Are You Considering Cosmetic Ear Surgery?

If you do not like the way your ears look, you might be a candidate for cosmetic ear surgery. People of all ages choose this surgery to fix any cosmetic issues they have. Get the details about this plastic surgery to determine if it is a good choice for you. Here is what you need to know about cosmetic ear surgery.

What does it fix?

Otoplasty, or cosmetic ear surgery, changes the position, size, or shape of the ears. People as young as three years of age undergo otoplasty. This procedure is also popular among adults. Plastic surgeons usually do the procedure on both ears to ensure they are symmetrical.

The procedure

An anesthesiologist is on hand to administer anesthesia before the procedure. The anesthesiologist remains by the patient’s side to monitor vitals during the surgery. Once the patient is properly sedated, the surgeon makes an incision directly behind the ear. The incision fits into the ear’s natural fold to hide the scaring. The surgeon removes skin and cartilage during the procedure or uses sutures to hold the cartilage in place to allow the ear to take a new shape. The sutures act as an anchor as the ear adjusts to its new placement.

Recovering from cosmetic ear surgery

Patients are sent home with dressing on the surgical site. Some itching and discomfort are normal after the procedure. Patients are usually sent home with pain medication. The surgeon usually requires that patients come back within a few days for the first post-op visit.

During the visit, the bandages are removed. Patients notice the results of the procedure as soon as the bandages come off. Some surgeons use dissolvable sutures. If the sutures are not dissolvable, the patient will need to go back to the surgeon within a few weeks to get the sutures removed.

Time off work

Cosmetic ear surgery is an outpatient procedure. Even so, the patient will still need time off work to heal. Patients will have to stay home for a full work week. They should also limit their activities during the healing process.

Insurance coverage

Insurance policies typically do not cover cosmetic procedures. However, some policies do cover cosmetic ear surgery as long as the surgery is to correct a congenital abnormality or deformity. People who have one of these issues are encouraged to talk to their insurance carriers prior to surgery to get approval. The surgeon might need to write a letter to the carrier explaining the need for the procedure.

The benefits

Ear deformities can affect a person’s self-image. These anomalies can prevent an individual from socializing and simply going out of the house. Cosmetic ear surgery can correct the ear malformation. This can encourage the patient to step out into the world. Below are some of the known benefits of this procedure:

• It enhances one’s self-image. Children, teens, and adults can have more gusto in interacting with other people. Adapting to different situations will be easier and less stressful. There will be no worries about how the ears look.
• It corrects severely prominent ears. The normal ear position lies at an angle of 25-35 degrees. Exceeding 35 degrees is an angle that makes the ears stick out. This will impact the person’s look. This ear surgery can position the ears closer to the head. This prevents the ears from sticking out too much, improving one’s overall facial appearance.
• It provides a permanent ear correction. The doctor will spend about one or two hours performing the surgery. The results will be permanent. The patient can enjoy the results for years once the post-surgical bandages come off.
• It provides a natural look. The high level of training, experience, and skills of the doctor will give the patient an all-natural ear correction. The ears will complement the patient’s facial features and give a natural appearance.
• It corrects many structural ear problems. This ear procedure can help an individual feel and look better. It can correct many ear issues, such as cauliflower, small, cupped, fanned out, folded, or very large ears.

Schedule a consultation for cosmetic ear surgery

If you are unhappy with the way your ears look, a plastic surgeon might be able to help. The process begins with a consultation. The plastic surgeon will examine your ears and see if cosmetic surgery can fix the problem. If you are a viable candidate, the plastic surgeon will show you computer-generated images of the outcome and then schedule your procedure.

Get more information about Paul C. Dillon, MD Inc in Schaumburg at https://www.paulcdillonmd.com.

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