“Otoplasty” is the medical term that indicates a type of surgery aimed at correcting imperfections and deformities of both the external cartilages and the earlobes, allowing them to be repositioned, reshaped and/or resized, thus improving facial harmony. These defects can affect one or both ears; therefore, otoplasty can be unilateral or bilateral.

Otoplasty can treat a variety of misshapen ears. Among the most common ear defects that can be corrected are:

• The so-called “protruding” ears
• Overly large ears, a condition called macrotia
• Congenital ear defects like “Looped” ears, constricted ears, and cryptotia
• Excessively long or protruding lobes

Otoplasty is best performed at the age of 6, after the ears have reached their full size.

Otoplasty is an operation that is performed under local anesthesia with conscious sedation in adults, and under general anesthesia in children. It is carried out on an outpatient basis, without the need for hospitalization. The intervention lasts between 60 – 90 minutes, depending on the extent of the correction that has to be performed.

In most cases, otoplasty is performed to pinch the ears closer to the head. The skin incision is made behind the ear; the cartilages are dissected a small piece of cartilage may be removed, and the cartilage is then modeled using a series of internal permanent sutures to set back the ear and create a natural antihelical fold.

The operation ends with the application of external (removable) sutures and a containing dressing (turban or helmet).

Immediately after the Otoplasty surgery, generally for the first 24 hours, you may feel a slight pain, which can be easily controlled with common analgesics. Usually, the pain corresponds to a feeling of tension that you will gradually get used to, until you no longer feel it.

For a few days you will need to keep the dressing, the purpose of which is to protect your ears and to limit swelling and discomfort. In the first 2-4 days following the surgery, we suggest you avoid bowing your head, sleep on multiple pillows and avoid physical exertion to avoid bleeding and contain the swelling and pain. You may also benefit from using cold compresses over the ears.

Sutures are usually removed between 7-14 days and you may return to normal activities between 2 weeks after surgery. After the removal of stitches, you should wear an elastic band during the night and for about a month to prevent the ears of being pulled forward or involuntary trauma.

Otoplasty is a safe and relatively simple procedure but, like any surgery, it is not free from possible risks. They are rare, minor and absolutely manageable thanks to the experience of our Elite plastic surgeons, Dr. Elia Sentine and Dr. Marco Galati.

However, it is good that you keep in mind, that when you decide to undergo this intervention, that there can be complications. Among the so-called early complications there can be bleeding, hematoma (collection of blood between the skin and cartilage), infection (which can be controlled by taking antibiotic drugs), skin necrosis (which implies poor quality scarring).

Among the late complications, there could be a possible spontaneous reopening of the wound (dehiscence), hypertrophic or keloid scars and a possible recurrence of the deformity, meaning that the auricle may return to its original position. Fortunately risks are rare if surgical incision and suturing of the ear cartilages is performed adequately.