Is Otoplasty The Right Choice For Me?

Otoplasty is a cosmetic surgery designed to alter the appearance of your ears. For anyone who has ever grown up being teased about their ears being to big or sticking out to much this is probably the surgery you dreamed about as a kid. Otoplasty can involve a variety of things from pinning the ears so they don’t stick out to reshaping the ears or making them bigger or even smaller. Cosmetic ear surgery can be done to make a person happier with their overall appearance just as any cosmetic surgery can be done to achieve or it can be done to correct a birth defect or an injury from an accident. 

This type of procedure can be done with a local anesthesia or a general anesthesia. What type of anesthesia is used will depend on a variety of factors including your age and what is being done. For most patients it is an out patient procedure but this can vary case by case of course. For example children having this surgery will it done under general anesthesia and will likely have an over night hospital stay as well to ensure proper after surgery care.

How long the whole process takes depends on what is being done. Simpler procedures can take as little as an hour to perform, while more complex procedures can take as long as five hours to complete. 

After surgery the patient will have their whole head wrapped in heavy gauze that will be changed to a lighter wrap after a few days and eventually removed completely. The wrappings help the ear heal and mend in the correct position so it’s important that the wraps stay in place for the surgery to be successful. Once the wraps can be removed you will still have to sleep with a headband on for up to two weeks to cover and protect your ears. 

On the up side the results from Otoplasty, unlike other cosmetic procedures, is immediately visible. The pain and discomfort to be expected are minimal beyond the initial inconvenience of having to use a headband at night and not sleep on your ears for a few weeks while you recover. The risk factors with this type of procedure are minimal and scaring is usually minimal and easily hidden behind the ear or in the folds of the ear.

The total cost of the procedure will vary by geographic location, the actual procedure done including any complications and the doctor’s fees. You should expect to see a bill from the surgeon for their fees, the surgi center or hospital for the surgical room or hospital room if an overnight stay was needed, and the anesthesiologist for their fees. Make sure that you ask your surgeon what fees to expect and from who so you can budget accordingly for the entire cost of your surgery.

Most patients are happy with the results of their cosmetic ear surgery and have increased self confidence as a result of their new look.