Otoplasty

Improves the appearance of the ears.

Procedure
Otoplasty, also called ear surgery, sets prominent ears back closer to the head and/or reduces the size of large ears. Cosmetic ear surgery is most often performed on children between the ages of four and fourteen and may be covered by insurance.

Length
Approximately two hours.

Anaesthesia
Young children are usually given general anaesthesia. For older children or adults, a general or local anaesthesia can be used along with sedation.

Inpatient/Outpatient
Usually this is an outpatient procedure.

Possible Side Effects
Temporary throbbing, aching, swelling, redness and/or numbness.

Risks
Infection of cartilage, excessive scarring, blood clots that may need to be drained, mismatched or artificial-looking ears, or the recurrence of the protrusion, which requires repeat surgery.

Recovery
The patient may return to school or work within five to seven days, and resume strenuous activity, such as contact sports in one to two months. A compression garment is required to use for 4 weeks.

Results
Usually permanent.