|
Bid for Surgery: Ear Surgery
Ear Surgery
(Otoplasty)
| Procedure: |
Set prominent ears back closer to the head,
or reduce the size of large ears. Most often done on children between the ages of 4 and 14
years, but can be performed at any age.. (Occasionally covered by insurance.) |
| Risk Factor: |
Infection of cartilage. Excessive scarring.
Blood clot that
may need to be drained. Mismatched or artificial- looking ears. Recurrence of the
protrusion, requiring repeat surgery. |
| Side Effects: |
Temporary throbbing, aching, swelling,
redness, numbness. |
| Length: |
2 to 3 hours. |
| Anesthesia: |
Young children: usually general. Older
children or adults: general or local, with sedation. |
| In/Out: |
Usually outpatient. |
| Recovery: |
Back to work or school: 5 to 7 days.
Strenuous activity, contact sports: 1 to 2 months. |
| Duration: |
Usually permanent. |
| The Procedure |
Ear surgery, or otoplasty, is usually done to
set prominent ears back closer to the head or to reduce the size of large ears. |
|
| The best candidates for a (Otoplasty) |
Ears that appear to stick out or are overly
large can be helped by ear surgery. 
Ears that appear to stick out or are
overly large can be helped by ear surgery.
For the most part, the operation is done on children between the ages of
four and 14. Ears are almost fully grown by age four, and the earlier the surgery, the
less teasing and ridicule the child will have to endure. Ear surgery on adults is also
possible, and there are generally no additional risks associated with ear surgery on an
older patient.
If you're considering ear surgery for yourself or your child, 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 your doctor if there is anything you don't understand about the
procedure.
|
|
| Types of anesthesia |
If your child is young, your surgeon may
recommend general anesthesia, so the child will sleep through the operation. For older
children or adults, the surgeon may prefer to use local anesthesia, combined with a
sedative, so you or your child will be awake but relaxed. |
|
| The surgery |
Ear surgery usually takes about
two to three hours, although complicated procedures may take longer. The technique will
depend on the problem.
With one of the more common techniques, the surgeon makes a small incision in the back of
the ear to expose the ear cartilage. He or she 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, the surgeon will remove a larger piece of cartilage to provide a more
natural-looking fold when the surgery is complete.
An incision is made in the back of
the ear so cartilage can be sculpted
or folded. Stitches are used to
close the incision and help
maintain the new shape.
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.
Creating a fold in the cartilage makes
the ear lie flatter against the head and
appear more normal.
In most cases, 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. |
|
| Do I have to stay in a hospital
after the surgery? |
Ear surgery is usually performed as an
outpatient procedure in a hospital, a doctor's office-based surgical facility, or a
freestanding surgery center. Occasionally, your doctor may recommend that the procedure be
done as an inpatient procedure, in which case you can plan on staying overnight in the
hospital. |
|
| Risk factors, complications, side effects?
|
When ear surgery is performed by a qualified,
experienced surgeon, complications are infrequent and usually minor. Nevertheless, as with
any operation, 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. |
|
| How long would recovery take? |
Adults and children are usually up and around
within a few hours of 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, the bulky bandages will be replaced by a lighter head dressing similar
to a headband. Be sure to follow your surgeon's 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
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. Surgery
can also improve large or stretched earlobes, or lobes with large creases and wrinkles.
Surgeons 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 your surgeon about the effectiveness of surgery for your specific case.
More natural-looking ears Most patients, young and old alike, are thrilled with
the results of ear 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 procedure and your
expectations with the surgeon before the operation, chances are, you'll be quite pleased
with the result. |
|
|
| Cost of this procedure varies with region from a low of
$3,000 to a high of $4,500. This cost includes surgeon's fee, anesthesia, and facility
costs. |
|
|
