What Are The Different Types Of Ear Surgery?
If you’re unhappy with the appearance of your ears or regret past piercings, ear surgery can effectively resolve your concerns with minimal risk or downtime. But are there different types of ear surgery? And if so, what are they?
This blog post will cover what ear surgery is and what different types are available.
Ear surgery improves the appearance of your ears
Ear surgery, also known as otoplasty, improves the appearance of the ears, addressing:
- Shape
- Size
- Prominence
- Position
- Ear lobes
These surgeries may involve reconstructing or repairing ears by:
- Resolving trauma to the ear from a dog bite, accident, or earring snag
- Entirely reshaping or reconstructing an ear that is too small or otherwise unusually shaped
- Making the ears less noticeable for entirely natural, perfectly-shaped ears
The different types of ear surgery
Otoplasty is also called cosmetic ear surgery, and it’s performed on the visible portion of the outer ear, called the auricle. The auricle comprises folds of cartilage that are covered in skin, developing before birth and continually in the years after you’re born. If your auricle doesn’t develop properly, ear surgery can correct the size, positioning, or shape of your ears.
Which surgical procedure is best for you largely depends on your aesthetic goals. The different types of ear surgery address various problems and include:
- Ear Augmentation: Increases the size of the outer ear for small ears or ears that haven’t completely developed. This type of ear surgery may include using an implant or part of your rib cartilage.
- Ear Pinning: Draws the ears closer to the head for those whose ears stick out prominently from the sides of their head. This is the most common technique and involves permanent sutures that hold the ears flatter against the head.
- Ear Reduction: Reduces the size of ears due to macrotia when your ears are larger than usual. To reshape the ears, some tissue is removed.
The most common types of ear surgery take about two hours and are typically performed under local and intravenous sedation, depending on your preferences and age.
Surgical vs. non-surgical otoplasty
To further understand the different types of ear surgery, let’s look at the difference between traditional and non-surgical otoplasty.
Traditional otoplasty uses a small incision at the back of the ear to remove excess skin and cartilage before the ear is pinned to the head using dissolvable sutures. A bandage is wrapped around the head to keep the ears in place. You must wear this bandage daily for up to ten days after the surgery. Traditional otoplasty procedures:
- Last several hours
- Use a general anesthetic
- Require a more extensive recovery process
- Cause scarring after surgery
Alternatively, non-surgical otoplasty doesn’t require incisions and only uses permanent sutures to pin the ears back for a more symmetrical appearance. These special sutures are woven into the ears and are not visible or palpable after a brief recovery period, during which a headband is worn at night for up to two weeks. Results are instant, making it easier to return to school or work. Non-surgical otoplasty procedures:
- Take about an hour to complete
- Only require local anesthetic and oral sedation
- Mild discomfort during recovery
- Use no incisions, so scarring is not an issue
- Results can be reversed after several days if you aren’t happy with them
Cheng Plastic Surgery can help you understand the different types of ear surgery
Prominent or protruding ears require a precise approach from a surgeon who is comfortable with the advanced techniques a proper otoplasty requires. At Cheng Plastic Surgery, our double board-certified facial plastic surgeons approach every ear surgery on a highly personal, case-by-case basis.
Before your ear surgery, Dr. Cheng will have a thoughtful consultation to examine your ears and understand your aesthetic goals. We know that no two patients, and thus no two surgeries, are alike. Our doctors take the time to understand your desired outcome. They will create a solution that makes natural-looking improvements, balancing the ears and ensuring they are attractively sized, shaped, and positioned against the head.
We have performed many successful otoplasty surgeries for our adult patients, providing a safe, satisfactory experience as you achieve your goals for your ears. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Cheng about the different types of ear surgery.