|
Otoplasty is a type of medical surgery that is designed to change the shape of a person’s external ears. There are children born with particular congenital defects of the outer ear and adults that experience trauma that affects the way their ears are shaped and look. Plastic surgeons that specialize in this type of surgery can alter the shape and size of ears and can sometimes even improve the patient’s hearing. Perhaps the most popular form of otoplasty is that designed to improve the outer shape and appearance of ears on children due to congenital defects. Microtia is a defect in which the patient is born with abnormally small ears. Anotia is a defect in which the patient is born without any ear at all. While this surgery may not improve the patient’s hearing, it often improves their quality of life. Looking normal and fitting in is important to kids of all ages. Having normal looking outer ears (pinna) can help kids grow up with healthy self-esteem and self-image. However, most plastic surgeons will advise that parents wait until their child is a certain age before performing otoplasty. This is particularly true if the surgeon uses cartilage from the ribcage. There must be enough cartilage to harvest in order to ensure the procedure is safe and effective. Using the patients own cartilage has many advantages including the fact that it is not a foreign body and is much less likely to be rejected by the patient’s immune system. Otoplasty is also popular among adults that have suffered some sort of trauma or burn or just aren’t happy with the way their ears look. Ears can be pinned closer to the head. Very large ears can be made smaller. Or particular bends and folds in the cartilage can be reworked and reshaped. Perhaps one ear is asymmetrically different than the other? Otoplasty can correct that too. Most children that undergo this type of procedure require general sedation with anesthesia. For adults however, depending on the type and extent of the procedure, they may be able to get away with only local sedation. This can result in faster recovery time and less risk of negative reaction to the anesthesia. There is even a variation of this procedure that doesn’t involve any incision. It is called Incisionless Otoplasty and utilizes a needle and suture to hold the new ear shape in position. Risks of otoplasty are similar to other invasive and in-depth plastic surgical procedures. There can be wound separation, delayed healing, infection, inflammation, hematoma or seroma formation, cartilage rejection, asymmetry, or excessive scar formation. The extent of the risk of these side effects depends on the skill of the surgeon performing the procedure and on genetic factors such as healing ability and keloid formation. Carefully following the surgeon’s pre- and post-operative instructions can help speed healing and reduce side effects. Be sure to notify your doctor immediately if you notice increased pain, redness or inflammation. This may indicate an infection and might require a round of antibiotics immediately. Choose a otoplasty New York City surgeon that has experience in successfully performing the rare procedure. For more information, visit http://www.drzevon.com
Related Articles -
Otoplasty, New, York, City,
| 
