Otoplasty or Prominent ears surgery
Cosmetic Surgery - Plastic Surgery - Aesthetic Medicine - Reconstructive Surgery
Otoplasty is the surgical correction of prominent ears. The aim of otoplasty is to:
reduce the angle between the pinna and the skull when it is too large and there is a real separation (Helix valgus);
reduce excessive size in the concha (hypertrophy);
correct the folding defects in cartilage reliefs where these are absent or poorly plicated ("unfolded" appearance).
Otoplasty is a procedure that will permanently correct these defects
by reshaping the cartilage to achieve «pinned-back «symmetrical and
natural looking ears. Unilateral or bilateral otoplasty is possible
from the age of 7, when the ears have reached their adult size and
where the child suffers and complains about his/her appearance.
Otoplasty can stop ridicule that often leads to psychological
difficulties or school conflicts. Otoplasty is also possible in adults.
For otoplasty to be supported by social security, the deformation of
the ears should be considered sufficiently significant and to cause
major social embarrassment. There is no set procedure for agreement and
the qualified plastic surgeon will judge whether the conditions for
reimbursement are met or not. Otherwise this is aesthetic surgery
without support by social security or mutual insurance.
Otoplasty is a procedure performed in different ways depending on the
characteristics of the ears: skin incisions behind the ears, lifting of
the skin to access the cartilage, remodelling of the cartilage to
recreate and enhance the natural contours, sutures and bandaging using
elastic bands around the head.
Otoplasty must be performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, and it is,
like any surgical procedure, performed after preoperative assessment
and consultation with an anaesthesiologist. Otoplasty can be carried
out under local anaesthesia, local anaesthesia in combination with
tranquilizers or classic general anaesthesia.
Hospitalisation following an otoplasty involves hospitalisation as an outpatient or a short hospital stay of 24 hours.
Otoplasty is an operation the duration of which depends on the
surgical work to be carried out by the plastic surgeon. It usually
takes between 1hr30 minutes and 2hrs. Each surgeon uses his/her own
technique that is adjusted to suit each patient so as to get the best
results.
Following an otoplasty, you should rest and avoid strenuous effort
because, whilst there is no real pain, you may experience some
discomfort with a feeling of tension.
The postoperative consequences of an otoplasty are variable in
duration and magnitude depending on the patients: swelling (oedema) and
ecchymoses (bruises). It takes a period of 1 to 2 months to allow time
for healing (scars are inevitable, permanent, indelible and
unpredictable) and recovery of flexibility in the tissues. A timescale
of 12 months is needed definitively to assess the scarring and the
final result.
Otoplasty surgery is delicate, requiring a lot of rigour and carries
all the risks associated with any medical procedure (anaesthesia and
surgery) even when carried out under the most favourable conditions,
that is to say by a qualified plastic surgeon. Without overstating the
risk, a proportion of risks exists. Turning to a qualified plastic
surgeon can prevent complications or help to treat them effectively.