Otoplasty (ear pinning)

Otoplasty (ear pinning) is a cosmetic procedure to improve the appearance of the ears.

Prominent or protruding ears can be the cause of self-consciousness in adults, and children can feel that protruding ears make them the subject of unwanted attention. Otoplasty can reshape not only the ears but the individual’s self-image as well.Ear pinning surgery does not affect hearing, and provides significant psychological benefits to anyone who is teased about ear size and/or shape, has had a serious ear injury, or simply wants to improve his or her appearance. Otoplasty is most often performed to set unusually protruding ears closer to the head. The goal of the surgery is simply to make the ears unnoticeable.

Candidates for Otoplasty

Individuals of any age who feel self-conscious about their ears may be good candidates for otoplasty, although it is typically performed on children between 5-15 years old. Ears are almost fully developed by the age of 5, so surgery in early childhood can help create self-confidence when a child begins going to school and will also help them to avoid being teased. It’s important for those considering otoplasty to be in good health and have realistic expectations for the procedure.

How Is An Incisionless Ear Pinning Performed?

The procedure begins with a numbing shot behind the ear that is able to make the entire ear numb. If an incision is required, the surgery will be performed in the operating room. All sutures placed to create ear folds or pin the ear are permanent sutures. All sutures used to close the skin will dissolve on their own. The incisionless otoplasty technique is used to create an antihelical fold and is done by hiding the sutures under the skin.

Otoplasty Patient Before Plastic Surgery

Ears that appear to stick out or are overly large can be helped by ear surgery.Often, the operation is done on children between the ages of four and 14. Ears are almost fully grown by age four, and the earlier the surgery, the less teasing and ridicule the child will have to endure.  Ear surgery on adults is also a popular cosmetic procedure, and there are generally no additional risks associated with ear surgery on an adult patient.

If you’re considering ear surgery for yourself or your child, this information will give you a basic understanding of the procedure-when it can help, how it’s performed, and what results you can expect. It can’t answer all of your questions, since a lot depends on your individual circumstances

Ear Surgery Details

Cosmetic ear surgery generally takes 1-2 hours and is performed on an outpatient basis. The type of anesthesia used will depend on the age of the patient, as ear surgery is often performed on young children. Typically, general anesthesia is recommended for younger patients, and local anesthesia with sedation suffices for older children and adults. Otoplasty begins with a small incision being made behind the ear in the natural crease where the ear meets the head. The cartilage is then shaped and sutured to achieve the desired appearance.

In some types of otoplasty, skin is removed, but the cartilage is left intact and merely folded back and sutured to create a less protruding ear.

After sculpting the cartilage to the desired shape, sutures and a bandage are used to hold the ears in position until healing is complete. In cases of asymmetry in which one ear may be more malformed than the other or where only one is significantly misshapen, both ears may still be operated on to achieve better symmetry.

Portions of or complete new ears can be surgically constructed for patients who are missing them due to causes that include birth defects, severe injuries, and skin cancers.

What Is Ear Pinning Recovery And Ear Pinning Aftercare Like? 

You typically will have a tight compression bandage on for 24 hours. Once that comes off, you can shower. You should expect some bruising on the ears and the ears will be pretty swollen for ~7 days. After 24 hours, you will switch to a compression headband that needs to be worn for 1 week. The average patient needs pain medication for 2-3 days. If you have the incisionless technique, your recovery will be even easier.

You can resume working out after your sutures have dissolved. You should see significant improvement immediately after the surgery, but need to wait a bit for the swelling to go down to see the final result.

Is Ear Pinning Permanent?

As long as the sutures hold, the results will last. While sutures can always pop, the cartilage can retain memory and not move. Generally, you will see your ears move out over the first 6 weeks and then it is unlikely they will change position.

Risks and Complications

Complications of otoplasty are rare and usually minor. A small percentage of otoplasty patients develop a blood clot on the ear or an infection in the suture line. These issues may resolve on their own or can be treated medically with limited intervention or antibiotics. Other possible complications include a change in skin sensation at the surgical site. There is also a possibility that a patient will not be satisfied with the appearance of the ears after surgery. Once the final result is achieved, it’s also possible that the ears may not match exactly, as ears are not entirely symmetrical naturally.