Prominent ears are a common concern for both children and adults. If this causes you or your child distress, you can have them corrected through a relatively simple procedure known as otoplasty, which is also known as ear repositioning or ear correction.
The procedure is relatively quick, under the care of a specialist team from the consultation all the way through the procedure and recovery. Your consultant will give you detailed information about preparing for otoplasty, however, it is generally advisable to wash your hair the day before you are due to have the procedure and to follow general advice regarding medication and preparation for general surgery and anaesthetics.
About the procedure
The procedure itself is relatively simple. Children will usually have the procedure under a general anaesthetic and adults under a local anaesthetic. If you have any concerns about this, your specialist team will be able to help with more information on the options available to you.
The procedure generally takes about 90 minutes. A small incision is made behind the ear and carefully positioned and tensioned sutures will reposition and adjust the shape of the ears. If needed, a little cartilage is removed to help reshape them. After the sutures have been closed, your ears will be splinted and cushioned in a large dressing that will cover both of your ears and wrap around the back of your head. In most cases, you will be able to go home the same day.
Recovery after otoplasty
Otoplasty, like any medical procedure can cause some discomfort. If you have any worries about this at all, your specialist team will be able to advise you on exactly what you should expect and what you can do to control the discomfort after the procedure. They will also be able to give you a detailed aftercare plan that will help to speed up your recovery time and ensure you achieve the best possible results. After you have completely healed and recovered, you will usually have a small linear scar behind your ear(s).
Local anaesthetic – from £2,945
General anaesthetic – from £4,620
This treatment is offered by our surgical cosmetic clinic, Bristol Plastic Surgery. You can read more about ear correction on their website.
