Ear surgery
Protruding ears, also known as” sticking-out ears” can affect children but also, adults. Due to the complexity of the architecture of the ears, we perform a profound analysis of each case to evaluate which structure needs to be sculpted and repositioned to take the ears back and this way obtain a harmarnious position in respect to the facial structure.
It is a surgical procedure frequently performed on children under the age of six, before entering primary school this way avoiding other classmates making fun of them which can often happen.
Treatment
Position the ears against the head or reduce the size of large ears.
Type of anaesthetic
Small children: Normally general. Older children and adults: Local with sedation.
Side effects
Itchiness, swelling, redness.
Duration of result
Permanent.
Duration of the treatment
2 hours.
Hospitalization
Normally outpatient.
Recuperation
Return to work: 5-7 days. Vigourous Activity, contact sports: 4-6 weeks
In many occasions the patients that we operate on are children who go to school. In this case most of them are performed in the summer when school has finished or before it starts. Which means normal life for them. In adults, logically it depends on the type of work the patient has. A job that requires a lot of physical effort is not the same as another that doesn’t need as much. If you have to strain yourself in your job, we recommend at least 15 days rest and if you are a person with less strain in your work, 7 days should be sufficient. It is very important to avoid at all costs, any traumas to the ears during the first three months.
You can go to the beach or the pool from the moment that the wounds are completely closed which is usually within two weeks
You can exercise a month after the surgery. You should avoid any type of bump on the ears and contact sports such as rugby or basketball for three months due to the risk that a severe trauma can provoke to the result of the surgery.
From the third/fourth day you can shower normally. You cannot bathe for at least 15 days.
Preferably face up and with your head elevated if possible. In children it is more complicated that they stay face up all night. As they will be wearing a protective corset it is not as important to be strict with this matter.
You can sunbathe two weeks after the surgery.If you are going to the beach you have to wear 50+ sun protection on the scar.
You can travel perfectly on an aeroplane after the surgery.
It is necesary to wear a corset after the Otoplasty surgery. It is a band especiallly fabricated for the post operatory of this surgery and it is recommended that you wear it all day for three weeks.
We will show you photographs from previous cases so that you can get a more detailed idea of the final result.
After the surgery you will be irritated. It will not be pain, but irritation. You will have the sensation of tension and a bit of pressure. You will take medication for the pain which means that you will have more irritation at bed time, due to the antibiotic etc. which will provoke discomfort more than pain.
The scar of an Otoplasty coincides with the crease behind the ear.Therefore it is a scar that is not easily seen, as it is usually hidden by the hair, even in many men. With the passing of time it will improve greatly and become practicable imperceptible. However, multiple treatments exist which improve the final result of scars such as silicon patches, rosehip oil, creams, laser, etc. etc.
You should avoid taking aspirin or any other medication which provokes anticoagulation. Let us know if you usually take vitamin supplements or medicinal plants. Some make the blood coagulate more slowly.
Avoid contact sports after the surgery.
Not at all. We only operate on the cartilage and the skin of the ear. We do not do any type of manoeuvre that can provoke this affectation.
48 hours after the surgery you can wash your hair without wetting the wounds. From the fifth day on you can wash your hair normally.
In general, we recommend any surgical intervention from 18 years and over. In children, due to the psychological effects that the presence of prominent ears can provoke, with the insults from other children, above all when passing to primary school, we can indicate this surgery from five or six years old, and always with the authorisation of a parent or tutor.