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Originally written June 28, 2018
Do you or your child feel sensitive about how your ears look? If you have been in an accident or have misshapen ears, a procedure called an otoplasty can help you. You may have heard a lot of conflicting information about this procedure, so let us clear up a few points for you.
Fact: While they are mostly performed on children, especially those between the ages of 5 and 7, otoplasties can be done on people of any age.
Fact: Otoplasties have no effect on hearing.
Fact: Otoplasties are an outpatient procedure that takes about two hours. General anesthesia is used on children. Adults usually get local anesthesia with intravenous sedation.
Fact: No ears are perfectly symmetrical. You will still have very slight differences between your ears.
Fact: Otoplasties are often considered reconstructive surgery. Most insurers do not pay for it, but a few do. Patients would need to check with their insurance carrier to see if they would be covered.
Fact: It only takes two to three weeks – when you’ll have to wear an ace bandage around your head – to recover from an otoplasty. Swelling and bruising usually resolves in one or two weeks. You will need to sleep on your back with your head elevated for two weeks following surgery. Children can usually go back to school in one week and back to their normal activities in two weeks. People who wear glasses should not rest them on their ears for at least two weeks.
Neither you nor your child should feel sensitive about how your ears look. If you do, schedule your otoplasty consultation with a CEENTA facial plastic surgeon today.
This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your physician. To schedule an appointment with him or any of our facial plastic surgery doctors, you may do so online or through myCEENTAchart.
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