Ear Enhancement (Otoplasty)
Ear surgery is designed to reposition or "pin back" protruding ears. It is most commonly performed during childhood, before the child begins school. While ear surgery is more commonly performed on children, an increasing number of adults want surgical help to have ears that are in harmony with the rest of the face. Even though only one ear may appear to protrude excessively, it is usually necessary to correct both in order to get the desired result.

Ear surgery commonly takes from one to two hours, depending on the complexity of the case. In most instances, the incisions made to reposition the ears are placed behind the ears. The resulting thin scars are usually inconspicuous.

The Surgery
In adults, the surgery can be performed under local or general anesthesia. It is recommended that children be completely asleep for the surgery, since it lasts approximately two hours. The surgery is performed through an incision behind the ear so there is no apparent scar(s).

The Recovery
After the surgery, a large protective dressing is applied for 24 hours. Afterwards, a headband is worn by the patients day and night for two weeks, followed by headband use at night only for an additional two weeks. The headband helps to protect the ears from abrupt changes in position during the early critical healing period. Adults may choose to wear the headband at night from the start. Full activity can be resumed in two weeks, and contact sports are safe after six weeks. At first, the ears feel numb and look flat against the side of the head. Mild bruising is usual, but this subsides within two - four weeks. As with other facial plastic surgery procedures, there is a remarkable absence of pain. Most everything feels better within four to six weeks.

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