If you're considering a otoplasty...
This operation is done to correct protruding
ears. It is one of the few cosmetic operations
performed on children. Although the operation is
done on both men and women, it has great appeal
for men, because many of them wear their hair
short and cannot conceal the ear
deformity.
Method: The method of surgery is to
weaken the cartilage of the ear so that it bends
into its new shape. At the same time stitches
are placed in the cartilage to hold the ear in
position until the new shape has formed. The
incision is placed in the natural creases behind
the ear. The operation is done under either
local anesthetic (you are awake) or general
anesthetic (you are asleep) You can choose. Most
of the time this is an outpatient operation and
a stay in the hospital is not needed.
Problems: All operations have some risk.
The risks of surgery are divided into two
groups. First those that are seen in all
operations and second those that are unique or
special for this operation. In the first group,
the main risks are swelling, bruising, bleeding,
infection, a scar and numbness or change in
feeling. The main problems which are special for
this operation are an abnormal reaction to the
stitches and recurrence of the problem.
Postoperative care: The recovery takes
one to two weeks. Most people are back to work
within a week or two. It takes many months
before the final result is seen.
A non-surgical method of treatment for
protruding ears does exist. However it is only
of use in the first few weeks of life.
Unfortunately, at this stage many parents are
not concerned about the position and appearance
of their infant's ears. However if a family
member, nurse or doctor recognizes the problem
and a plastic surgeon is called it may be
possible to splint the ear and reshape it. In
this way an otoplasty later in life may be
avoided.
Immediately after birth the cartilage of the
birth is very soft. There are many suggested
reasons for this. Some doctors feel that the
hormone, relaxin, which helps to loosen the
mother's pelvic cartilage and aid delivery, also
softens the baby's ear cartilage. Estrogen is
also felt to soften facial and skull cartilage
and aid the passage of the fetus.
Ear cartilage is made of cells called
chondrocytes with fluid between the cells,
called intercellular material. This
intercellular material is a mixture of
chemicals, including collagen and elastin. When
the baby is born the intercellular materials are
surrounded and separated by a large amount of
hyaluronic acid. This accounts for the lack of
elasticity.
