Otoplasty is a surgery to change the shape, position or size of the ears.
This surgery may be used in a number of situations. For example, some people choose to have otoplasty because they are bothered by how far their ears stick out. Others might get this surgery if one or both ears have changed shape due to an injury. Otoplasty also may be used if the ears are a different shape because of a birth defect.
Otoplasty can be done any time after the ears have reached their full size. In general, children can get this surgery as early as 4 to 6 years old. Adults also can get otoplasty.
If a baby is born with prominent ears and certain other ear-shape issues, a different treatment may be an option. It's called splinting, and it doesn't involve surgery. Devices called splints are placed on the baby's outer ear. The splints are adjusted each week for about 4 to 6 weeks. For best results, splinting must be done during the first few days of life. This is when the ear is soft and can be molded. Splinting is less effective when it's done after the first few weeks of life.
Why it's done
You might think about getting otoplasty if:
- Your ear or ears stick out too far from your head.
- Your ears are large compared with your head.
- You're not happy with the results from a past ear surgery.
Often, otoplasty is done on both ears to help give the ears a balanced look. This concept of balance is called symmetry.
Otoplasty doesn't change where on your head the ears are located. It also doesn't change your ability to hear.
Risks
As with any surgery, otoplasty has risks. These risks include bleeding, blood clots and infection. It's also possible to have a reaction to medicines called anesthetics that prevent pain during surgery.
Other risks of otoplasty include:
- Scarring. Scars from the incisions won't go away after otoplasty. But they'll likely be hidden behind your ears or within the creases of your ears.
- Ears that don't look balanced in placement. This is called asymmetry. It could happen due to changes during the healing process. Also, otoplasty might not fix asymmetry that was present before surgery.
- Changes in feeling. Changing the position of your ears can affect how the skin feels in those areas. This effect often goes away, but rarely it is lasting.
- Ears look "pinned back" after surgery. This is known as an overcorrection.
