Otoplasty (Ear Pinning) Plastic Surgery in Coral Springs and Lighthouse Point, Florida with Board Certified Plastic Surgeon F. Leigh Phillips, M.D.

If you’re considering otoplasty (ear pinning) plastic surgery …….

For the most part, otoplasty (ear pinning) plastic surgery is done on children between the ages of four and 14, although it may also be performed on adults. Ears are almost fully grown by age four, and the earlier the procedure is performed, the less teasing and ridicule the child will have to endure. It is also possible to perform otoplasty (ear pinning) plastic surgery for adults, and there are generally no additional risks associated with cosmetic ear surgery on an older patient.

If you’re considering otoplasty (ear pinning)  plastic surgery for yourself or your child with board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Leigh Phillips in South Florida, this information will give you a basic understanding of the procedure - when it can help, how it’s performed, and what results you can expect. It can’t answer all of your questions, since a lot depends on your individual circumstances. Please be sure to ask Dr. Phillips if there is anything you don’t understand about the procedure.

All Surgery Carries Some Uncertainty and Risk

When a qualified, experienced plastic surgeon performs otoplasty (ear pinning) plastic surgery, complications are infrequent and usually minor. Nevertheless, as with any surgical procedure there are risks associated with surgery and specific complications associated with this procedure.

A small percentage of patients may develop a blood clot on the ear. It may dissolve naturally or can be drawn out with a needle.

Occasionally, patients develop an infection in the cartilage, which can cause scar tissue to form. Such infections are usually treated with antibiotics; rarely, surgery may be required to drain the infected area.

Planning for Otoplasty (Ear Pinning) Plastic Surgery

Most surgeons, including Dr. Phillips, recommend that parents stay alert to their child’s feelings about protruding ears; don’t insist on the surgery until your child wants the change. Children who feel uncomfortable about their ears and want the surgery are generally more cooperative during the process and happier with the outcome.

During your initial consultation with Dr. Phillips, he will evaluate your child’s condition, or yours, if you are considering cosmetic ear surgery for yourself, and recommend the most effective technique. He will also give you specific instructions on how to prepare for otoplasty (ear pinning) plastic surgery.

Where the Otoplasty Will Be Performed

Otoplasty (ear pinning) plastic surgery is usually performed as an outpatient procedure in a hospital, in Dr. Phillips’ in-office surgical suite, or a freestanding surgery center. Occasionally, Dr. Phillips may recommend that the procedure be done as an inpatient procedure, in which case you can plan on staying overnight in the hospital. If you have them, please provide Dr. Phillips with photos of people who have facial features similar to those you would like to have.

Types of Anesthesia

Dr. Phillips may recommend twilight anesthesia, although in children, general anesthesia is typically used.

The Otoplasty Procedure

The otoplasty plastic surgery  procedure usually takes about two to three hours, although more complicated procedures may take longer. The technique will depend on the needs of each patient.

With one of the more common techniques, Dr. Phillips makes a small incision in the back of the ear to expose the ear cartilage. He will then sculpt the cartilage and bend it back toward the head. Non-removable stitches may be used to help maintain the new shape. Occasionally, Dr. Phillips will remove a larger piece of cartilage to provide a more natural-looking fold when the surgery is complete.

Another technique involves a similar incision in the back of the ear. Skin is removed and stitches are used to fold the cartilage back on itself to reshape the ear without removing cartilage.

In most cases, cosmetic ear surgery will leave a faint scar in the back of the ear that will fade with time. Even when only one ear appears to protrude, surgery is usually performed on both ears for a better balance.

Getting Back to Normal

Adults and children are usually up and around within a few hours of otoplasty plastic surgery, although you may prefer to stay overnight in the hospital with a child until all the effects of general anesthesia wear off.

The patient’s head will be wrapped in a bulky bandage immediately following surgery to promote the best molding and healing. The ears may throb or ache a little for a few days, but this can be relieved by medication.

Within a few days, a lighter dressing similar to a headband will replace the bulky bandages. Be sure to follow Dr. Phillips’ directions for wearing this dressing, especially at night.

Stitches are usually removed, or will dissolve, in about a week.

Any activity in which the ear might be bent should be avoided for a month or so. Most adults can go back to work about five days after surgery. Children can go back to school after seven days or so, if they’re careful about playground activity. You may want to ask your child’s teacher to keep an eye on the child for a few weeks.

Other Ear Problems

Besides protruding ears, there are a variety of other ear problems that can be helped with otoplasty (ear pinning) plastic surgery. These include: “lop ear,” when the tip seems to fold down and forward; “cupped ear,” which is usually a very small ear; and “shell ear,” when the curve in the outer rim, as well as the natural folds and creases, are missing. Otoplasty can also improve large or stretched earlobes, or lobes with large creases and wrinkles. At his plastic surgery facilities located in Coral Springs and Lighthouse Point, Florida, board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Phillips can even build new ears for those who were born without them or who lost them through injury.

Sometimes, however, the correction can leave a scar that’s worse than the original problem. Ask Dr. Phillips about the effectiveness of surgery for your specific case.

Your New Look - More Natural-Looking Ears

Most patients, young and old alike, are thrilled with the results of otoplasty (ear pinning) plastic surgery. But keep in mind; the goal is improvement, not perfection. Don’t expect both ears to match perfectly. Perfect symmetry is both unlikely and unnatural in ears. If you’ve discussed the otoplasty procedure and your expectations with Dr. Phillips before the operation, chances are, you’ll be quite pleased with the result.