Ear and Ear Lobe Plastic Surgery

Ear plastic surgery is a popular cosmetic procedure. While many adults pursue ear surgery, ear plastic surgery is often recommended for children whose ears noticeably stick out from the sides of their heads. As children with oversized or prominent ears are very vulnerable to teasing, surgery can help them gain self-confidence and interact more with their peers.
 
Ear surgery can also replace ears lost to trauma or repair ear damage caused by birth defects.
 
Ear Lobe Surgery
If the ear lobe is damaged, ear lobe surgery can restore it to its normal appearance. Often, ear lobe surgery is performed after an earring has torn through an ear lobe.
 
Ear lobe surgery is a relatively straightforward surgery that often takes place in the doctor's office. During the procedure, the doctor generally stitches the torn lobe together. Sometimes, incisions may be required.
 
Patients generally recover quickly from ear lobe surgery.

Candidates for Ear Plastic Surgery

Children usually aren't candidates for plastic surgery until they have finished growing, but human ears reach adult size by five or six years of age. Thus, childhood ear problems can often be corrected before a child enters grade school.
 
Preventing teasing and bullying is the main reason for childhood ear plastic surgery. Surgeons often prefer to let the child's attitude determine when, or if, to perform ear surgery. If the child wants ear surgery, he will be more cooperative during the operation and recovery time.
 
Although children make up the bulk of ear plastic surgery patients, the operation can take place at any age. No matter what the age, it's important for the patient to have realistic expectations of ear surgery outcomes. The possible results of ear plastic surgery should be discussed with the operating physician.

Ear Surgery: Costs

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2006, the average surgeon/physician fee for ear plastic surgery was $2,388. The total cost is somewhat higher, as this number does not include the anesthetist's fee or operating room fees, which vary from location to location.
 
Ear plastic surgery is not usually covered under medical insurance, as most cases of ear surgery are cosmetic. If there is a medically valid reason for ear surgery, however, insurance may cover the operation. Checking insurance coverage before ear surgery is recommended.
 
If you are looking for help paying for ear plastic surgery, financing is offered through lending institutes that specialize in loans for cosmetic surgery.
 
Risks of Ear Plastic Surgery
Complications from ear surgery are uncommon. However, risks include the following:
  • Infection of the ear cartilage can occur, which may cause scar tissue to form in the ear.
  • In rare circumstances, a blood clot can develop in the ear. The clot may dissolve without intervention. If the clot does not dissolve, it can be removed with an aspiration needle.
Prior to ear surgery, you should discuss possible risks with your plastic surgeon.

Ear Plastic Surgery: The Procedure

Ear plastic surgery is an outpatient procedure that may occur in a hospital, a surgery center or the surgeon's office if he has the facilities. Occasionally, ear surgery may be an inpatient operation that requires a short hospital stay.
 
Prior to the procedure, young children are often given general anesthetic, so they sleep through ear surgery. Adults and teens will most likely be administered a local anesthetic and a sedative.
 
The average ear plastic surgery takes two to three hours. During the surgery, the doctor makes a small incision where the back of the ear meets the head. Next, he works through the incision to reshape the cartilage of the ear, bending the cartilage so the ear sits closer to the head. The doctor might need to remove pieces of cartilage to give the ear a more natural shape.
 
Once the ear is reshaped, non-removable stitches help keep the ear and cartilage in its new position until healing is complete.

Recovering from Ear Surgery

After ear plastic surgery, the head is wrapped in a thick bandage to help keep the ears in their new positions. A few days after ear surgery, the doctor will remove the bandages and replace them with a headband-like dressing.
 
Following your surgery, you should avoid anything that might bend the ears for at least a month. Follow your surgeon's suggestions for ear care, sleeping and other activities that might affect the ears.
 
Most children who undergo ear plastic surgery can return to school one week after the operation. Playground activity should be monitored for children who have had recent ear surgery to prevent damage to the operation site.
 
Resources
 
A.D.A.M. (2007). Cosmetic Ear Surgery. Retrieved August 20, 2007, from the About.com Web site: adam.about.com/encyclopedia/Cosmetic-ear-surgery.htm.
 
American Academy of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery (2007). Ear Plastic Surgery. Retrieved August 20, 2007, from the American Academy of Otolaryngology Web site: www.entnet.org/healthinfo/ears/plastic_surgery.cfm.
 
American Society of Plastic Surgeons (2007). 2006 Average Surgeon/Physician Fees. Retrieved August 20, 2007, from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Web site: www.plasticsurgery.org/media/statistics/loader.cfm?url=/commonspot/security/getfile.cfm&PageID=23761.
 
American Society of Plastic Surgeons (2007). Ear Surgery (Otoplasty). Retrieved August 20, 2007, from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Web site: www.plasticsurgery.org/patients_consumers/procedures/
Otoplasty.cfm?CFID=84355145&CFTOKEN=47034664.
 
National Institutes of Health (2007). Cosmetic Ear Surgery. Retrieved August 20, 2007, from the Medlineplus Web site: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002988.htm.