Otoplasty Jackson, MS
Ear plastic surgery goes by several different names. Facial Plastic Surgeons refer to the procedure as otoplasty, but it’s commonly referred to as ear pinning or ear reshaping. At our facial plastic surgery practice in Ridgeland, MS, ear surgery is performed by our double board-certified facial plastic surgeon. From your consultation to your recovery, our goal is to treat you as if you were family, always with your comfort and safety in mind.
There are a variety of reasons why you or a family member may want an ear surgery procedure. Ear surgery can correct certain conditions that affect your sense of hearing, and it can also be used for cosmetic reasons to address common congenital conditions you have no control over. Otoplasty is one of our favorite procedures to perform at Faces because the end result usually has a profound effect on someone’s life. We’re here to guide you and your family through ear surgery and help you learn about all the benefits this procedure can have for your self-esteem.
Why Do People Have Ear Reshaping Surgery?
Otoplasty is commonly performed on children who exhibit prominent ears. Ears are considered prominent, or protruding, if they stick out from the side of your head more than about 3/4 of an inch (roughly about 2 centimeters). Most people with protruding ears are born with or have an underdeveloped antihelical fold, the bottom part of the fold of your inner earlobe, or they have too much cartilage in the bowl-shaped part of their earlobe (called the concha).
Babies who are born with protruding ears can be treated with ear reshaping molds if parents address the issue before they are two months old. After that, children typically wait to have ear reshaping surgery until they’re 5-7 years old, when the cartilage in the ear is structurally stable enough for surgery. Research indicates about a third of children who develop prominent ears will start showing signs of the condition after 3 months. Some adults who have had ear surgery, and are unhappy with the results may also choose to schedule an otoplasty. In addition, adults who didn’t have their protruding ears treated as children are becoming increasingly more likely to undergo ear reshaping surgery.
In addition to protruding ears, people may choose to have ear surgery to:
- Reduce the size of overly large ears (a condition called macrotia)
- Improve the shape of the earlobe
- Create more evenly proportioned ears
- Correct other congenital ear deformities
- Address ears that are misshapen from accidents or injuries
- Repair a torn earlobe
- Improve self-esteem
Dr. Jordan and our team of aesthetic professionals will combine their fine attention to detail and love for the artistry of facial sculpting to help you achieve your cosmetic goals.
“I cannot say enough positive things about the care I received by Dr Jordan and his staff. He performed my otoplasty. I was SO self conscious before this surgery and hated looking in the mirror or wearing my hair in a ponytail. He restored my self confidence and for that I will be forever grateful!” – H.S. – Facebook Review
Who Is a Good Candidate for Ear Reshaping Surgery?
Any surgical procedure performed on young children or teens comes with a set of challenges. Kids tend to be more active, and many play sports or get rough on the playground, which can make them especially vulnerable to injury during a recovery following even a minor surgery. Before your child’s ear surgery, have a good conversation with them to make sure they understand they have to follow the post-op instructions their surgeon will give them.
For both children and adults, good candidates for ear surgery will be individuals who are:
- Non-smokers
- Generally healthy and not suffering from any serious illness
- Free from any untreated infections
- Realistic with specific goals in mind
During your consultation, your facial plastic surgeon will discuss your medical history and want to know if you have any allergies.
Frequently Asked Questions About Otoplasty
Most children only have ear shaping surgery performed as a standalone procedure unless their surgery is part of a larger reconstructive surgery. Adults, however, sometimes choose to have otoplasty performed in conjunction with other facial sculpting procedures. If you are having a facial plastic surgery consultation, consider if reshaping your ears is part of what you’d like to achieve in the long run.
Most ear surgeries to address protruding ears typically last between 2-3 hours. Procedures that are more complex will take longer.
There are several different approaches to ear surgery that will affect your recovery time, but most patients are up and moving around within hours of their surgery. The ears will be bandaged immediately after surgery and may ache for several days. We’ll prescribe pain-relieving medication if necessary. Strenuous activity should be avoided for about a month following surgery, and most children are able to return to school within a week.
Complications from otoplasty are rare, but occasionally a cosmetic ear surgery may need a minor correction if the shape after surgery does not hold or if the bandaging becomes disturbed through injury.
Dr. Jordan performs otoplasty at our clinic in Ridgeland as well as at Merit Health Hospital in Madison. For children under the age of 12, general anesthesia is usually required, but as it is an outpatient procedure, the patient can go home after surgery.
Otoplasty does cause some mild to moderate pain for the first 24 hours or so, but not much after that, typically. Pain medicine is prescribed for all patients, but many just take regular Tylenol instead.
This is the most common complication of Otoplasty and occurs in about 1 in 20 patients to the degree that it needs to be adjusted with surgery. This is due to the fact that the cartilage in the ear is like plastic and wants to retain its original shape.
For children 4-6 years of age before they start larger classes, where it is more likely they will be made fun of. There are plenty of adults who also have this procedure, and the younger the better since cartilage becomes stiffer with age.
The scars are well hidden behind the ear.
Otoplasty does not normally affect hearing.
No, people are not more prone to ear infections after otoplasty.
Visit our Procedure Pricing page to learn more about the cost of an otoplasty in Jackson, MS. One of the most rewarding experiences for a facial plastic surgeon is having a patient return for a follow-up appointment with a vibrant new sense of self-confidence. Otoplasty often provides us with that experience at our facial plastic surgery practice in the Jackson, MS, area. If you have questions about ear surgery for you or your child, or if you’d like access to some of our ear surgery educational materials, please send us a message online or contact our practice by calling (601) 607-3033.
