient to ease this discomfort.
Before you leave the clinic, you'll receive detailed postoperative care instructions. Follow them carefully to ensure proper healing and avoid complications such as blood clots or infection, both of which can be effectively treated should they occur.
You'll come back to the clinic after a few days, at which time we'll remove the bandages, and you'll be able to see the results. Most patients recover from otoplasty much more quickly than from any other surgical procedure.
For about a month after your otoplasty surgery, you'll need to avoid any activity that could compromise your recovery, such as contact sports, which may chafe or bend your ear in an awkward position.
Please note that Toronto Cosmetic Clinic does not perform cosmetic ear surgery on children.
Cost of
Otoplasty?
If you have just one ear corrected, your overall otoplasty cost will be reduced. You may also decide to combine otoplasty with another procedure such as blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) or a facelift. Adding such procedures can raise your overall surgery cost, but keep the price lower than if you have each procedure separately.
@TorontoCosmeticClinic
Ear Surgery (Otoplasty)
Question & Answer
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When will I see results?
You’ll see the results of your otoplasty after the dressings have been removed. This is generally within a few days, but may be longer depending on your rate of recovery.
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What can otoplasty correct?
It can correct a number of aesthetic problems such as protruding ears, asymmetry, misshapen ears, large/sagging/split earlobes, and pointy ears.
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What can otoplasty not correct?
Otoplasty is not intended to improve ear function or hearing ability.
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Am I a good candidate for otoplasty?
If you’re unhappy with the appearance of your ears, you may be a candidate for otoplasty. You should be relatively healthy, both mentally and physically, and have realistic expectations of the procedure.
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How long does otoplasty surgery take?
The procedure will take about two to three hours, depending on the extent of correction needed. You’ll receive a better estimate during your preoperative consultation with the doctor.
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When can I go back to work or school?
You may return to work or school about four days after otoplasty surgery, as long as it does not compromise your recovery.