About Prominent Ears
The correction of protruded ears requires a surgical operation, called “otoplasty”, that aims to reorganize the cartilages considered to make the ear excessively visible. The operation is usually carried out on the two ears, but can sometimes be unilateral. Schematically there are three types of ear malformations, which are often more or less associated between them:
The skin is then elevated in order to reach the cartilage then the cartilages are reshaped by certain small incisions and sutures in some cases sutures on the skin have to be withdrawn 10 days after the operation.
It is carried out with elastic bands around the head in order to maintain the ears in the right position. According to the surgeon and importance of malformations to be corrected, a bilateral otoplastie can last around two hours in total.
Pain is usually moderated and, if necessary, treated with painkillers during few days. A check-up consultation with the surgeon is essential. The first large dressing will be removed between second and the fifth post-operative day. Then, a lighter dressing for few days will replace it. The ears will appear swollen which is normal a transitory period that does not compromise the final result. As a security measure, an elastic band (tennis band) is asked to be worn day and night during two weeks and then only during night for few more days. During this period, physical-activities and sports with risk of contact will have to be avoided. The exposure to cold weather is not advised for at least two months.
The result can be fully appreciated from the second post-operative month. At this point the tissues are softer and the edema (swelling) reabsorbed. At the end of this period, only the scars will still be a little bit marked. This surgery makes it possible to correct the anomalies and to obtain symmetrical, natural and harmonious ears. In the large majority of the cases, the results are definitive. However, a recurrence can possibly occur in the medium term, being then possible to require a small correction.
