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Protruding ears

I would like to enquire about otoplasty to correct protruding ears – what does the procedure involve?
M.V.

Dear M.V.,
Otoplasty is usually done under local anaesthesia and involves making an incision behind the ears to expose the cartilage. The cartilage is then ‘scored’ and shaped to the right position and the incision is closed. The ears are then packed with wool soaked in antiseptic ointment to keep the new position intact, and a head bandage is applied. The entire procedure takes about an hour. The head bandage will need to stay on for a week, after which, the sutures behind the ears are removed.

Subsequent to that, a light headband should be worn for about a month, especially at night. The scar from the incision is usually barely perceptible. However, some individuals may be prone to keloid (raised scars) formation and should be warned about this possibility.

Answered by Dr. Eileen Fong | Sat, 2007/06/30 - 5:57pm
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