Otoplasty is a surgical intervention in the soft and cartilaginous tissues of the ear auricles, that is, the operation is aimed at preventing jug ears or making a new shape.
In some cases, this operation includes a change in the location of the ears relative to the person or the restoration of their missing parts, lost due to trauma or absent due to genetic abnormalities.
In any case, the main task of doctors is to give the ears proportionality and attractiveness, because this is one of the most striking parts of the body. According to the external data, the reputation and success of a person often depend.
Indications for The Operation
Of course, no one forbids altering their appearance anytime but there are indications for carrying out otoplasty. Surgeons recommend correcting the ears in the following cases:
- expressed everted ears;
- abnormal ears’ size;
- increased earlobe;
- the decrease in the size of the ear in elderly people – there is a “drying out”;
- presence of scars on the auricle;
- eyes form of equal spherical segments (congenital defect);
- microtia – complete absence of the ear or its severe underdevelopment.
Contraindications
Like other surgical interventions, otoplasty has contraindications. Surgical intervention is not permitted in the following cases:
- the presence of cancer tumors and the cancer therapy undergoing;
- hepatitis and AIDS;
- diabetes;
- psychosomatic disorders;
- hemophilia;
- ear diseases;
- menstruation – in women.
Types
According to the method of implementation, the otoplasty is divided into:
- Scalpel. This species is known for a very long time and is considered old-fashioned, but in rare cases, it is still practiced because it is the cheapest method of correction. The surgeon uses a scalpel to make the incisions, and the operation and rehabilitation period after it is a long process. Significant disadvantages of this type are trauma and the risk of complications (scars, suppuration).
- Laser. It is the modern and most popular method. The intervention is done by a laser, which can significantly reduce the duration of the operation and the recovery period after it. Risks of complications are minimal (extremely low probability of getting burns), and the advantages are that the laser acts much more precisely and has a bactericidal effect. Earleather thanks to the action of the laser, warms up, and it is much easier to cut it. The lines of the incisions are smooth and almost bleeding.
- Radio wave. The newest still researched method of conducting surgical interventions. The incisions are made using a special radio wave device. Due to the decontamination action of radio waves and high accuracy, the method is low-traumatic and bloodless, which ensures the fastest healing and the absence of scars afterwards. At the moment, radio wave otoplasty is still being studied and improved, so it is practiced only in a small number of clinics as an experimental one.
How Is the Operation Conducted?
Primarily, anesthesia is applied: for adults – local with intravenous injection of analgesics and sedatives, for children – general anesthesia.
Once the drug has worked, the doctor conducts the necessary surgical manipulations in accordance with the chosen method of correction.
The process essentially is to get access to the right earleather by cutting the skin, after which there is a partial removal of tissue, a change in its thickness and giving the ear the necessary form.
The surgeon then sews the incision with a modeling suture. In the ear, a compression bandage is applied, fixing it in the desired position and facilitating the tissues’ fusion.
The operation lasts from 30 minutes to 1 – 2 hours, depending on the degree of complexity of a particular case.
There is no need to stay in the hospital – the patient can go home 2 hours after the end of the anesthesia.
Rehabilitation
After carrying out this kind of intervention, the tissues adhere fairly quickly and, as a rule, without complications.
The doctor removes the stitches applied after scalpel otoplasty after 10 days if laser – after 7. During this period, washing of the head is prohibited.
During the first month, the patient should wear a fixing bandage for the night, so as not to damage the ears that have not yet healed completely. If there happen any kind of problems you are welcome to buy analgetics via Trust Pharmacy.
Painful sensations are present in the first 3 – 4 days after the operation, but are rather weakly expressed. If necessary, the patient can take analgesics.
Hematomas will disappear after about 2 weeks, and swelling in 2 months. Full recovery lasts an average of about 5 months.
Possible Complications
Practically in every case of surgical intervention in the human body, there is a possibility of negative health consequences.
They can manifest right after the operation or after some time. The causes of complications are most often the doctor’s mistake, failure to follow the recommendations and the individual reaction of the body.
Almost immediately after otoplasty, the following problems may occur:
- effects after anesthesia (nausea, tremors, dizziness, muscle pains, headaches);
- an allergic reaction (manifested as redness, rash and blisters on the skin);
- inflammation of adjacent tissues;
- severe swelling;
- phlegmon formation;
- perichondritis;
- purulent otitis media.
Sometime after the operation, other complications may appear:
- seams on the earleather strongly stick out;
- keloidal and hypertrophic scars are formed;
- tissue death (necrosis) occurs;
- ears return to their original position;
- deterioration becomes noticeable: asymmetry, curvature of the ear.
When manifesting the latter of these problems mandatory correction of the result is required.
According to statistics, the number of cases of otoplasty with complications ranges from 0.5% to 1%.