If protruding or disfigured ears bother you or your child, you may consider Aesthetic Ear Surgery — also known as otoplasty — can improve the shape, position or proportion of the ear. It can correct a defect in the ear structure that is present at birth that becomes apparent with development or it can treat misshapen ears caused by injury.
Otoplasty (Aesthetic Ear Surgery) creates a natural shape, while bringing balance and proportion to the ears and face. Correction of even minor deformities can have profound benefits to appearance and self-esteem.
Otoplasty (Aesthetic Ear Surgery) often is recommended for children as they near total ear development at age five or six. Correction of the ears prior to the child entering school helps eliminate potential psychological trauma from the teasing of classmates. Adults may also have their ears reshaped. As long as you are in good health, there is no upper age limit for this surgery.
Patients who benefit from ear surgery include those who may have:
* Overly large ears — a rare condition called macrotia
* Protruding ears occurring on one or both sides in varying degrees — not associated with hearing loss
* Adult dissatisfaction with previous ear surgery
* Abnormally shaped ear(s)
Otoplasty (Aesthetic Ear Surgery) is a highly individualized procedure and you should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else’s desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image.
* Healthy, without a life-threatening illness or untreated chronic ear infections
* Generally 5 years old, or when a child’s ear cartilage is stable enough for correction
* Cooperative and follow instructions well
* Able to communicate their feelings and do not voice objections when surgery is discussed
* Healthy individuals who do not have a life-threatening illness or medical conditions that can impair healing
* Non-smokers
* Individuals with a positive outlook and specific goals in mind for ear surgery
During the initial consultation, your facial photographs will be taken and you will be asked to look in a mirror and point out exactly what you would like to see improved. This will help Dr. Hakan Gundogan to understand your expectations and determine whether they can realistically be achieved.
You should come to the consultation prepared to discuss your medical history including previous surgeries, past and present medical conditions and current medications. It is important for you to provide complete information. High blood pressure, thyroid problems, diabetes, etc. should be reviewed as these medical conditions may increase some risks associated with Otoplasty (Aesthetic Ear Surgery) . Dr. Hakan Gundogan will want to know if you have allergies.
The goal of Dr. Hakan Gundogan and the entire staff is to make your Otoplasty (Aesthetic Ear Surgery) experience as easy and comfortable for you as possible.
If you are a smoker, it is recommended to stop smoking well in advance of surgery since smoking can impair the healing process. Aspirin and certain anti-inflammatory drugs can cause increased bleeding, so you should avoid taking these medications for a period of time before surgery. Dr. Hakan Gundogan will provide you with additional preoperative instructions.
Otoplasty (Aesthetic Ear Surgery) is usually performed on an outpatient basis. If this is the case, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and to stay with you for the next 24 hours.
Your Otoplasty (Aesthetic Ear Surgery) will be performed in a hospital.
Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. Frequently, local anesthesia and intravenous sedation are used for patients undergoing ear surgery, although general anesthesia may be desirable in some instances (especially young children). For your safety during the operation, various monitors are used to check your heart, blood pressure, pulse and the amount of oxygen circulating in your blood.
The particular technique that Dr. Hakan Gundogan recommends will depend on the nature of the problem and many other factors including your desires. Because of individual factors, not everyone will achieve the same results from ear surgery. Dr. Hakan Gundogan will select the surgical technique that he or she feels will obtain the best outcome for you.
If your problem is protruding ears, the supporting tissue of the ears, called cartilage, is reshaped in order to position your ears closer to your head. This usually is accomplished through incisions placed behind the ears. Subsequent scars will be concealed in the natural skin crease. In some cases, especially in ears that need to be reduced in size or are protruding in the middle 1/3 of the ear, external incision of the front (outside surface) of the ear will be necessitated. Usually these are placed in areas where they will heal in a more inconspicuous manner. In ear reductions, skin as well as cartilage will most often need to be removed.
When Otoplasty (Aesthetic Ear Surgery) is completed, you will be taken into a recovery area where you will continue to be closely monitored. You will be instructed to inform your caretaker if the dressings feel too tight. There is surprisingly little discomfort, however, from the surgery, especially if the ears are in a head dressing.
You probably will be permitted to go home after a short period of observation, although some patients may stay overnight in the hospital.
Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include local, intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. Dr. Hakan Gundogan will recommend the best choice for you.
Correction of protruding ears uses surgical techniques to create or increase the antihelical fold (just inside the rim of the ear) and to reduce enlarged conchal cartilage (the largest and deepest concavity of the external ear). Incisions for otoplasty are generally made on the back surface of the ear. When incisions are necessary on the front of the ear, they are made within its folds to hide them. Internal, non-removable sutures are used to create and secure the newly shaped cartilage in place.
External stitches close the incision. Techniques are individualized, taking care not to distort other structures and to avoid an unnatural “pinned back” appearance.
Ear surgery offers near immediate results in cases of protruding ears, visible once the dressings that support the new shape of the ear during initial phases of healing are removed. With the ear permanently positioned closer to the head, surgical scars are either hidden behind the ear or well hidden in the natural creases of the ear.
It is important to realize that the amount of time it takes for recovery varies greatly among individuals.
The first several days you should maintain head elevation as much as possible. Remember, you must not take aspirin or certain anti-inflammatory medications.
Initially, pain is usually controlled with oral medication. Some patients find that mild swelling persist for many weeks. Bruising typically disappears within seven to ten days. Stitches are usually removed within a week of surgery.
After surgery, you may be instructed to wear gauze dressing or bandage for a few days or up to several weeks to ensure that your ears heal in their new, corrected position. Often a ski band to cover the ears is worn at night to prevent the ears from bending during sleep.
Straining, bending and lifting should be avoided during the early postoperative period. In many instances, you will be able to resume most of your normal activities within ten days or less. Most people return to work at 1- 3 days.
Usually the final results of the ear surgery are very long lasting.
You will return to Dr. Hakan Gundogan for follow-up care at prescribed intervals, at which time your progress will be evaluated.
Please remember that the relationship with Dr. Hakan Gundogan does not end when you leave the operating room. If you have questions or concerns during your recovery, or need additional information at a later time, you should contact Dr. Hakan Gundogan.