What is it?

Otoplasty is the surgery for the correction of protruding ears.



What you need to know:

1) Scar
It is placed behind the ear and is usually not visible.

2) Anesthesia
Local with sedation.

3) Surgery time
One hour.

Before the surgery:

1) Complementary exams to be specified.

2) A picture of the region is important for the evaluation, surgical planning and documentation.

3) Go to the clinic on the day and time scheduled, preferably with someone, mainly if the surgery is an office procedure.

4) Don’t take jewelry and other valuables to the clinic.

5) Don’t polish your nails.

6) Any occurrence such as diseases (the flu, fever, infection) or other motives that cause the suspension of the surgery, advise in advance.

7) The use of Arnica may be done to avoid bruising. This use must start one week to ten days before the surgery. Have an evaluation with the doctor for orientation on the use of medicines before the surgery important for the healing and balance of the organism, aiming a better recovery.

Care:

1) Fasting of at least 6 hours before the surgery.

2) Medication for hypertension and other diseases must be informed to the doctor for later orientation.

3) Don’t take medicine that contains acetyl salicylic acid (ex. AAS, Rhonal, Bufferin, Aspirin), one week before and one week after the surgery because it increases the bleeding.

4) Appetite suppressing drugs must be stopped 15 days before the surgery.

After the surgery:

1) Pain: It is minimum, treated with common painkiller in the first two days.

2) Hospital Time: It is an office procedure, and there is no need to stay in the hospital.

3) Dressings: The dressing is done soon after the surgery and must remain for 24 hours. After this, during 30 days, it is important to wear a compressing band on the ears, mainly at night.

4) Bathing: The day after, when the dressing is removed.

5) Food: Normal.

6) Bruises: Normally, there aren’t any.

7) Swelling: May occur in the first week, but decrease rapidly.

8) Stitches: The stitches are internal, and there is no need to remove them.

9) Physical Efforts: With no problems, but avoid sports that may traumatize the ears.

10) Sun: Avoid sun on the ears for one month.

11) Sensibility: The region may be insensible or hypersensitive for 2 months.


Will this disappear?

Every surgery involves a certain recovery period. Be patient because your organism will take care of some little problems that invariably will call attention of some people who will ask: "Will this disappear?" Always share with us any type of concern. We will give the necessary explanations for your tranquility.

Final Result:

Initially, during the first four months after the surgery, the region is a little swollen, but there is a gradual accommodation of the organic tissues. After the fourth month new pictures are taken for comparison. This reevaluation may indicate the need for some retouching, procedure considered normal in plastic surgery, which must be done after the 6th month and not after the 10th month after the surgery.