Otoplasty: A Simple Procedure to Correct Protruding Ears By Abigail Aaronson At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Otoplasty (or ear surgery) is a very simple, straight-forward procedure to correct prominent, protruding, and large ears. This surgery is designed for children and adults alike.

It is performed by a qualified and certified surgeon, who specializes in facial and ear surgeries. Before considering this type of surgery, you may be curious to know whether you are a good candidate for the surgery and what the surgery entails. This article will attempt to address those issues.

As mentioned, both adults and children can have otoplasty. Children as young as four years old have been known to have this procedure. Other kids can be cruel in their treatment of children with large, protruding ears. Correcting these problems early will help children stay off unnecessary comments and ridicule.

Although adults are able to have otoplasty, better results are seen in children because their ears are more mold-able. Before you have the surgery, you will have a consultation with the plastic surgeon. During this visit, she will assess you for general good health.

There are complications that would preclude you from this type of surgery including severe heart disease and possibly even hypertension. All in all, most people are able to undergo the surgery without any difficulty. It is important to maintain a positive attitude towards surgery.

There is definitely pain and uncomfortable swelling that often accompanies most surgeries. However, medication can be provided to minimize these discomforts. The surgery is relatively simple. It begins with the surgeon cutting behind the ear. The natural fold between the head and where the ear bends will be cut.

After this layer of skin is removed, the surgeon then removes cartilage and molds the ear into a more desirable look. Afterwards, the surgeon sutures the remaining cartilage and replaces part of the skin fold. Sometimes, cartilage does not need to be removed. This is because it is sufficient for a suture to anchor the ear into position. The benefit of this simple suture technique is that it is less invasive and allows for quicker healing.

After the surgery, a bandage is applied to the surgical site for a couple of days. Because of the incisions, it will be impossible to take a shower until the bandages are removed and there is no evidence of infection in the surgical site.

However, baths and sponge bathing is appropriate as long as the ears and head do not get wet. As mentioned, it is possible that there will be some discomfort, but the surgeon is able to prescribe medications to minimize the pain. If she does not, over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be used to decrease the pain discomfort.

Also, because of the nature of the surgery, a headband may be recommended to keep the ears in their proper position for a few weeks. By not wearing this headband, the effects of the surgery may not be as good as intended. If the headband is uncomfortable, it is best to discuss this issue with your surgeon, who may be able to make other arrangements for you.

Otoplasty is a simple procedure that can correct a very unsightly look of the ears. Although there is some pain and risk involved in the process, the outcomes usually outweigh the risks. Most surgeries are completed without any complications. For further consideration, you may want to consult with you family care provider.

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