Ear surgery (Otoplasty)

With an ear surgery the ears can be adjusted to the head by setting prominent ears back closer to the head or reduce the size of large ears.

Basic preconditions:
	You are over 18 years old, in good physical and psychological condition and have a realistic idea.

Preparations:
	About 4 weeks before the surgery, you should reduce smoking. Moreover alcohol should be avoided.
	On the day of the surgery you should not have your menstruation.
	About 2 weeks before the surgery you should not take anticoagulants (Aspirin, acetylsalicylic acid containing drugs).
	You should avoid sunbathing or solarium particularly on the face.

Surgery preparations and examinations:
	For the surgery you need a blood count and an ECG. Your GP can provide both. Please bring the findings with you (it should not be older than two weeks).

Length of the surgery:

The surgery usually takes about 1 hour and is performed as an outpatient procedure.

Course of action:

Before the surgery you will be informed during a detailed counselling talk on how the surgery is done, possible complications, risks, and alternatives. Maybe you want to write done your questions on the surgery. The ear surgery is done under regional anaesthesia. Before the anaesthesia you will be advised by an anaesthetist about the risks, complications and possible alternatives to a narcosis. The anaesthetist will be present during the surgery. A general anaesthesia means stress for the body. During narcoses risks or complications can occur, depending on previous diseases and your general state of health.

During an ear correction the auricular cartilage is reshaped. The incision is made behind the ear in order to expose the ear cup cartilage. The exposed auricular cartilage is reshaped by a wafer-thin incision depending on the type of the malformation. In order to fix the ear to the new position a very thin suture is done on the front side of the ear. After the bleeding is stopped the incision behind the ear is closed by a thin suture. Usually the scars are not at all visible from the front and hardly visible from the back when the wounds are completely healed. After the surgery you get a head bandage which you have to wear for 2 weeks day and night.

Perception and possible complications:

After the surgery you may have some pain and the ears may turn slightly blue. Both subside after a few days. Possible dysfunctions in the sensitivity of the ear are only preliminary and disappear within a short period of time.

Like after every other surgery secondary bleeding cannot be excluded. For this reason you must avoid taking acetylsalicylic acid containing drugs and acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin). Despite antiseptic measures infections can occur. To prevent this go get preventive antibiotics. You should immediately see a doctor in case you have the sensation of a beating in the ear, or if you have pain or fever.

After a surgery there can occur blood clots in the main veins (thrombosis), these can be carried further and thus block a blood vessel (embolism). As prevention it can be considered to take anticoagulant drugs (i. e. injections of heparin), however these cause an increased bleeding tendency and in very rare cases grave dysfunctions of blood coagulation. You will be informed on further risks and possible side-effects in a comprehensive handout.

After the surgery:

The stitches on the front side can be taken out after about 2 weeks; those behind the ear are self-dissolving.

After the head bandage has been removed you should wear a frontlet day and night for another 2 weeks. Then, the next 2 weeks only at night. After the stitches have been taken out you can wash your hair again but please be very cautious in order not to interfere in the recreation of the auricular cartilage.

After 3-5 days after the surgery you can take up your every-day activities again. You have to be very cautious when doing sports or other exhausting things for about 6 weeks and you should protect the ears with a frontlet.


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