Ear Aesthetics - Otoplasty
Op. Dr. Bahar Kayahan Sirkeci
Otoplasty is the name given to of the surgery performed to correct the appearance of an overly prominent auricle, also known as prominent ear. Prominent ears cause social and psychological problems especially in childhood. As they grow up, children who enter social environments such as nursery, kindergarten and school may be subjected to harsh reactions and criticism due to the appearance of their ears. Being ridiculed and excluded in friend environments can lead to problems in self-confidence and personality development; it can cause communication disorders, school failure and a decrease in self-confidence. For this reason, it is generally accepted that the best time for otoplasty surgery is before school (age 5). Adults may also need otoplasty surgery to get rid of an appearance that may be perceived as a disadvantage in social environments, to be able to tuck their hair over their ears or to cut their hair short comfortably. The aim of the surgery is to make the ears less prominent, similar in appearance and more natural. Otoplasty is a very common surgery in ENT clinic.
It can be performed as a same-day surgery or with a short hospital stay, under general or local anesthesia.
There are many different surgical techniques to fix prominent ears. In children or young patients, shaping can be done with sutures because the cartilage is more flexible. To give the cartilage the desired shape, certain areas can be marked and folded, thinned and weakened, and any excess cartilage or soft tissue can be removed. Depending on the age of the patient and the preoperative evaluation of the auricle, surgery can be performed with an incision behind the ear (open) or without an incision (closed). At the end of the surgery, a medical dressing is applied over the newly shaped auricle to apply a slight pressure.
The patient is examined and the dressing is changed or removed on the first postoperative day. There is usually no serious pain after surgery; a mild pain that can be controlled with painkillers can be expected. A headband is applied day and night for 7-10 days; for the next few weeks, the headband is asked to be worn only at night. Children can return to school after one week, while adults can return to work earlier. Physical activity is restricted for 10-14 days and contact sports for at least two months. Follow-ups, which are planned more frequently in the first weeks after surgery, are usually repeated in the third and 12th months. By this time, the scar behind the ear gradually disappears. Since the incisions are behind the ear, the scar is camouflaged and generally does not cause cosmetic problems.


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Specialist in ENT, rhinoplasty, otoplasty, sleep apnea, adenoid surgery and cancer surgery, Op. Dr. Bahar Kayahan Sirkeci.
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