Otoplasty, commonly known as ear surgery, is primarily a cosmetic surgery procedure designed to enhance the shape, proportion or position of the ear. The plastic surgeon may recommend otoplasty to patients who need a correction of an anomaly in the ear structure or shape that exists from birth, or has occurred as fallout of an injury.

Ear plastic surgery can create a natural shape, and bring better balance between the face and the ears. The face is the most prominent part of the body from an aesthetic perspective, which makes a procedure such as otoplasty profound in terms of impact. Dr. Wright Jones is an eminent cosmetic surgeon providing otoplasty and other procedures to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Stockbridge, Marietta, GA and surrounding areas.

Good Candidates

Otoplasty cosmetic surgery can treat patients with overly large ears, or protruding ears that may occur on one or both sides in varying degree. Children with misshaped ears can be golden candidates for this plastic surgery procedure, subject to the following conditions:

• The child should be healthy, and not suffering from any chronic ear infection.

• The child should be at least five years of age or at a stage when their ear cartilage is stable enough for a correction.

• The child is in a position to cooperate and follow the instructions of the cosmetic surgeon.

Teenagers and adults may also opt for this procedure at any stage. The candidate should be a non-smoker or ready to quit smoking several weeks prior to surgery. Patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Stockbridge, Marietta, GA, and other locations may receive otoplasty from experienced plastic surgeon, Dr. Jones.

Surgical Procedure

Otoplasty may be performed under general anesthesia or IV sedation with local anesthesia. To correct the appearance of abnormally protruding ears, the surgeon will employ a technique to create or increase the anti-helical fold, which exists just inside the rim of the ear. At the same time, the enlarged conchal cartilage, which is the biggest and deepest concavity of the external ear, will be reduced.

Incisions for this procedure will typically be made on the back surface of the ear to hide the scarring. If an incision is necessary on the front side of the ear, the surgeon will make it within the ear folds to keep it inconspicuous. The surgeon will use internal, non-removable sutures to build and secure the newly shaped cartilage in its place.

Once the procedure is over, external sutures will be used to close the incision. An experienced surgeon will ensure that other facial structures are not distorted in the procedure, and an unnatural ‘pinned-back’ appearance is avoided.

Recovery and Results

Results with ear surgery are visible almost immediately, but the patient will be able to notice them properly once the dressings that support the new ear are taken off. The results are usually permanent with this procedure. Recovery in case of otoplasty can take about a week or 10 days.

Mild pain or discomfort will normally follow in the first few days, which can be managed with pain medications. Bandages should remain in place as instructed by the surgeon to ensure that the correction establishes itself completely.

See all plastic surgery procedures that Cosmetic Surgeon Dr. Wright Jones performs of the face, nose, body, and breast in and around Atlanta, Buckhead, Stockbridge, Marietta, GA and surrounding areas.