Otoplasty Houston
(Ear Surgery)

Reshape, Pin, and Restore Ear Appearance

Many people would never give a second thought to the appearance of their ears, but for others, the shape and size of their ears are a daily concern. Fortunately, individuals dealing with oversized, malformed, or otherwise aesthetically displeasing ears can seek the help of professional cosmetic surgeons to correct the majority of issues.

At Aesthetic Surgery Institute in Houston, Dr. Do, a double board-certified cosmetic surgeon with over 20 years of experience, performs otoplasty for children and adults seeking natural-looking, permanent correction of ear shape, size, or protrusion.

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There Are Three Main Types of Otoplasty

Pinnaplasty–Decreases the angulation of the ear and brings it closer to the head. It is the most common type and is a simple outpatient surgery where excess cartilage from prominent ears can be removed.
Ear Augmentation–Used to treat small or absent ears. This is a reconstructive procedure using cartilage from other body parts for a more natural look.
Ear Reduction–Used to reduce the size of huge ears and make them symmetrical.

What to Expect

The Otoplasty Procedure

The surgery itself is fairly simple, beginning with an incision in the crease behind the ear. From there, your surgeon will work to remove, reshape, and adjust cartilage as needed to achieve the look discussed (please note that not all otoplasties require the trimming or removal of cartilage). If one of your concerns is that your ears “stick out” and the ears need to be pinned back, your surgeon will also anchor the cartilage with sutures in a way that pulls the ears in closer to the head for a more “normal” appearance.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Otoplasty?

Otoplasty is appropriate for children and adults who are self-conscious about prominent, oversized, or misshapen ears. For children, the procedure is generally recommended after age 5–6, when ear cartilage has stabilized sufficiently for surgery. Adults may have otoplasty at any age, provided they are in good general health with no conditions that impair healing. Our surgeon will evaluate your ear anatomy and goals during your free consultation.

Additional Information

Preparation for otoplasty surgery generally involves a process of determining the appropriate procedure, ensuring that a patient is in good condition to undergo the surgery, and performing any necessary testing to check for any underlying medical concerns.

During your initial consultation, you will meet with a surgeon to discuss your concerns and desired results. When you’re ready to move forward, you’ll set an ear surgery date and receive a variety of instructions regarding what you should and should not do on the day of your surgery.

Depending upon your health, the intensity of your surgery, and a variety of other factors, your ear surgery may be performed as an outpatient or inpatient procedure. Regardless, you’ll want to have someone you trust on hand to provide transportation and/or assist you during the first day or so after your surgery.

Ear surgery recovery is generally quite quick with only minor discomfort. You’ll be required to treat your ears gently for a few days, adjust your sleeping habits, and take care not to disturb the dressings. It’s important to keep your ears in the same position while they heal, so you may be given a headband to wear over your ears. Keep your hair and ears dry and elevate your head while lying down.

Once you’re able to remove the dressings, be sure to wash the area of the incision gently. Some slight discharge is common. Your care team will provide specific instructions on wound cleaning — follow their guidance to avoid irritating the incision site. Try to avoid scratching or touching the area too much to avoid introducing pathogens.

Because every case is different, your surgeon will provide any other individually tailored post-operative instructions to follow during your otoplasty recovery. Over the next couple of months, the incisions should heal up nicely and the swelling should subside.

Should you experience any unusual symptoms or an increase in discomfort, contact our Houston, TX office right away.