Otoplasty

What is Otoplasty?

Ear surgery, also known as otoplasty, in Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts, corrects the shape or position of the ear. It also corrects birth defects of the ear, as well as malformation due to injury.

Am I a good candidate for otoplasty surgery?

Good candidates are people who are not happy with the appearance of their ears, whether they have been injured or not. Most patients come in with concerns that their ears stick out too far, part of the ear cartilage has been injured or become deformed, and some could also benefit from earlobe repair.

Children, teenagers, and adults are all candidates for ear pinning surgery. Children should be healthy, five years of age or older, and able to communicate their feelings about ear surgery to be good candidates. Teenagers and adults should also be healthy individuals who do not smoke and have realistic expectations about how their ear reshaping procedure will turn out.

Otoplasty – Patient 124
A 13 yo boy with bilateral prominent ears.  He is shown before and again, 6 weeks after bilateral otoplasty.  Scars are typically at their reddest at 6 weeks and will continue to fade and improve over the next two years.
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Otoplasty – Patient 123
A man in his later 40’s who is bothered by prominence of his right ear.  He was born with prominent ears and had surgery on his right ear by another plastic surgeon 20 years ago but the top and bottom of the ear continued to stick out and bothered him when he wears his hair short.  On examination, the anti-helical fold was diminished and the earlobe was prominent.  I recreated his anti-helical fold with Mustarde sutures and rasping of the cartilage with the Dingman oto-abrader- Dr. Dingman was one of my professors at the University of Michigan and designed a special rasp- when the perichondrium ( the cover of the cartilage) is disrupted it breaks the “spring” of the cartilage and allows it to hold the new position better. Our patient is shown just before and again, 6 weeks after correction
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Otoplasty – Patient 122
A woman in her early 60’s who has been bothered by prominence of her ears and would like to be able to wear her hair up. She is shown before and again, nearly 5 months after bilateral otoplasty.
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Otoplasty – Patient 121
A man in his mid 20’s who is bothered by prominence of his ears who would like to feel more comfortable wearing his hair short. His preoperative measurements are shown and compared to the normal. He is shown before and again, 5 months after bilateral otoplasty Update: Our patient is now seen more than 1 year after his surgery. He has maintained an excellent contour and the redness has completely faded
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Otoplasty – Patient 120
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How Otoplasty is Performed

Plastic surgeons utilize a variety of techniques to perform otoplasties because no two ears are exactly alike. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jonathan Hall performs this cosmetic surgery to help both adult patients and younger patients to have ears that match harmoniously with the rest of their facial features, giving them the opportunity to escape teasing and self-confidence issues.

Otoplasty may be performed under either local anesthetic, intravenous sedation, or general anesthesia, depending on the extent of the procedure and the desire of the patient. Dr. Hall then makes a small incision or two to access the cartilage tissue of the inner ear. This will leave a faint scar on the back of the ear that will fade with time and is not readily visible.

What should I expect during recovery?

The recovery process after most otoplasties is pretty simple. Most patients recover quickly and are back to school or work within days.

The sutures, which are located behind the ear, are dissolvable and do not need to be removed. Patients may experience bruising or itching around and under the bandages, though medication may be prescribed to control any discomfort. It is important that bandages are not removed during the healing process to ensure optimal correction results.

How long do results last?

An otoplasty permanently corrects any imperfections of the ear. It may take a few weeks for the ear to fully adjust to its new position, but all in all the results tend to be immediate.

Ear Surgery in Boston, MA

If you or a loved one is unsatisfied with the shape, size, or prominence of one or both ears, a minimally invasive otoplasty can help you achieve the appearance you are hoping for. Start the process with Dr. Jonathan Hall by calling our Stoneham office or contacting us online today.

“I saw 3 surgeons before meeting with Dr. Hall and by far he and his staff was the most compassionate, thorough, professional and helpful. Can’t say how pleased and comfortable he and his staff made me feel.”

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