Otoplasty/Ear Surgery

Ear Reshaping Surgery

Some people are born with ears they’re not comfortable with because they’re too big or oddly shaped. There are several congenital defects which can lead to otoplasty as a way of trying to improve your ear.

Since the pinna of the ear is made up of cartilage tissues and the shape of the ear can easily be altered using cosmetic surgery, otoplasty can be a simple and permanent solution for prominent ears that's a relatively complication-free operation because the ear tissues have no major nerve endings or blood vessels.

Is Ear Surgery Right for Me?

At Allure Plastic Surgery in Staten Island, ear reshaping surgery — also known as otoplasty — can be performed on patients aged six and older. By thie time, the ears have reached their adult size, so undergoing surgery at this age won't cause any problems later in life.

By altering the quantity and structure of the cartilage tissues of the ear, otoplasty can be used to help with a number of ear deformities, including: earlobe reshaping, folded edges, lop ear, microtia, macrotia or constricted ears, suffered by adults who've disliked their ears and are finally ready to improve them

Folded edges
Lop ear
Microtia
Macrotia
Constricted ears
Protruding ears
Uneven/Asymmetrical placement

Before & After

Natural-appearing ears after ear reshaping.

Otoplasty For You or Your Child

The outcomes of otoplasty are generally positive, with a huge number of patients reporting satisfaction with the results, especially here at Allure Plastic Surgery in Staten Island, due to the skills and expertise of our specialists. Thanks to the advanced tools and techniques we use during these procedures, cosmetic ear surgery is relatively hassle-free and within the reach of most people. We’re also committed to the newest advancements, moving beyond the traditional cutting, scoring, and molding techniques, and employing newer, safer, more comfortable methods of cartilage alteration.

Incisionless otoplasty offers new possibilities of altering the ear structure without any kind of surgery, as it involves stitching the outer skin to mold the inner cartilage, without piercing into the soft tissues. Since this type of procedure takes a lot less time, it's recommended for those with only minor protruding ears.

Your Personalized Procedure

Since your ears are a prominent feature of your face, you need to hire the best surgeon with the necessary experience to assure you quality work and successful results. If you're unhappy with the appearance of your ears, or you're a parent concerned about the protrusion of your child's ears, please call Allure Plastic Surgery in Staten Island at (646) 844-5683 for more information about otoplasty.

Here at Allure Plastic Surgery, our board-certified surgical staff prides itself on our commitment to working with each and every individual patient, designing customized treatment plans that are tailor-made with their personal goals and individual anatomy in mind.

Why Should I Consider Ear Reshaping Surgery

There are many reasons why people undergo otoplasty in Staten Island. Some may choose to have the surgery to fix congenital defects such as Cat's ear, Lop ear, Scroll ear, Question Mark ear, or a Cleft earlobe while others may wish to undergo the procedure to resolve any of the following reasons:

Protrusion

At Allure Plastic Surgery, we pride ourselves on our ability to elegantly correct protruding ears. Children with imperfections on their ears can be teased at school, which nobody wants. You can easily avoid this type of trauma with an ear reshaping procedure.

Size or Shape

If you are unhappy with the shape of your ear or even size, you can have the right size which will make you happy. The surgeon will assess the size and shape of your ear so that he can reshape the ear to the best possible shape which will work well with your face.

What Are the Benefits of Ear Surgery?

Otoplasty surgery comes with many advantages, especially if you take care to find a surgeon with a high level of experience and expertise, like those on staff here at Allure Plastic Surgery in Staten Island. When you speak to one of our specialists during your consultation, they can help explain the many advantages you will enjoy during and after your ear surgery:

Minimal Downtime

Since it's a minimally invasive procedure, you can expect to experience downtime of about a week. After this time, you can attend work or your child can attend school, but you should refrain from physical activities such as football, rugby, or hockey, which could damage the tissue as it heals.

Minimal Scarring

Due to the fact it's only a small incision at the back of the ear, the procedure does not leave huge marks once you have healed and leaves you with a beautiful ear so that you can move on with your life comfortably.

Board Certified Surgeons

Safe Procedure

Generally speaking, there's no risk involved with this procedure, especially when your surgeon follows the right procedures to reshape the ear and allow it to heal within a short period.

Natural-Looking Results

Before your ear surgery, your surgeon will help you choose the best ear shape for your face so the final results after the procedure are very natural.

What Happens During Otoplasty?

Depending on the nature of ear structure, the size of the concha and the helical folds, there can be many techniques used for otoplasty. The simplest of them is a cartilage-sparing technique known as percutaneous adjustable closed otoplasty, or PACO for short.

A simple consultation will enable the physician to examine whether you qualify for otoplasty and its viability. During the consultation, you'll be made aware of the operation and briefed on the process in detail. We'll discuss your concerns with your ears, or those of your child, and with your preferences in mind, we'll schedule your operation.

When you arrive for your appointment, the procedure for ear reshaping starts with the application of local anesthesia with mild sedatives for adults while children are given general anesthesia.

An incision is then made at the back of the patient’s ears, near the part where the ear is attached to the head. The size of the incision depends on the nature of change required and the amount of cartilage to be removed, introduced or folded.

The surgeon next proceeds with creating necessary bends and folds in the helix of the pinna. The bowl area of the ear, which may result in an unpleasant cup-like formation of the ear is also operated upon. This results in a more flat and concealed pinna. To hold the cartilage structure in place, sometimes non-removable sutures are introduced within the matrix of the tissues.

These will naturally dissolve away after a few months and will help to hold the new shape. After the necessary alterations, the cut is dried and the incision is stitched back up. The scar is then dressed with an anti-inflammatory ointment and a tissue softening mineral oil. This scar, which will be at the back of your ears, will erode away naturally after a few years. The entire process takes about one to four hours depending on the complexity of the situation.

Ear Surgery (Otoplasty) Recovery

Otoplasty is a relatively risk-free procedure with few complications and a quick recovery time. Since anesthesia is used during the procedure, some pain will be experienced after it wears off, but it's mostly mild as it's caused by any swelling you might experience. If needed, some anti-inflammatory medicines may be prescribed to reduce the pain.

Post operation, patients are required to keep their dressing intact for a day and after removing the dressing, a protective headband is to be worn for seven days which should only be removed while cleaning. After the first week, it can be worn at night for a month. Cleaning the area can be done with a warm water compression, followed by a wash with prescribed medicine. The warm compression will additionally help relax the cartilage muscles.

Patients are required to take five days of bed rest after the operation and during this period you're advised to avoid washing your head, splashing water on your face, or using a hair dryer.

If the operation is being performed on your child, you're advised to plan their operation to allow for a one week resting period after the surgery. For adults, the healing process is completed within four to seven days, after which you can return to your daily life.

Learn More About Ear Surgery

Otoplasty & Ear Reshaping

Melissa Talks About her Otoplasty/Ear Reshaping Procedure

How Old Does My Child Have to Be for Ear Reshaping?

Ears that protrude too much or otherwise don’t properly complement the shape of your face and head can be a source of embarrassment and frustration. Ear reshaping surgery can help to restore your confidence and allow you to truly love the way you look. To find out if ear reshaping is right for you or your child, please schedule an otoplasty consultation online or call Allure Plastic Surgery at (646) 844-5683 today.