Otoplasty or ear surgery
Procedure
Sets prominent ears back closer to the head and / or reduces the size of large ears. This procedure is most often performed on children between the ages of four and fourteen and may be covered
by insurance.
by insurance.
Length
Approximately two hours.
Anesthesia
Young children are operated in general anesthesia. For older children or adults a general or local anesthesia is used with sedation.
Inpatient/Outpatient
Usually this is an outpatient procedure.
Possible Side Effects
Temporary throbbing, aching, swelling, redness and/or numbness.
Risks
Infection of cartilage, excessive scarring, blood clots that may need to be drained, mismatched or artificial-looking ears, or the recurrence of the protrusion which requires repeat surgery.
Recovery
The patient may return to school or work within five to seven days, and resume strenuous activity, such as contact sports in one to two months.
Results
Usually permanent.