Ear Pinning and Reshaping Surgery (Otoplasty)

What are the benefits of PINNAPLASTY surgery?

Pinnaplasty also known as ear pinning surgery or otoplasty and allows for prominent ears that stick out to be set back closer to the head.

The benefits are both of a psychological nature and one of the patients just wanted a more aesthetically pleasing look.

People with prominent ears may feel unhappy with the size or angle of their ears.

How is Pinnaplasty surgery performed?

Initially, tiny incisions are made in the back of the ear in order to reveal the ear cartilage. Then, your surgeon reshapes the cartilage, bends it more towards the head and puts it back in a new position. Alternatively, the ear pinning surgery might require an incision in the back of the ear to remove skin. Afterwards the cartilage is stitched back in order to create a new ear shape without having to remove any cartilage.

Stitches are applied to close the incisions and hold the new ear shape in place. They are normally removed a week after the surgery or in some cases may be dissolvable. Occasionally, a few non-dissolving stitches are needed to prevent the cartilage springing out again.

Usually the operation is done under a local or a general anesthesia, depending on the individual patients choice and surgeons recommendation.

Pinnaplasty usually takes between one and two hours.

After closing the incision a large cotton wool dressing is wrapped around your head to cover the ears. This headband is designed to keep the ears in their new position and should not be removed for approximately 4-8 days. The bandage also prevents swelling and bleeding between the skin and cartilage.

What risks are associated with Pinnaplasty?

Ear pinning surgery complications are rare but all patients should fully understand both the benefits and potential risks of procedures.

In medical literature there are references to the following possible complications:

Haematoma

Bleeding under the skin or between the skin and cartilage, known as a haematoma, may require a return visit to the surgery. This is an infrequent complication. Nonetheless, if the patient experiences serious pain after the surgery, the surgeon should be told immediately.

Infection

This complication can occur in any surgery. However, if it happens, a greater attention must be paid. Why? Because the bacteria that causes the infection may determine a serious deformity of the ear. However, ear infection is exceedingly uncommon due to the use of antibiotics before and after the procedure.

Scars

The scars caused by Pinnaplasty are hardly visible part because the incisions were very small and part because they were placed behind the ears. However, a minority of patients may experience enlarged, red and itchy ear scars. Fortunately, there are procedures that deal with this kind of problems. Among them, we advise: moisturising cream, massage, pressure therapy or steroid injections. Please ask your cosmetic surgeon more about these methods.

Asymmetry

Since all paired organs are generally uneven, it is likely to stay that way after the surgery as well. However, the slight asymmetry will not be noticed almost at all.

To conclude, the better the patient is aware of the risks the better they can be reported to the surgeon and treated. So please, take your time and discuss them in detail with your surgeon.

What questions should I ask my surgeon about the Pinnaplasty surgery?

For the first consultation with the cosmetic surgeon, the patient is advised to prepare a set of questions that might help them better understand the benefits, risks and performance of the procedure.

Thus, for a more meaningful discussion, we have summarized below the following Pinnaplasty related questions:

• How should I prepare for the surgery?
• Am I suitable for this kind of surgery?
• Can you explain the procedure in detail?
• What realistic results can be expected and when?
• Shall I experience pain during or after the operation?
• How long the results will last?
• What are the side-effects and the possible complications?
• How long it will take to recover?
• How will the scars look and how they will change in time?
• How much the procedure will cost?

Remember, your cosmetic surgeon will be more than happy to discuss all the details of the procedure with you so do ask.