What is Otoplasty? Is it Painful or Risky?

Otoplasty is a surgery that aims to solve aesthetic problems concerning the ears. It also improves the aesthetic of the entire face. Otoplasty surgery is extremely simple as it is essentially free of contraindications and does not require special pre or post-operative preparations. Otoplasty can correct the size of the auricle and its shape, that is, the defect commonly known as “prominent ears”.

Otoplasty can be performed on people of all ages, even children so that the little patient does not suffer the psychological stress of being teased by classmates. In the case of women, these are patients who use long hair that helps to hide the defect in the ear, avoiding the “ponytail”. Otoplasty is also one of the most requested interventions for men, along with the correction of Gynecomastia and Liposuction.

An Otoplasty operation takes from 40 minutes to an hour. There are no visible scars after the intervention. For a short time, it will be necessary to wear a surgical plaster to protect the treated area.

The Otoplasty procedure is performed under local anesthesia. This allows the patient not to feel pain, to benefit from an immediate post-operative recovery. Local anesthesia, being less invasive than general anesthesia, guarantees high levels of safety with regard to specific complications. Nevertheless, the patient will have to undergo the necessary clinical tests before proceeding with the intervention.

Patients can experience a little discomfort during their recovery from Otoplasty. You can easily manage this discomfort with some painkillers. In some cases, your surgeon can prescribe some medication to manage side effects that can occur during the recovery period.

Otoplasty offers immediate results in cases of prominent ears, visible when the dressings are removed. With the ear permanently positioned closer to the head, surgical scars are hidden within the natural creases of the ear.

Although edema, bruising, and numbness behind the ear may rarely occur after an Otoplasty surgery, they would still heal. Wound infection is a rare side effect too, but possible. Thus, an Otoplasty operation should be performed by an experienced and certified surgeon in an accredited hospital. Your plastic surgeon and the medical team must fully attend to your comfort and safety.