Ear Surgery
About Otoplasty in New York
Am I a suitable candidate?
Only a consultation can determine this. A thorough medical history and appropriate physical examination will be taken to ascertain your health status. If you are a smoker you will be asked to stop smoking well in advance of surgery. Smoking seriously constricts blood vessels and therefore decreases blood flow to a given area resulting in poor healing. Aspirin and certain anti-inflammatory drugs and other medications can cause increased bleeding, so you must avoid these. Details of any previous ear surgery will be noted. Ear unevenness is usual and will be pointed out. Many times even when only one ear appears to protrude, surgery is performed on both ears for a better balance. This will be better assessed at the consultation.
What does the operation involve?
The main surgical objective in the correction of prominent or misshapen ears is to reduce the protrusion and at the same time to provide a normal configuration when the ear is viewed from the side. This objective is achieved by modifying the flexibility of the cartilage beneath the skin thereby altering the shape and position to a more desired appearance.
In most types of procedures for prominent ear correction an incision (about 4-5 cm) is usually made in the skin in the groove behind the ears where any remaining surface scar will not be directly visible. Occasionally however incisions are placed on the front surface of the ear, although these are placed inconspicuously within the normal contours.
After correction of the shape and position of the ear is accomplished, the incisions are stitched and the ears are carefully padded with cotton wool and a bandage is applied.
What type of anesthesia will I receive?
It is usually carried out with the use of a local anesthesia, mainly with sedation, or alternatively with a general anesthetic.
How long does it take?
The procedure is performed in theatre and usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour.