Cosmetic ear surgery

Alternative Names: Otoplasty; Ear surgery - cosmetic

Cosmetic ear surgery is a procedure to move very large or prominent ears closer to the head.

Description of Procedure

Cosmetic ear surgery may be done in the surgeon's office, an outpatient clinic, or a hospital. It can be performed under local anesthesia, which numbs the area around the ears, or general anesthesia, which will cause you to sleep through the entire operation. The procedure usually lasts about 2 hours.

During the most common method of cosmetic ear surgery, a surgeon makes a cut in the back of the ear and removes the skin to see the ear cartilage. The cartilage is folded to reshape the ear, bringing it closer to the head. Sometimes the surgeon will cut the cartilage before folding it. Stitches are used to close the wound.

Risks of Cosmetic ear surgery

Complications such as blood clots and infection are uncommon.

Other risks of the procedure include:

• Keloids and hypertrophic scars
• Areas of numbness
• Increased susceptibility to cold
• Unsatisfactory results

Ear anatomy	Medical findings based on ear anatomy	Eardrum repair - series	Ear surgery - series

Review Date: 10/15/2009
Reviewed By: David A. Lickstein, MD, FACS, specializing in cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery, Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

_{Do not use this information for medical emergencies - Call 911. This information should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should always be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other websites do not constitute endorsements and are provided for information only. Any duplication or distribution of this information is strictly prohibited.
Copyright 2011 A.D.A.M., Inc.}