Q-What is otoplasty?
A-Otoplasty, or ear surgery, is a procedure which can improve the appearance of protruding ears. The surgery can "pin back" the ears, reshape the ears, reduce them in size, or make them more symmetrical. Otoplasty can be particularly beneficial when performed at earlier ages given that even mildly distorted ears can result in self-consciousness and poor adaptation at school.

Q-Who is a candidate for otoplasty?
A-Individuals looking to improve the appearance of protruding ears may be good candidates for otoplasty. The surgery may be performed once the ears have reached their full size which is typically around the age of five or six. Performing the surgery early on can be very beneficial, sparing children the self-consciousness and teasing often associated with protruding ears. Otoplasty may also be performed on adults with excellent benefits, though patients should be aware that the firmer cartilage of fully developed ears is not as easily molded as in children.

Q-Are there age restrictions for otoplasty patients?
A-Otoplasty may be performed once the ears have reached their full size. This usually occurs around age five or six. Adults are also candidates for otoplasty, though they should be aware that mature ears have firmer cartilage that has less molding capacity than in children.

Q-What will happen during a consultation for otoplasty?
A-During the consultation for otoplasty, Dr. Ahn will examine the structure of your ears and discuss the possibilities available for correcting the problems as well as the expected outcome. He will take special care to educate you about the otoplasty surgery and address any questions or concerns that you may have. If the patient is a child, he will help the parent to decide if surgery is best for the child.

Q-What sort of anesthesia is otoplasty performed with?
A-Dr. Ahn typically uses general anesthesia when performing otoplasty on young patients. For older children and adults, he often uses a combination of a local anesthetic and a mild sedative.

Q-How is otoplasty performed?
A-For otoplasty, both ears are usually treated even if only one appears to be protruding. This will allow for the most symmetrical and natural-looking result. Dr. Ahn makes the incision just behind the ear within the natural fold where the ear and head meet. Certain amounts of cartilage and skin are then removed in order to achieve the desired appearance. The cartilage may be trimmed, reshaped and pinned back with permanent sutures. In other cases, cartilage may not be removed and, instead, sutures will be used to hold the cartilage in place.

Q-How long is the surgery time for otoplasty?
A-Under normal conditions, otoplasty takes about two hours to perform.

Q-Where are the incisions made for otoplasty?
A-The incision is made behind the ear within the natural fold where the ear and head meet.

Q-Does otoplasty result in scars?
A-While the incisions made for otoplasty do result in scars, they are discreetly located behind the ear within the natural fold where the head and ear meet. After healing, the incision will fade to a thin white scar that is nearly invisible.

Q-Do patients experience much pain after undergoing otoplasty?
A-Patients usually experience some mild discomfort after undergoing otoplasty.

Q-What sort of recovery accompanies otoplasty?
A-Soft dressings applied to the ears after the otoplasty surgery will be removed after a few days. In some cases, a headband may need to be worn for two weeks to hold the ears in their desired position. Some mild discomfort can be expected, and sleeping may be interrupted for patients accustomed to sleeping on their side.