Ear Surgery (Otoplasty)in Boston, MA.

A man in his early 40’s who is bothered by prominent ears. He reports being teased when he was younger and being called “Elephant” and other names. He is finally at a point where he can take care of his ears. He is shown before and again, just 6 weeks after bilateral otoplasty. The cartilage was reshaped by a combination of rasping with a Dingman otoabrader ( designed by one of my professors at the University of Michigan, Dr. Reed DIngman) along with excision of excess conchal cartilage and sutures to reshape the ear. He is thrilled to have a normal appearance to his ears. There is still some mild redness from the healing process which should continue to fade with time.

A woman in her early 40’s who is bothered by prominence of her ears, left more than the right. She is shown before and again, 3 months after bilateral otoplasty. Update: At one year, the ears have maintained their shape and have a beautiful, natural appearance.

A young man in his pre -teens who is bothered by prominent ears. He is teased at school. His parents wanted to insure that his ears did not look unnatural or “pulled or pinned back” after surgery. Examination of his ear before surgery showed poor definition of the antihelical fold and hypertrophy (excess projection) of the conchal bowl. He is shown before and again, 6 months after bilateral otoplasty. During his surgery I formed a new antihelical fold with the Dingman oto-abrader ( Dr. Reed DIngman was one of my professors at the University of Michigan during my Plastic Surgery Residency and was a world expert on Otoplasty) and Mustarde sutures. In a case such as this where the conchal bowl is severely hypertrophic ( more than 2.5 cm) then it cannot be corrected well with sutures alone, and it is better to excise a crescent of cartilage to help pull the ear back. This was done in his case through an anterior incision just inside the rim. He and his family are pleased that he has a normal appearance after surgery. The ears are in the proper position and no “pinned back”. And the projection in the mid ear has been reduced from 39 mm on his right to 19 mm and from 36 mm on his left to 18 mm.

A man in his late 50’s who has always been bothered by prominent ears. He has worn his hair long to hide them. He is shown before and again, 6 weeks after bilateral otoplasty. He is thrilled with looking normal, and is now comfortable wearing his hair short.

A young women in her mid-teens who is has been teased at school because of her prominent ears. She is shown before and again, a year after surgery. She loves her new ears. She always hid them before with her hair, but reports that she only wears her hair up now.