Otoplasty

Otoplasty, also called ear correction or ear pinning surgery, is a cosmetic procedure to improve the appearance of ears. In the case of protruding ears or ear malformations, otoplasty in adults is helpful as a small measure to eliminate major problems in the patient’s appearance and self-perception. Although teasing is generally less common in adults, an appraised glance or the patient’s own perception is sufficient to justify ear surgery. Patients have often grappled with the idea for years. Personal circumstances, a lack of time due to professional commitments, but also financial considerations can prevent those affected from having an operation at a young age. Nevertheless, most Berlin patients are younger adults or, in some cases, children.

The Methods of Ear Correction

The otoplasty, which is also known as ear correction, reconstructs the wrong or only partially applied cartilage structure of the ear and thus leads to a backward movement of the ears towards the skull. In order to prevent it from being visible from the front, an incision is typically made behind the ear. The cartilage is then reinforced and duplicated with appropriate non-absorbable suture material in order to carry out the otoplasty. In this way, the otoplasty can be carried out successfully but also with a permanently stable result. In rare cases, there is also an oversized ear pit. This can also result in protruding ears.

How long is the recovery period after ear correction?

Basically, the cost of the follow-up treatment must be adjusted in proportion to the cost of the operation on the ears. With an overall manageable effort that takes place in the context of an ear correction or attachment of the ears, the follow-up treatment is also clear and easy to implement for the patient. In general, a good and fast healing process is predicted.

How should I get prepared for an ear correction surgery?

In principle, you do not have to do any special preparation before such an operation. You should only rule out all ear infections, so that a medical examination beforehand would be useful. Get a soft, wide headband—you’ll need this after surgery to wear over your ears. In addition, you should avoid nicotine about two weeks before the treatment if possible in order to improve the oxygen supply to the skin and thus accelerate wound healing. You should not take acetylsalicylic acid or other antipyretic drugs, rheumatism drugs, or high-dose vitamin E during this time, as they delay blood clotting. This can lead to secondary bleeding with damage to the skin and cartilage. For the same reason, it is also advisable to avoid sleeping pills and alcohol. If you get an ear infection immediately before the operation, the operation must be postponed in order to avoid unnecessary surgical risks.