Corrective ear surgery (otoplasty or pinnaplasty)

Prominence or asymmetrically shaped ears often have profound effects on our self-image and self-esteem. These concerns follow us through life from childhood to teenager to adulthood. Many patients choose never to wear their hair up or avoid at certain social situations due to the shape of their ears.

Ear reshaping surgery can normalise the shape of the ear, restoring confidence and self-esteem. If you are concerned about the shape of your ears, due to asymmetry, prominence or an unusual shape of the upper third or the earlobe then please contact us at Adam Goodwin surgery where we can offer you a free consultation to discuss what changes are possible.

Typically, prominent ears are due to a deep ear bowl often in combination with a failure to develop a strong fold in the outer ear resulting in the rim being the most prominent part. This combination results in a prominence which is not always symmetrical.

Your initial discussion will focus on what you’re hoping to achieve as well as which deformity bothers you the most. With a surgical plan in place, the next step is corrective surgery.

Please view the short video below where Adam talks through the details of ear reshaping surgery.

Ear reduction surgery

Surgery in most cases is performed under local anaesthetic as a day case procedure. We advise that somebody brings you to the surgery and takes you home again. The surgery itself involves a complete ear anaesthetic with three or four simple and surprisingly straightforward injections.

Once the air is completely numb, you will have the confidence to go through the surgery in a comfortable and pain-free environment. Surgery for prominent ears typically takes between an hour and an hour and a half.

Earlobe reduction, significantly less time. Some of the more complex ear asymmetries require a specialist bespoke surgical plan but we have experience in a full range of ear deformity and treatment.

Recovery

Prominent ear surgery requires the patient to wear a head bandage, keeping the ears in place for seven full days, following surgery. The bandage is inconvenient but extremely important to allow the ears to remain secure in their new position.

It is advisable to wash your hair the day before surgery as it impossible to do so until the bandages are removed. A follow up appointment will be made for one week following surgery to remove the bandage and check on progress. At this appointment you will see some early signs of your final results but there will be swelling and bruising which take another 1 to 2 weeks to begin to settle.

If you have any concerns at all in the week post ear surgery, then please contact us at Adam Goodwin surgery or via the Spire Hospital. We would happily offer you a review to ensure that everything is progressing as we would expect.

Consider the risks of surgery

Ear surgery complications are infrequent and usually minor. As with any operation, there are certain risks and complications. A small number of patients may develop a blood clot on the ear. This may dissolve naturally or can be drawn out with a needle.

Very occasionally, patients develop an infection in the cartilage, which can cause scar tissue to form. Such infections are usually treated with antibiotics although, rarely, surgery may be required to drain the infected area.

In most cases, ear surgery will leave a faint scar in the back of the ear that will fade with time.

The ear will remain swollen for two weeks following surgery and stiff and uncomfortable for typically 4 to 6 weeks following surgery. This may make it a little uncomfortable to lie on either side in bed but this stiffness will fade over time leaving a natural soft ear shape.

Final Result

Your result following ear surgery tends to emerge from two weeks post-surgery onwards. You will see and appreciate a much tighter fold with the helical rim noticeably closer to your scalp. The scar from pinnaplasty surgery is typically hidden deep towards the fold behind the ear and so it’s very hard to find even under close scrutiny.