Please be sure to ask your Dr Humayun
Mohmand if there is anything you don't understand
about the procedure
If you're considering ear surgery... Ear
surgery, or otoplasty, is usually done to
set prominent ears back closer to the head
or to reduce the size of large ears. ~ For
the most part, the operation is done on
children between the ages of 4 and 14. Ears
are almost fully grown by age 4, and the
earlier the surgery, the less teasing and
ridicule the child will have to endure.Ear
surgery on adults is also possible, and
there are generally no additional risks
associated with ear surgery on an older
patient.If you're considering ear surgery
for yourself or your child, this brochure
will give you a basic understanding of the
procedure- when it can help, how it's performed,
and what results you can expect.It can't
answer all of your questions, since a lot
depends on your individual circumstances
All
surgery carries same uncertainty and risk
When
ear surgery is performed by a qualified, experienced surgeon, complications art
infrequent and usually minor. Nevertheless,
.r. with any operation, there are risks
association with surgery and specific
complocations assiciated with this procedure.
A small percentage of patients may develop
a blood clot on the ear. It may sisslove
naturally or can be Drawn ant with a nrrdle.
Oscaxinnalls, patients develop an rnlrrtion
in the iartilagr, which eau cause liar
tissue to furm.Sush infections are usually
treated with antibiotics; r:vrly, surgery
mss he required to drain the infected
area.
Planning
for surgery
Most
surgeons recommend that parent+ stay alert
to their dtild•s kelingx shout protnsdurg
tars; don't insist on tlic surgery until
your child w~nts the ilraugc. t.'hilJrcn
who fed unrnnilorrahlr alwur rhrir tars
and want the surgrry art gemrally name
cooperative rhuirrg the proms and happier
wrrh Ihr outcome.
In the inmral rncrnng, your vmgcvn wdl
evaluate your rluld'c condition, nr yuun
rf y~u are cousidcnng wrgcry for yourself,
and reiommenJ the nmsr cffccrne lcchmqur.
I Ir or shy will also gi+r son spccifc
msrructions nn how to prepare for surgery.
Where
the surgery will be performed
Each
surgery os usually pnlurmrd as ai ourp:nirnt
print date in a hospital, a drRtnr.
•x
ntlice-based surgical Lxility, ur a freestanding
surgery center. Occasionally, your doctor
may
• raummrnd that rhr prtnedure
be door as an iuparrent procedure, in
whidt cast you can plan nn saying uvcrnrght
in the hospital.
Types
of anesthesia
II
your rhilJ is young, your surgeon may
rrrouurtcnd grnrral anarhesia, .m the
child wJl slop through the ofs eraliun.
1'or older : hiWrcn nr adultx, the sursetsn
may prefer to use Iniol anesthesia, comhiorJ
with a xdanve, av you rx yow child will
lsc awake but rrlaxcJ.
The
surgery
Ear
surgrry usually takes about tst•n
to three hours, although complicauJ prnicdurcx
may take Inugrr. the rrrliruyuc will depend
ou the praldrm.
With
tore of rhr nrurc common techniyucs, rhr
surgeon makes a small incision m tIK back
of the em to rxprwr rhr ear carrdagr.
Hr or she will thin xrulpt the cartilage
and bent it hnik toward the head. Fon~removahle
stitches may hr axed to help maintain
rhr new shape. Oecasronully, the surgeon
will remove a larger pick of anilagr to
pro+iJc a mote namrnl luukrng IoIJ when
the surgery n iurnplerc.
Another
rerhuiyuc involves a similar mrision in
the kick of rhr tat. Skin n nmnved and
srrti hes are usrJ to fold rhr sartilagr
Mark txr rrxl( to rcshapr the r v without
removing carrilugc.
In
most cases, tat surgery will Icave .t
taint oar in the back o1 dtr ear dint
wdl fate with time, Even when nnh our
tar appeora to pnsuuJc, surgrry ix usually
pcrfnuncd on M,rh ~rs for a better balance.
Gettin
back to normal
Adults
acid chrWren art usually np auJ arnunJ
within a few hours of surgrry, although
son m.ty (refer to star uvcrnry;ht iu
the hoslnlul wide a child until all rhr
elkcts of gerxral anrsrlsrsia wear u1L
The
patirrrt's head will he wrapped m ~ bulky•
Furalage imnxdialcly h,llaw•ing
surgery m pronurrc the lest mold ing and
healurg. Thr ants may throb nr nchr a
little fat a few days, but this ian he
mlirvr'd by mrJignnn.
1.Ears
that appear to stickout or are overly
large can 6e helped by ear surgery
2.An
incision is made in the hack
of the ear so cartilage can
be sculpted or folded. Stitches
are used to close the incision
and help maintain the new shape.
3.Creating
a fold in the cartilage makes the
ear lie flatter against the head and
appear more normal
Within
a few days, the bulky bandages will be replaced
by a lighter head dressing similar to a
headband. Be sure to follow your surgeon's
directions for wearing this dressing, especially
at night.
Before
'n After case
Stitches are usually removed, or will dissolve,
in about a week.
Any activity in which the ear might be bent
should be avoided for a month or so. Most
adults can go back to work about five days
after surgery. Children can go back to school
after seven days or so, if they're careful
about playground activity. You may want
to ask your child's teacher to keep an eye
on the child for a few weeks.
Other
ear problems
Besides
protruding ears, there are a variety of
other ear problems that can be helped
with surgery. These include: "lop
ear," when the top seems to fold
down and forward; "cupped ear,"
which is usually a very small ear; and,
"shell ear," when the curve
in the outer rim, as well as the natural
folds and creases, are missing. Surgery
can also improve large or stretched earlobes,
or lobes with large creases and wrinkles.
Surgeons can even build new ears for those
who were born without them or who lost
them through injury.
Sometimes, however, the correction can
leave a scar that's worse than the original
problem. Ask your surgeon about the effectiveness
of surgery for your specific case.
More
natural looking ears
Most
patients, young and old alike, are thrilled
with the results of ear surgery. But keep
in mind, the goal is improvement, not
perfection. Don't expect both ears to
match perfectly- perfect symmetry is both
unlikely and unnatural in ears. If you've
discussed the procedure and your expectations
with the surgeon before the operation,
chances are, you'll be quite pleased with
the result.
