What Is Otoplasty? Read Below to know!
Otoplasty is the surgical reshaping of the outer ear, to correct either deformities or make them look better. Otyoplasty can be either a cosmetic or reconstructive procedure. Pinning back prominent ears is an example of cosmetic otoplasty, while surgery to build up the outer ear after injury is an example of reconstructive otoplasty.
Otoplasty more commonly occurs during childhood, but can be done on patients of any age.
According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary, Otoplasty is:
"Constructive or reparative plastic surgery of the ear."
Protruding ears can be a characteristic that runs in families. However, they often occur for no apparent reason. Having protruding ears should not affect a person's hearing. The pinna (outer ear) The pinna has a minor function in aiding good hearing. As far as most humans are concerned, the pinna's main function is to either look nice or not stand out.
Some people feel that their ears stick out too much. This can sometimes cause embarrassment and psychological distress.
Ear
The Pinna is the visible outer part of the ear
Having ears that "stick out" can undermine a child's self-confidence and eventually affect their emotional well-being and behavior.
Children with protruding ears may be teased by their classmates and even be the subject of unpleasant and distressing bullying.
Prominent ears can affect a person's self-image. Even adults with protruding ears may suffer from severe embarrassment, in some cases to such an extent that it affects their everyday lives - they may not ever wear helmets or other headgear and might find their focus on other things distracted by concern about their appearance. What causes an ear to be prominent?Angle - Typically, the outer ear sticks out from the side of the head at an angle of about 20 to 35 degrees. If the angle is more than 35 degrees, they will appear to "stick out".beauty
Overdevelopment of the cartilage - If the pinna has too much cartilage, there is a greater chance it will be prominent (protruding ear).
Underdevelopment of the cartilage - The ridge of cartilage at the top of the ear does not fold properly during development. The outer edge of the ear does not fold in toward the head, and instead sticks outwards.
Injury - Prominent ears can also be the result of an injury to the ears.
Approximately 20 to 30 % of newborn children are born with deformities of the external ear. This can occur either congenitally or it is acquired in the birth canal. Some deformities are self-correcting. If the child's external ear deformity has not self-corrected a week after birth, then either an otoplasty or a non-surgical correction may be recommended. Remodeling of the cartilage Two main techniques are used to correct protruding ears:
Ear splinting. This is a simple and safe procedure that can be used to treat babies who are six months old or younger. The soft cartilage is reshaped by using a splint to support and keep the ear in the new position.
After six months of age, the cartilage in the ear becomes too hard to be remodeled with splints. For older children, surgery will be the only treatment option.
Otoplasty. Otoplastic techniques are used to correct, reconstruct, or replace a deformed, defective, or a missing ear (pinna). The cartilage is remodeled. For best results, an otoplasty should be carried out after the ears have reached their full size. Most children's ears will be almost full size by the time they are five years old. The surgery can create the missing folds and position the ear closer to the head.
There are three main types of otoplasties:
- Ear augmentation - when the pinna is underdeveloped or non-existent (microtia).
- Otopexy (ear pinback) - the protruding ears are "flattened".
- Ear reduction - when the pinna is too big, what doctors call macrotia.
Otoplasties are mainly carried out by plastic surgeons, ENT surgeons (ear, nose and throat) and sometimes by pediatric surgeons.
In adults, surgery can be performed under intravenous sedation supplemented with local anesthesia. In children, general anesthesia is used. The incision is made behind the ear. The procedure lasts approximately one to two hours. The thin scar is localized behind the ear and out of view. The scar will fade over time and should become barely noticeable.
Recovery: The patient will have to have bandages over the ears for several days after surgery. While the bandages are in place, it will not be possible for patients to wash their hair. After the removal of the bandages, a supportive loose headband is worn over the ears at night. This will help to take tension off of the ears. The headband should be worn loose to prevent the ears from being pulled forward when the patient moves in his/her sleep.
The patient can return to school or work within a week of the surgical procedure. Regular activity and exercise can restart within two weeks. Doctors urge patients to avoid any activities that could cause trauma or injury to the ears during the recovery period. Physical contact sports (judo, rugby, football...) should be avoided for at least three months. Swimming should be avoided for up to eight weeks after surgery.
Post-surgical numbness may continue for several weeks, while mild bruising may be present for up to two weeks. The ears may feel stiff for several months. Soreness, particularly at night, can last for a few months.
Pediatricians and child psychologists recommend that children be old enough to understand what the operation involves beforehand. beautyThe desire to change the appearance of his/her ears should come from the child. What are the complications of an otoplasty?Infection: Infection of the skin and cartilage of the ear. This is rare but can be treated effectively with antibiotics.
Bleeding: A hematoma or blood clot can form under the skin of the ear. There may be severe pain, inflammation and bleeding of the wound. Bandages will have to be removed to treat the hematoma and the lesion.
Suture complications: This depends on whether the sutures are absorbable, monofilament, or braided. Removing the sutures may sometimes be slightly difficult.
Recurrence: The ears start sticking out again. In some cases revision surgery will be required.
Unsatisfactory appearance:
Asymmetry: In some cases, the ears are not set back in the same way. Surgeons will try to make sure the two ears "match" - getting it just right is not easy.
Partial Correction: The ears are not positioned close enough to the head.
Overcorrection: The most common complication, the ears are positioned too close to the head.
Unnatural contour: In some cases, because of the surgical technique that was used, the corrected ear has an unusual shape.
Otoplasties are very safe and successful procedures. Satisfaction rates after otoplasties are high.
Patients, and their parents when relevant, should have realistic expectations about what can be achieved. Surgery can change the appearance of ears, making them less prominent or smaller beauty. However, it is not always possible to achieve perfect symmetry.