Ear Surgery WI Details

“Otoplasty” is the surgery that corrects protruding ears. Unfortunately children are often the victims of unkind nicknames like "Mickey Mouse" or "Dumbo".  Therefore, they are the most likely candidates for otoplasty.  However, this surgery can be performed at any age after the ears have reached full size, usually around five to six years of age. Even with mild distortion, protruding ears can lead to self-consciousness and poor adjustment to school. When it comes to otoplasty, the usual wisdom is "the earlier the better."

Adults also benefit from this procedure, which can improve self-esteem fairly easily.  Many times, adults will choose this surgery to be done in combination with other facial cosmetic surgical procedures. Not only can the ears be "pinned back", but they can also be reduced in size, reshaped, or made more symmetrical.

If you are thinking that otoplasty can improve your appearance or the appearance of someone you know, then you’ll be interested in knowing how otoplasty is performed and what can be expected as a result from this procedure. This information page, brought to you courtesy of Dr. Richard C. Parfitt, can address many of your questions and concerns.

The most successful facial cosmetic surgery starts with good rapport between patient and surgeon. Trust develops in the consulting stages before surgery and is based on clear medical expertise and realistic expectations. 

Is Ear Surgery for You?

Realistic expectations and general good health are prerequisites to ear surgery. It is also important to understand the details of the surgery. Otoplasty will not worsen or improve hearing ability. The primary goal of otoplasty is to reshape the ears to be in proportion to the size and shape of the face and head.  A positive attitude during the process is an important factor in all surgery, but it is especially important when the patient is an adolescent or child.

Otoplasty to Ease Bullying -from Facial Plastic Surgery Today Magazine.

 

Making the Decision for Ear Surgery

When choosing otoplasty for your child or yourself, a consultation with Dr. Parfitt will help you decide what is best, not only from an aesthetic standpoint, but also physically and psychologically. Timing of the surgery is also an important consideration. Having the procedure at a younger age is especially desirable in two respects: the cartilage is much more pliable than in adults, permitting greater ease of re-shaping; and secondly, the child stands to experience significant psychological benefits from the change to an appearance that is more acceptable to his or her peers.

During the consultation, the structure of the ears will be examined and the possibilities and techniques for correcting the problems will be discussed. Even if only one ear needs significant correction, surgery will probably be recommended for both ears to achieve the most symmetrical and natural result.

After the decision to have an otoplasty procedure has been made, Dr. Parfitt will explain the details of the procedure. Following a thorough medical history, he will explain the surgical facility, the kind of anesthesia required, and costs. General anesthesia is rarely necessary even for young patients and a local anesthetic combined with a mild sedative is always used for older children and adults. Otoplasty usual requires approximately two hours of surgical time.

Ear Surgery | Otoplasty Procedure Details

As with all surgeries done by Dr. Parfitt. Otoplasty (ear pinning surgery) is done as an outpatient surgery at our private WI surgical facility.  Otoplasty begins with an incision behind the ear, in the natural crease where the ear attaches to the head. Measured amounts of cartilage and skin are then removed to achieve the desired effect.  In most cases, Dr. Parfitt will trim the cartilage, shaping it into a more aesthetic form and then “pin” the cartilage back with sutures to stabilize and secure it.. In other instances, Dr. Parfitt will not remove cartilage but instead use only sutures to hold the cartilage permanently in a new, more desirable shape and position. After sculpting the cartilage to the preferred shape, Dr. Parfitt then strategically places sutures that hold the ear in the desired position until healing is complete.

Ear Surgery | Otoplasty Recovery

A soft dressing is applied to the ears that will remain for three to seven days. Some patients experience mild discomfort that is managed with mild analgesics such as Tylenol or stronger if necessary. Ear Surgery patients typically return to work, school, or social activities after 1 week.

If you tend to sleep on your side, your sleeping patterns may be affected for a week or so because you should avoid putting excessive pressure on the ear areas. Headbands are also recommended to hold the ears in position for two to three weeks after the surgery.

There are few risks associated with otoplasty at our Wisconsin surgical center. There will be a thin scar behind the ear after healing. Because this scar is in a natural fold behind the ear, it is rarely, if ever, visibly noticed.

Facial Plastic Surgery at our Middleton | Madison surgical center makes it possible to correct many undesirable facial features that can often undermine one's self-esteem and self-confidence. By changing how you look, these procedures can help improve how you feel about yourself.