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Cosmetic Surgery
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Cosmetic Ear Surgery (Otoplasty)
If there is one thing that can make a young person grow up feeling self-conscious about their appearance, it is probably prominent ears. Long before a child cares about their appearance they can become the object of teasing and ridicule if they have funny looking ears. What might start out as innocent teasing can become a life-long stigma if a child is constantly dealing with labels such as “Bat Ears,” “Elf Ears,” “Radar,” or “Wing Nut.” This can be especially difficult for boys if the prevailing hairstyle is short. The long-term effects can be severe to a child’s social confidence and later, an adult’s self-image.
The ear is a complex, delicate structure and there are a wide spectrum of anomalies that can make the ear appear abnormal. Most abnormal looking ears can be corrected with Otoplasty. The most common problem with the ear is the “Prominent” or “Bat” ear. Classically this is two deformities wrapped up in one: 1) The ear stands out too far from the head, like a “wing nut”; and 2) the ear is missing an important fold, giving it a “bat-like” appearance. Therefore, most Otoplasties consist of two procedures - one to “pin back” the ear closer to the head and one to create the missing fold.
The surgery is done quite easily under local anesthetic in the older child or adult. In pre-school children, it is done under general anesthesia, often at the time of some other procedure such as ear tubes or tonsillectomy. The best time to do the procedure is before the child is ever subjected to teasing in grade school, or around age 5. However, it is never too late to correct funny or abnormal looking ears.
FAQ
Will insurance cover the procedure for my child?
In rare cases, yes. Typically, no. Most insurance plans will classify the procedure as “cosmetic” and won’t cover it (even though plastic surgeons everywhere know the procedure is really “reconstructive” with important benefits to a child’s development). Some insurance plans DO allow for “cosmetic surgery” for children under age 18. There can be big differences from insurance plan to insurance plan and even from one claims representative to another. You should check with your own insurance plan on this. We would be happy to provide whatever supporting documentation they might require.
Where are the incisions made?
All necessary incisions are hidden behind the ear or in the folds of the ear so that there are no visible scars.
Is the surgery painful?
No. The procedure is done painlessly with just local anesthetic (except young children, who get general anesthesia). Post-operatively, pain medications are needed only for a day or two for most people.
What can I expect during the recovery?
See our Otoplasty Post-Op Instructions on this website.
How much time off from school or work should I allow for the recovery?
About a week, if you want to remain discreet about the surgery. By this time the head dressing can come off and any visible sutures can come out. For those who don’t choose to hide their surgery, you can return to school or work the next day, in most cases.
Are there risks?
Although there are risks with any surgical procedure, the risks are minimal with otoplasty. Many thousands of otoplasty operations are performed successfully each year without complication.
How much does the surgery cost?
This is variable since the final cost depends on the exact problem to be corrected and whether or not anesthesia is necessary. A consultation with Dr. Hendrick can result in a more accurate determination of the fees. A “typical” bilateral otoplasty done with local anesthesia in our office surgery suite will run about $3000. Limited “pin back” procedures can run less.
Post-op Instructions
Please read and become familiar with these instructions BEFORE and AFTER surgery. By following these instructions carefully, you will assist in obtaining the best possible result from your surgery.
- 1. You will leave the operating room with a turban-type of dressing in place over your ears. This is to remain in place until I remove it after about one week. This will be replaced by the use of a headband, which should be worn for a period of time, which I will specify (anywhere from one to three more weeks). If your first dressing becomes too uncomfortable, report it to us, but please do not remove or loosen this dressing without our direction.
- 2. Once the turban dressing has been removed the first week after surgery, you should gently clean the incision lines twice a day using Q-tips and mild soap and water. After each cleaning, apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment over the incision lines to minimize crusting and improve healing. Do NOT apply vitamin E or any other ointments or medications unless we prescribe it! Dried blood or hard crusts can be removed using hydrogen peroxide mixed with water in a 1:1 ratio.
- 3. The day after surgery (with the turban ear dressing still in place) you may gently shampoo the portion of your hair that is visible outside of the dressing. This will require assistance from someone with your head suspended over a sink in order to avoid overwetting the ear dressing; however, do not blow dry for 5 days and postpone any hair coloring or permanent waves for 4 weeks. Avoid strong combing or brushing of the hair near the incisions and around the ears for 2 weeks. Antibiotic ointment in the hair left over from surgery can be easily removed by adding about a tablespoon of baking soda to any clarifying shampoo.
- 4. Your sutures will be removed in my office around 6 to 7 days after surgery once I have removed the ear dressings. This is a painless procedure, so don’t be concerned!
- 5. Use good common sense in restricting your normal activities during the first 7 days after your operation. Most persons will wait to resume work or social activities for at least this period of time. Any activity requiring heavy lifting or straining should be absolutely avoided! If you feel that you need to take a laxative to avoid straining in the bathroom, use one that you are accustomed to taking. All but the lightest of exercises should be avoided during the first 2 weeks.
- 6. Light walking can begin after 3 days. Exercise (easy biking, slow jogging, golf) can be resumed after 3 weeks.
- 7. Be particularly careful with pullover clothing so as not to injure the surgical areas.
- 8. You may eat a normal diet the day following surgery. Observation of a low-salt diet will help reduce postoperative swelling significantly.
- 9. For the first 2 weeks after surgery, sleep on your back or side with your head elevated on at least 2 pillows. Keeping your head higher than your heart will help resolve swelling as early as possible. Do not sleep face down on your stomach.
- 10. DO NOT SMOKE for at least 2 weeks after surgery (and preferably 1 month).
- 11. DO NOT TAKE ASPIRIN, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY MEDICATIONS (such as MOTRIN or ADVIL) or take any products containing these blood thinning compounds for 14 days after surgery! Other routinely taken medications may be taken as necessary.
- 12. Any unexplained development of pain, facial swelling or fever should be reported to us immediately.
- 13. It is normal following otoplasty to have some numbness around the incisions and the ears. This can last from several weeks up to 6 months and will usually return to normal as healing progresses. Some residual permanent numbness is a risk of any surgery, but uncommon. Avoid prolonged exposure to extremely cold temperatures. Be careful when using a hot blow dryer.
- 14. Healing incisions appear deep pink in color and have varying amounts of swelling and firmness around them. With the passage of time, the pink should become white and the firmness of the tissues will become soft and pliable. In the meantime, you can easily hide your incision lines with hair styling and makeup.
- 15. You should protect your incision lines and newly positioned tissues from excessive sunlight or tanning booth exposure. UV light tends to make scars more pink or red, which can take months to fade! Use sunscreens with a rating of at least 30 while outdoors.
Careful observation of these instructions will help ensure that your recovery is smooth, your surgical result optimal and your overall experience positive. We very much appreciate your confidence in allowing us to help you achieve your aesthetic surgical goals. If you should have any questions or concerns during your recovery, do not hesitate to call my office at (785) 309-0900 or 1-866-760-0900.
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“Totally satisfied with the results. If I ever decide to have more plastic surgery I will definitely contact Dr. Hendrick. THANKS TO EVERYONE INVOLVED.”
--R.J., Facelift, Browlift, Eyelids
Post Op Instructions
Gallery Before and Afters
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