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 212
An early (6-week) follow-up on a mid-teen with prominent ears.  She had the formation of her anti-helical fold with a combination of cartilage rasping with the Dingman otoabrader and Mustarde sutures.  The concha was reduced with direct excision of cartilage. She is thrilled with her early result.  
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Earlobe Repair – Female Patient 209
A woman in her mid 30’s with a complete split of her left earlobe.  She sleeps with her earrings in and also has a nickel allergy.  She is shown before and again, 3 months after repair in the office.  She is shown again, just after re-piercing.  A titanium earring was used because of her nickel allergy.
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Earlobe Repair (Otoplasty) – Patient 210
A woman in her later 70’s with a complete split of her left earlobe on two occasions in the past.  She does sleep with her earrings in.  She is shown just before repair, and again, just after re-piercing in the office. She did not want an earlobe lift at this time, which would have required a matching lift on the opposite ear.
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Otoplasty – Patient 125
An early ( 4 day) follow-up on a bilateral otoplasty patient in her mid-teens.  She was bothered by prominent ears and had been trying to hold them back with double stick tape but it fell off during sports.  She has been teased because of her ears. She has the typical combination of a poorly formed ante-helical fold and prominence of the conchal bowl.  I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work directly with Dr. Reed Dingman at the University of Michigan who developed the Dingman oto-abrader, a device to weaken the “spring” of the cartilage that we still use to this day. She is shown immediately after removing the bandages.  There is obviously bruising and swelling from the surgery that will fade over the next 6 weeks.  She is absolutely thrilled with the new contour of her ears Our patient is seen at 6 weeks.  The redness of surgery is starting to fade and she has an excellent contour of her ears. 
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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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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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