Big Ears Weighing You Down? Consider Otoplasty

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, over 30,000 ear surgeries were performed in 2006. Also known as otoplasty or ear pinning, ear surgery can be performed on both children and adults. Usually used in the correction of protruding ears, there are many other ear problems that can be helped with surgery. These include: "lop ear," a condition in which the tip of the ear folds down and forward; “cupped ear,” which indicates a very small ear; and "shell ear," which occurs when the curve of the outer ear, as well as the natural folds and creases, are missing. Stretched, large, creased or wrinkled earlobes can also be treated with surgery. In addition, new ears can be built for individuals who were born without them or who lost them through injury.

An outpatient surgery performed under local or general anesthesia and taking two to three hours or more to complete, the type of procedure utilized can vary widely depending upon the problem itself; the creation of a new ear involving a vastly different process than the correction of a protrusion. In the most common technique, the surgeon makes a small incision in the back of the ear, exposing and then sculpting the cartilage. On occasion, the surgeon will also remove cartilage in order to create a natural-looking fold. Non-removable stitches are then used to help maintain the new shape and a bandage is applied. In most cases, ear surgery will leave a faint scar in the back of the ear that will fade with time.

Following surgery, it is not uncommon for the ears to throb or ache. Most surgeons will prescribe a pain killer to relieve this discomfort. Although patients can resume normal activity almost immediately, any situation in which the ear might be bent should be avoided for at least a month. Most adults return to work about five days after surgery whereas most children return to school after a week. Complications are usually rare, however there is always a potential for problems when undergoing surgery. These include blood clots on the ear and infection of the cartilage which can lead to scarring.

Although the cost of otoplasty varies in accordance with the severity of the surgery, Surgery Costs, a website devoted to providing information about the fees, financing and economics associated with cosmetic surgery, quotes the average cost of ear surgery to be $2727.