Ear Surgery
 

The ear is a part of our body that should get very little attention. We never hear someone comment on how beautiful somebody’s ears are, even if they are perfect by the book. However, when the ears are protruding, the cartilage is flat with no shape, or the ear is too big, suddenly the ears get all the attention from others. Kids may be exposed to teasing from their friends at school and women may have to wear their hair down all the time to cover their ears. A good ear surgery can correct all that.

What is an Ear Surgery?
Ear Surgery or "Otoplasty" is a surgical procedure done to improve the aesthetic appearance of the ear while maintaining its function. It can be done to pin back protruding ears, create the natural curves of the helix and the anti-helix (the curves in the cartilaginous upper part of the ear) and reduce the size of the ear or earlobe.
 

Are You a Good Candidate for an Ear Surgery?

You would be a good candidate for an ear surgery if your ears are too big, too prominent, or lack cartilage definition. You may be self conscious about how your ears look, or notice that people look at your ears when talking to you. You may avoid wearing your hair in certain ways because it shows your ears. Or you may be bullied by your friends at school or university. You may feel that the outer frame of your face is distorted by the protrusion of your ears. The ear surgery can address and correct all these issues. The ear surgery can be done as early as the age of 4 by which time the ears are fully grown.
 

Preparing for Your Surgery

Before your surgery, Dr. Metwally will perform a complete evaluation with you. You may have problems with one ear or both your ears. Dr. Metwally will explain to you in great detail the procedure that best serves your case. You should wear loose fitting clothes and bear in mind that your outfit may get soiled. Do not wear jewelry, contact lenses, or bring valuables to the operating room. Remove all body jewelry from pierced body parts.

Duration of the Surgery

It takes Dr. Metwally around 1 and a half to 2 hours to perform an ear surgery for both ears.

Anesthesia Used

The surgery is usually performed under local anesthesia with sedation (you won’t be totally asleep but you will be relaxed and drowsy and won’t feel anything during the procedure). It can also be performed under general anesthesia (you will be asleep throughout the procedure). You will be ready to leave after 1 to 2 hours from the completion of your surgery depending on the anesthesia used.

During Your Surgery

During your surgery an incision is made at the back of the ear usually extending along the length of the ear or slightly shorter. The cartilage is then sculpted and folded to bring the ear closer to the head and create the natural curvature of the upper part of the ear cartilage (helix and anti-helix). In some cases some cartilage is removed to help in setting the ear back. Stitches are then used to maintain the shape of the ear. In the final step the external incision is sutured. The scar is almost invisible because of it’s location at the back of the ear and generally fades with time.

After Your Surgery

After your surgery you will have mild dressing at the back of your ear. Dr. Metwally will prescribe to you an antibiotic along with a pain killer to prevent infection and alleviate pain. Depending upon the level of correction made, Dr. Metwally may place a plaster holding your ears back for around 5 days. You will be asked to wear a head band during sleep for 2 to 4 weeks. Most patients feel mild pain for the first 3 days that can easily be controlled by pain killers. You will find some bruising and swelling that will subside from 1 to 2 weeks after surgery. You can shower 1 day after your surgery wearing a shower cap that covers your ears. Your stitches will be removed from 7 to 10 days after your surgery at which time you can shower without the shower cap. You need to refrain from vigorous sports that may impact your ears for 1 month. You also need to avoid styling your hair at a hair salon for 1 month as well.
 

Seeing Your Result

How soon the result starts to show often varies from one person to the other depending on many factors. Some people heal faster than others for reasons like age, skin color and skin type. Other factors are related to the level of correction made in the surgery and the surgeon’s skills. According to Dr. Metwally’s observation of his own patients, most of them start seeing results as early as the 7th day of the surgery. Swelling disappears from 10 to 14 days. Sometimes, depending on the level of correction made, you may feel that your ears are numb and firm these effects are almost always gone by the 6th week after your surgery. The final result is usually achieved after 8 weeks. The result from the ear surgery is everlasting.