Otoplasty (Ear Surgery) in Virginia Beach
CONVENIENTLY LOCATED TO SERVE VIRGINIA BEACH, NORFOLK, AND CHESAPEAKE
Why consider otoplasty? No one enjoys having a feature that calls unwanted attention to them or makes them the subject of ridicule. Children with protruding ears, especially, can be hurt by the teasing of their peers. As adults, their self-confidence can often be greatly diminished by the continued awareness of their ears being a focal point. Oftentimes, even hair or a hat cannot hide the prominence.
Repositioning of prominent or protruding ears (otoplasty) is a common surgical procedure. It can be performed at any time on patients from age 5 into adulthood.
The goal of an otoplasty is to create an ear as normal in structure and balanced in proportion to other facial features as possible. Each case of ear surgery (otoplasty) is highly individual and requires a unique plan so as to avoid an unnatural “pinned back” look.
Good Candidates for Otoplasty
Otoplasty is a popular procedure for children and teenagers with malformed ears. Commonly, ear surgery is used to treat concerns like macrotia, a condition where the ears are overly large or protruding. Otoplasty is also recommended in cases where injuries have caused issues with the shape of the ear.
The best candidates for otoplasty are age 5 or older. This is because, by the age of 5, the development of the outer ear is 90 percent complete.
It is essential that people undergoing this treatment are in good overall health to avoid the risks of complications in surgery and recovery. For smokers, the recovery procedure is very slow, since smoking decreases the blood flow to the treated area.
Otoplasty Options
There are a number of otoplasty techniques available depending on the details of each case. The most popular kinds of otoplasty are related to ear pinning, ear augmentation, and ear reduction.
When people have protruding ears that stick out from the sides of the head prominently, ear-pinning otoplasty results in drawing the ears closer to the head.
People opt for ear augmentation when they have underdeveloped or very small ears. In such cases, otoplasty helps in increasing the size of the outer ear.
Lastly, in the case of macrotia, ear reduction helps in reducing the size of the ears.
How Much Does Otoplasty Cost?
The overall cost of an Otoplasty is affected by anesthesia fees, hospital fees, post-surgery garments, and medications. Price is also impacted by medical tests, surgeon’s fees, and the exact techniques employed.
The Otoplasty Consultation
Before a date is set for the operation, Dr. Hugo meets with the patient for a consultation. It is important to be open and honest during consultations.
The patient will discuss their complete medical history with Dr. Hugo, and Dr. Hugo will closely examine the shape, size, and position of the patient’s ears. This is followed by a discussion of the operation, including recovery, cost, and preparation, along with the patient’s expectations from the surgery.
The Procedure
The operation is usually done under local anesthesia as an outpatient procedure. A general anesthetic is recommended for young children so that your child will sleep comfortably through the procedure. An incision is made behind the ear to access the underlying cartilage. No skin is removed. The cartilage is carefully weakened or trimmed so as to bend the ear back the proper amount. Internal non-removable sutures are used to secure the newly shaped cartilage in place. The skin behind the ear is closed with buried dissolving sutures, which do not require removal.
Otoplasty Recovery
A dressing that wraps around the head is worn for four to six days after the otoplasty surgery. This keeps the surgical site clean, protects it from trauma, and supports the new position of the ear during initial healing. Oral pain medication easily controls discomfort. An elastic headband is worn at night for two months. Patients can go back to work or school and do activities such as swimming one week after surgery. Contact sports, which may injure the ear, should be avoided for three to six months.
Otoplasty results are near immediate. Confidence and self-assuredness quickly become evident with the improved appearance of the newly shaped ears.
Photo Gallery
Before & After
Ben Hugo Plastic Surgery‘s before-and-after pictures of real patients.
