EAR CORRECTION SURGERY

The Procedure

The procedure is relatively straightforward. The operation begins with the surgeon making an incision just behind the ear in the natural fold where the ear meets the side of the head in order to expose the cartilage. The incision can also be made at the front of the ear, although surgeons tend to prefer making the incision at the back as scarring will be less visible. The cartilage and skin are then remodelled, and in some cases, part of the cartilage may even be removed. Once the ear has
been remodelled to the appropriate shape and size, the surgeon will stitch up the initial incision with stitches. The operation is completed by bandaging the ears in order to protect them.
It is possible to reshape the ears of infants using a non-surgical procedure, although this should be done as young as possible to provide optimum results. Splints are applied and taped in place to encourage the ear to grow into a more aesthetically pleasing shape. This usually doesn’t work on babies older than six months though as the cartilage has formed and become less malleable.
It is a good idea to wash your hair before the procedure, as a large head bandage must be worn after the surgery and you will not be able to wash your hair for around a week. The procedure takes up to 2 hours and you will be in and out of the clinic on the same day.

Here’s a typical timeline for ear surgery recovery.

1.After a few days, the bandage will be replaced with a soft headband. “The biggest risk is damaging the surgical correction,” says Dr. Richardson. He recommends that his patients wear a protective headband at all times for the first two weeks and then at night after that, but Dr. Sedgh says that most surgeons require it for only one week, and then at night. Your surgeon may have you sleep on elevated pillows and not on your side, to avoid putting any pressure on your ears.
2.Sutures will be removed after a week.
3.Your ears will be tender, swollen, and red for several weeks after the procedure, with bruising around the ears. You can expect mild discomfort (itching, swelling, and throbbing) that will be controlled with oral pain medications. Avoiding strenuous activity for two weeks after surgery will help keep the swelling down.
4.It’s common to have some numbness of the ears that usually resolves within a month, but it may persist for up to six months.
5.After four to six weeks, you’ll be able to resume all normal activities, including sports.
“The recovery period is critical to the overall success of ear surgery, so be sure to follow all of your doctor’s post-operative instructions,” says Dr. Sedgh.