How is the surgery?

The surgery begins with an incision behind the ear in the crease where the ear joins the head. Otoplasty usually involves surgical removal or replacement of cartilage and skin to achieve the proper effect. In some cases, the cartilage is cut to shape it to a more desirable form, and then bends back with permanent sutures to anchor the ear until healing, which can naturally keep it in place.

Although it is a common operation in adults, the most common is that they are done in children over 6 years of age. It is an ambulatory procedure. Generally, in young children is done under general anesthesia and in adolescents or adults under local anesthesia. It requires 5 to 7 days of rest and about a month without intensive physical activities or sports. It is essential to use for a month of compression garments on the ears.

Risks:

Every surgical procedure involves a certain amount of risk. The choice that an individual takes to undergo a surgical procedure is based on comparing the risk to potential benefit. Although most patients do not experience these complications, if you are considering this, you should discuss each of them with your plastic surgeon and make sure you understand the risks, potential complications and consequences of otoplasty surgery.

Hemorrhage: It is possible, though unusual, to experience an episode of bleeding or bleeding during or after surgery. If postoperative bleeding is likely to need emergency treatment to drain accumulated blood (hematoma). Do not take any aspirin or anti-inflammatory medication for a week before surgery, as this may increase the risk of bleeding.

Infection: Is very rare to get an infection after the operation. In case of an infection, it may require treatment with antibiotics or additional surgery.

Changing skin sensitivity: Usually at the beginning is no loss of sensation or numbness in parts of the ear. You may not recover fully for the decline (or loss) of the capacity of sensation in the skin area of the ear after otoplasty surgery.

Trauma to the ear:Physical injury after otoplasty operation would affect the results of surgery. It should be very careful and protect the ear or ears from injury during the recovery process. Additional surgery may be necessary to correct the damage.

Asymmetry: The human face is normally asymmetrical. There may be differences between the ears normal with respect to the shape and size. You can have different results in one ear or the other.

Deep sutures: Some surgical techniques use deep sutures and nonabsorbent. The patient can touch or feel these objects after surgery. It may happen that the sutures pierce the skin and visible spontaneously or produce irritation, which is required for extraction.

Additional surgery required: If there are complications, it will require additional surgery or other treatments. Even though risks and complications occur infrequently, the risks cited are particularly associated with otoplasty. There may be other complications and risks associated with anesthesia or other procedures, but are much less common.

Chronic pain: Pain may rarely have chronic pain because the nerves are trapped in scar tissue after otoplasty.