OTOPLASTY I Ear surgery

Ear pinning surgery under local anesthesia for a natural, risk-free result…

Otoplasty, an operation possible at any age.

       Otoplasty is the correction of protruding ears.This procedure can be performed at any age, although it is more frequently requested in young children. In young children, during the consultation, Dr. Smarrito The dentist will take care to verify that the request truly comes from the child, as the child might perceive it as an attack if the request is made in the opposite direction. However, it is not uncommon to see older patients in consultation who wish to correct even minor protruding ears.

      Ear pinning surgery will combine several procedures depending on the initial anatomical appearance of the ear.

Often, the appearance of protruding ears is characterized by an angle between the skull and the ear cartilage that is too wide, giving the ear a rather wide and very noticeable appearance when viewed from the front. This anomaly is corrected by placing sutures on the back of the ear. The cartilage is then firmly anchored to the retroauricular tissue, thus closing the angle and eliminating the sensation of overly prominent ears when viewed from the front.

Associated with this anomaly is often a defect in the ear's folding . If you look closely inside the ear, there is a convex ridge that flares upwards, creating the equivalent of a half-tube. Often, this anatomical anomaly gives the appearance of a protruding ear that is quite prominent at the top.

Patients come for consultations by testing the fit with their finger in front of a mirror and gently folding their ear back to close an overly open angle . In this configuration, the procedure requires a posterior incision, invisible from the front of the ear. This incision allows the surgeon to access the anterior part of the cartilage from behind, where it is shaved to create a gentle angle. This almost spontaneously creates the tube and rounded shape inside the ear. To maintain the result, a few sutures are then placed to stabilize it over time.

Finally, numerous variations exist in the ear, such as an excess of cartilage inside, known as conchal cartilage, which can be removed during the procedure, or abnormalities of the rim, or even certain torsions. These must be analyzed during a consultation because while some anomalies can be corrected, others would require fairly aggressive reconstructive surgery with cartilage grafts, which is unnecessary in a simple otoplasty.

A specialist consultation is necessary for otoplasty…

Finally, the earlobe can be corrected or reshaped during this surgery. If it is excessive, it is possible to remove a portion and reshape it to the lower part of the ear, but care must be taken to maintain a normal shape of the earlobe and avoid giving the impression of a flattened lobule by trying to preserve a natural curve at the bottom.

A prominent, telephone-shaped earlobe is often more difficult to correct, and while techniques exist using posterior tissue flaps, the resulting scarring can be significant. This anomaly is often overlooked, but it is finally possible to attempt correction. The difficulty in correcting the earlobe lies in the fact that it is soft tissue; there is no cartilage to anchor it to create a fixed point. Everything is worked on the soft tissue, which makes this correction much more challenging. 

Otoplasty is a precise procedure which, when mastered, allows for the rapid correction of defects, thus enabling the procedure to be carried out under local anesthesia without any pain.

In most of the cases, Patient satisfaction with otoplasty is extreme Especially since the after-effects are often mild if a few bruises are tolerated for a few days. Dr. Smarrito It is also advised not to cut your hair short so that the area can be concealed for about ten days. The stitches are easily removed, and while complications do exist, they are extremely rare. Among the potential complications, it is important to be aware of the risk of keloid scarring, which is quite common in darker skin tones and during adolescence.

The age of intervention can be early.7-8 years old, and again general anesthesia is not necessary; then after adolescence; and finally at any age if an adult wants a short haircut or if an adult woman finally wants to be able to tie her hair back. Coverage may be provided through your private insurance if you have a child. Otherwise, In the absence of private insurance or if the patient is of legal age, the procedure will be at their own expense.. The doctor Smarrito I remain at your disposal for any further information on this subject. Please find attached a sequence of otoplasty procedures.

However, each post-otoplasty photo is personalized since the patient can adjust the result according to their wishes during the consultation. Therefore, to simulate the final result, it is best to come in for a consultation with Dr. Smarrito will be perfectly able to explain to you, either in front of the mirror or by computer morphing, the probable appearance of your otoplasty.