What is Otoplasty Surgery?

Ears that look too large or malformed can embarrass you and draw unwanted attention. Especially for children, large or protruding ears can lead to teasing and difficulty with socializing. Otoplasty surgery reshapes and resizes the ears to bring them into balance with your face. 

What is Otoplasty Surgery?

Dr. Brenman performs otoplasty on adults and children to improve the shape, size, and position of the ears. Otoplasty surgery achieves a balance between the ears and the rest of the face by reshaping the outer part of the ear. This part of the ear is made of skin and cartilage, and a skilled surgeon can shape this cartilage to create a more pleasing appearance. 

Otoplasty can be performed on children because the development of the outer ear is complete at a very young age. The changes made to a child’s ears during the procedure will keep their proportionate appearance into adulthood. Adults also choose to have otoplasty, whether they have felt self-conscious about their ears since childhood or had an injury that deformed the ear. 

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*Individual results may vary

How Does Otoplasty Surgery Work?

To perform otoplasty surgery, Dr. Brenman uses small incisions around the ear to access the ear cartilage. The location of the incision will depend on where your surgical correction will take place. For an ear pinning procedure that moves the ears closer to the head, a surgeon removes cartilage from behind the ear and uses sutures to hold the ear in its new position. 

What are the Benefits of Otoplasty Surgery?

While technically a cosmetic procedure, otoplasty surgery has the power to make significant improvements in your life. Otoplasty can free children and adults from ears that make them feel uncomfortable. Benefits include:

• More confidence 
• Relief from teasing or bullying
• Freedom to choose any hats or hairstyles
• Increased satisfaction with your overall appearance

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What is Recovery Like With Otoplasty Surgery?

After your otoplasty surgery, you will have a compression bandage to hold your ears in their new position and protect them while they heal. Dr. Brenman will manage your medication as needed to keep you or your child comfortable. Most of the discomfort has resolved after three to five days. After two weeks, the compression bandage can come off. You can return to work or school after a week, but you will have noticeable swelling for three to four weeks. Dr. Brenman recommends that parents consider scheduling their child’s surgery during summer break. 

Am I a Candidate for Otoplasty Surgery?

You may be a good candidate for otoplasty if you have misshapen, overly large, or protruding ears. Ideal candidates are over the age of five and in generally good health. Teenagers and adults should have reasonable expectations about their results.