Otoplasty

Pinnaplasty or otoplasty is an operation that adjusts the shape of the cartilage in the ear to create the missing folds and allow the ear to lie closer to the side of the head.

Because the surgery is performed behind the ears, a small scar may result near the groove between the ear and the side of the head. There are several types of technical procedures that leave small, almost invisible scars.

The procedure can be performed under local anesthesia, but general anesthesia is required for young children. If the earlobe is particularly large, a minor procedure may also be necessary to reduce its size.

The surgery is most often performed during childhood, but it is best done when the patient is 5 years or older, as the cartilage is very flexible until then and does not tolerate stitches well.

It is recommended that, although parents may believe that their child’s ears should be corrected to avoid teasing and stigmatization, it is best to wait until the child recognizes the problem and wants their ears corrected.

Children are generally more cooperative and happy with the outcome when they fully understand why the surgery is taking place.

Pinnaplasty is performed both in adolescence and in adulthood, either under local or general anesthesia.

The surgery lasts between 1 and 2 hours and is usually performed under local anesthesia. In children, usually after the age of 12, it is possible to perform the surgery with local anesthesia. Even if the surgery is performed with general anesthesia or sedation, patients can go home the same day.

Hospitalization is not necessary, except in very special situations. If the aesthetic surgeon considers that there is any risk to the patient’s health, they will recommend hospitalization for at least 24 hours, during which they will observe the postoperative evolution.

Preparation for this surgery should take into account maintaining the best possible state of health and a weight appropriate to age and height. All of these will help with a quick recovery, without complications.

If you smoke, quit smoking six weeks before the surgery. This will help with healing and reduce the chances of complications.

You should not remove or shave hair from the vicinity of the areas where the cuts will be placed on the skin. Maintaining strict hygiene will help reduce the risk of infection.

Before the actual surgery, you must stop taking certain medications: aspirin, birth control pills, pills that can affect blood clotting. The surgeon will inform you about these. All medical problems: high blood pressure, diabetes, allergies, vascular conditions – must be declared to the doctor so that they can make the best decision, so that your health is not endangered.

Also, avoid sun exposure before surgery. And after the procedure, you will be advised to do the same, for a period.

Ladies should know that if they opt for otoplasty, it is necessary to tell the doctor if they are on a diet. Healing may be delayed in these cases.

When it is noted that an ear is prominent even in the first weeks of life, it may be reshaped by applying a small splint to the base.

The cartilage of a newborn’s ear is very flexible and easy to transform, and after a few weeks of splitting, a permanent correction can be made. The older the child gets, the more rigid the cartilage is and the longer the transformation period needs to be. From the age of six months, the cartilage is too rigid to be reshaped and a surgical solution is required.

The intervention aims to bring the auricle closer to the head. This is achieved by fitting non-absorbable sutures under the skin, at the level of the cartilage of the auricle, which are tightened so that the auricle approaches the head.

Dr. Olimpiu Hârceagă, in selected cases, uses a minimally invasive technique, through which he creates small incisions, where he introduces the sutures. The advantage of this technique over the classic version is that it does not require an incision behind the ear and detachment of the skin from the cartilage. This technique allows the operation to be performed with local anesthesia and extremely rapid recovery; patients can return to work even the next day.

In a smaller number of cases, the classic technique is necessary, especially in cases where there is an excess of cartilage at the level of the auricle, which must be excised.

After the operation, you should usually wear a small dressing until the stitches are removed, at an interval between 5 and 10 days. Once the dressing has been removed, it is advisable to wear a headband or protective bandage while sleeping to avoid bending the ears when in contact with the pillow.

Most of the time, the ears are inflamed and sensitive for several weeks, requiring the use of analgesic drugs, such as Paracetamol or Codeine. Other drugs, such as Aspirin or Nurofen, can sometimes cause unwanted bleeding following surgery and should be avoided. The scar behind the ear usually heals well, but in rare cases it can become red and develop swelling. A small number of patients, especially those who are very sensitive about the precise shape of their ears, may require a minor adjustment procedure.

However, most patients are very satisfied with the result, and the procedure has a high satisfaction rate.

Hair can be washed 48 hours after the operation. However, it is important to keep the grooves behind the ears clean.

Tips for a good recovery.

• Exposure to direct sunlight or in tanning salons

Exposure to the sun causes skin damage. Exposure of the operated areas and suture lines can lead to poor healing and hypo- or hyperpigmentation color changes.

Patients who want to expose themselves to the sun to tan should inform their doctor and postpone this activity until it is risk-free. Adverse effects also occur when sunscreen is used.

• Travel

Any surgical procedure involves possible risks and complications that can delay healing and return to normal life. Notify the surgeon of travel plans, important meetings that you are considering, so that the planning of the operation can be done efficiently. However, there are no guarantees that you will be able to return to the activities scheduled before the intervention in time.

• Long-term results

Changes in the results of the surgical procedure may occur over time, due to aging, sun exposure, weight loss or gain, pregnancy, menopause or other circumstances unrelated to the procedure itself.

• Information for female patients

It is important to tell the surgeon if you are using birth control pills or if you have the slightest suspicion that you may be pregnant. Many antibiotics can decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills.

• Intimate relations after the surgical procedure

Surgery involves the coagulation of blood vessels to stop bleeding, and physical activity of any kind can cause the vessels to open and bleed and/or form a hematoma.

Activities that increase pulse and heart rate can cause additional bruising and bruising, inflammation and the need to open the surgery to control bleeding.