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Surgery for loose ears (otoplasty)

Although the position and shape of the ears do not affect the hearing of a person, loose ears often become a reason for complications. Ear plastic surgery is performed for a more beautiful aesthetic image and your greater self-confidence. It is important to mention that ear plastic surgery has no effect on the patient's hearing.

Who can have flapped ears corrected?

Ear plastic surgery, otoplasty, is recommended if the ears are obviously loose and the distance from the upper edge of the ear to the head is 15-20 mm.

What are the possible causes of loose ears?

If the upper part of the ear cup does not develop, the curvature of the cartilage running along the ear (anti-creep) does not form. Then the outer edge of the ear (creeper) remains protruding forward.

If the central cartilaginous part (concha) grows too quickly, the outer edge of the ear is formed irregularly and the whole ear looks protruding.

Ears can become detached from facial and head injuries.

Ear flap surgery is popular among patients of all ages: children who are brought in by their parents because they fear they will be bullied by their peers; teenagers who are extremely sensitive to their appearance during puberty; and adults trying to get rid of the complex due to loose ears.

How is ear plastic surgery performed?

Surgery for adults

Plastic surgery for flap ears in adults is usually performed under local anesthesia and takes 1-1.5 hours.

Surgery for children

If surgery is required for children, general anesthesia can be used in such cases to reduce stress or unusual sensations. Correction is performed on patients who are at least six years old, because the ear grows the fastest in the first year of life and the ear of a six-year-old child is already 96% of the size of an adult's ear.

Operation progress

The incision is made behind the ear. During the operation, unnecessary tissues are removed, the cartilage of the auricle is softened and fixed in another position so that the ear does not loosen.

Postoperative period and healing

Healing and scarring

If local anesthesia was applied, the patient is discharged home on the same day. Results after flap ear surgery are visible immediately. Although the patient's ears may be red and slightly blue after ear plastic surgery, after 2 weeks the bruising is gone. Since the incisions are made on the dorsal surface of the ear, no scars are visible.

Sutures and bandaging

After surgery, the ears are bandaged to protect the surgical wounds and provide support. This bandage should be worn both day and night for two weeks (another two weeks only at night). After a week, after removing the sutures, it is no longer necessary to bandage the ears, but a special bandage must be worn during sleep for another 2 weeks - until the tissues are completely healed and there is no longer any risk of complications.

Physical activity and bad habits

The bandaged ear area should be protected from any type of force, and active physical activity should be avoided for at least 3 months. It is also recommended not to sleep on your side for at least a few months. Avoid bad habits for a few weeks - alcohol and tobacco interfere with the healing process.