Otoplasty Serving Oakland & The San Francisco Bay Area

The goal of an otoplasty is to improve shape and symmetry of the ears. It is designed to correct ears that stick out too much or are too large or too small or malpositioned. An Otoplasty can make a significant difference in a persons appearance and as with any procedure, is a highly individual decision. You may be a suitable candidate for an Otoplasty procedure if you are unhappy with how your ears look. If you are concerned with any of the following, you may benefit from an otoplasty:

• Ears stick out too much
• Ears are asymmetric
• Earlobes have torn piercings.
• Earlobes are saggy

Certain factors affect whether you are a suitable candidate for an otoplasty procedure:

• Do you smoke?
• Are you physically and emotionally healthy?
• Do you have realistic expectations of what otoplasty surgery could do for you?

The swelling will be at its worst two to three days after Face Lift surgery. Sleeping upright supported by pillows will help in reducing swelling. Cool compresses can also help, however great care should be taken to not put ice or anything too cold directly on your skin as you will still have some numbness and may not feel things that are too cold. Patients of Face Lift surgery are recommended to rest as much as possible the first week, keep your incision sites as dry as possible, and avoid closed-neck clothing to prevent contact on your head and face.

Some numbness, swelling, and bruising of the skin is likely to last for up to two weeks after the surgery. After five to ten days, your stitches and drains will be removed, and a few days later you should start seeing the results of the face lift. Five to fourteen days after the face lift procedure, you will start to look and feel better. Visible swelling should go down after four to six weeks. You should avoid any strenuous activity during this time. You will probably feel numbness in your face for a few weeks. Dr. Williams and the Tri Valley Plastic Surgery team will give you a check list and a precautions list for your recovery. It may take several months for swelling to fully dissipate and up to six months to a year for incision lines to mature. Maintaining or adopting a healthy lifestyle and wearing a high SPF sunscreen whenever you go out will help to extend the results of your face lift. You will see the end result of your Face Lift approximately six to nine months after your Face Lift operation.

The Tri Valley Plastic Surgery team will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for your otoplasty (ear) procedure, including guidelines on eating, drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications. If you smoke, you will be asked to stop at least two months before otoplasty, as smoking inhibits blood flow to the skin. Patients who smoke take longer to heal and can have serious wound healing complications. Patients usually must also avoid taking painkillers containing aspirin or ibuprofen two weeks before surgery.

An otoplasty (or ear pinning or ear surgery), changes the skin or cartilage to reshape one or both ears. Ears may have undesirable shape since birth or from trauma. Dr. Williams and the Tri Valley Plastic Surgery team specialize in creating a natural looking ears that have good symmetry.

An otoplasty operation takes one to two hours and is performed under general anesthesia or under local anesthesia, although intravenous sedation can be used in some situations. The Tri Valley Plastic Surgery team will discuss the options with you and recommend the best anesthesia for you. Ear surgery procedure is always tailored to your specific needs and anatomy.

• STEP 1 – ANESTHESIA
• IV medication is used to induce general anesthesia. In addition, local numbing medication is always injected to give you post-operative pain control.
• STEP 2 – THE INCISION
• There are multiple incision techniques that the surgeons at Tri Valley Plastic Surgery may use when you have an otoplasty. These depend on the degree of change you’d like to see and the problem areas. We always strive for the smallest possible scar to give you the look you want.
• STEP 3 – THE SUTURES
• Absorbable and non-absorbable sutures are used on the incisions that are typically behind the ears. These incisions are usually very well hidden. Once the surgery is complete, dressings are placed.
• STEP 4 – THE RESULTS
• When you wake up after your otoplasty you will have dressings and bandages covering your ears. You will be given painkillers, although you should only feel mild to moderate pain after an otoplasty procedure. There will swelling over your ears, which will subside after a short time.

Otoplasty complications are infrequent and usually minor. Otoplasty procedures are commonly performed and generally safe. The possibility of risks and complications depend on each patient's anatomy, their physical reactions, and their healing abilities. As with any surgery, the outcome is never completely predictable.

• Common Otoplasty side effects include:
• Soreness, swelling and bruising which can last up to a month
• Scarring which usually fades over the course of a year, but won't completely disappear
• Asymmetry between ears - everyone has some asymmetry - your asymmetry should improve but it is impossible to achieve complete symmetry.

Complications that may arise as a result of an otoplasty operation are:

• Unfavorable scarring
• Bleeding (hematoma)
• Infection
• Poor wound healing
• Allergic reaction to the anesthesia
• Facial nerve injury with weakness.
• Asymmetry
• Skin loss
• Numbness
• Fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis)
• Fluid accumulation
• Pain which may persist
• Skin contour irregularities
• Skin discoloration, sensitivity or swelling
• Unsatisfactory surgical scar location
• Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
• Possibility of revisional surgery

Otoplasty is performed on children and adults. However, it is advised that otoplasty is not performed on children until after the ear is fully formed (around age 5).

Otoplasty is permanent. Therefore, it is extremely unlikely that the ears return to their original position following otoplasty. While it is possible, such an event may be avoided through the strict adherence to instructions given by our providers regarding prolonged care of otoplasty results.