Otoplasty, is a surgery procedure to change the appearance of a person's ears. Otoplasty can take many forms, such as bringing the ears closer to the head - also called 'ear pinning' - and reducing the size of very big ears, or reshaping various bends in the cartilage. Other reconstructive procedures deal with the deformed, or abscent-microtic ears. Otoplasty surgery can involve a combination of moving, reshaping, adding, or removing structural ear elements. This procedure is usually performed by either an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, plastic surgeon, or ENT surgeon.
The external ear is made of a thin structural cartilage cover over with thin skin. Each of the various folds and structures of the pinna (external ear) is named. Ear deformity results from distorted, damaged, or missing ear elements. Many otoplasties are performed not because of actual deformity, but because the individual is displeased with the shape of their ears.
Ear reduction otoplasty may involve reducing one or more components of the ear. Incisions are typically hidden near folds in the front when a part of this surgery.
Addressing Microtia (small ear deformity) or Anotia (missing ear deformity) involve augmentation or adding elements to replace deformed or missing structures. Cartilage from the ear or rib are the most common for these more extensive reconstructions. Other ear shapes may be changed through moving, adding, and weakening ear structures.
Internal sutures often are permanent. The wound(s) are then closed with either dissolvable sutures or ones that are removed by a doctor after the wounds have healed. A bulky ear dressing protects the ear after surgery.
Anesthetic options depend on the problem to be treated and ability of the patient to cooperate and can include local anesthesia alone, local anesthesia with sedation, and under general anesthesia (which is generally the case for children). Most otoplasty surgery is performed as a outpatient surgery, some requires a hospital stay. The procedure can take from two to five hours depending on the problem.
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