Benefits of Lop Ear Corrections (Otoplasty)
Otoplasty can correct protruding ears or large ears in both children and adults. It is performed to realign the ears more closely to the head, creating a more balanced appearance. A child’s ears are usually grown enough to do the procedure at five years of age. This procedure can prevent ridicule in children and greatly improve self-esteem in adolescents and adults who have been self-conscious about their ears for years. Many women are embarrassed to wear their hair back because of protruding ears. After otoplasty, patients are able to wear their hair in any style they wish, and they feel so much better about how their appearance.
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How a Lop Ear Correction (Otoplasty) is Done
Dr. Zweig analyzes each patient’s ears and determines the best way to achieve the desired results. Depending on the amount of protrusion and the size of the ears, he will remove excess skin and cartilage and/or sculpt the cartilage and refold it to lay closer to the patient’s head. Incisions are hidden behind the ears. Fine sutures, which will be removed in a few days, are used to hold the ears in place, or in some cases combined with absorbable or hidden permanent sutures.
Anesthesia
Otoplasty is performed in our AAAHC-accredited outpatient surgery center. Although we offer deeper sedation, most adults prefer a local anesthetic with light consciousness sedation. Children are usually given general anesthesia. A board-certified physician anesthesiologist attends all patients receiving IV and general anesthesia.
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Recovery
There may be some temporary discomfort, which can be easily controlled with prescription pain medications prescribed by Dr. Zweig. Many patients only take Tylenol® (acetaminophen). A dressing is used to hold the ears in place day and night for 2 or 3 days in adults and longer in very young children. After that, adults and children wear a wide headband a few more days, for a total of about 7 to 8 days. During the next few weeks, the headband is worn only at night. Some adults return to work before the headband comes off, but all return to work in seven days. Depending on their age, children return to school in about a week or 10 days.
More information on Otoplasty, from the AAFPRS »
Other solutions for ears
Dr Zweig is able to remedy other ear problems including large and stretched earlobes caused by the aging process or due to heredity. Earlobe reduction can be done at the time of a facelift or can be addressed separately.
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