Otoplasty

The ears generally aren’t the most prominent of the face’s features – that is, unless they draw undue attention to themselves. Ears that protrude or are disproportionate with the rest of the face can be the source of unwanted stares, rude comments, and even downright ridicule, for children and adults alike. Fortunately, plastic surgery offers an effective solution to this problem in the form of otoplasty, or cosmetic ear surgery.

At the North Haledon, New Jersey practice of Dr. James Goodnight, we perform otoplasty on both children and adults. As with every surgery Dr. Goodnight performs, he uses the least invasive methods that produce the longest-lasting, most natural-looking results for his ear surgery patients. Patients emerge with ears that complement their faces and, in many cases, vastly improved confidence and self-esteem. Particularly in the cases of young children, cosmetic ear surgery can mean the difference between a lifetime of self-consciousness and a lifetime of self-assurance.

If you or your child has protruding or oversized ears, Dr. Goodnight can help. To schedule a confidential consultation or learn more about cosmetic ear surgery, please contact our North Haledon plastic surgery practice today.

Otoplasty is the surgical reshaping and repositioning of the ear. The surgery can be performed to make disproportionately large ears smaller or to pin protruding ears closer to the head. Because the ears are fully grown in most people by the time they are six years old, many children are suitable candidates for the procedure before they even start school.

Most children undergo the procedure under general anesthesia as they find the concept of surgery being performed painlessly while they are awake too difficult to comprehend. Adults, on the other hand, generally choose to have the procedure performed while they are under local anesthesia in order to avoid the risks associated with general anesthesia.

At the beginning of the procedure, local anesthetic is injected behind the ear. A laser is then used to precisely remove a small ellipse of skin from the crease behind the ear, and permanent sutures are placed to pull the ear back and restore the natural fold. The sutures are concealed beneath the skin so they cannot be seen.

Many people choose to undergo otoplasty as part of a comprehensive facial rejuvenation plan, combining it with face lift, eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, and other procedures.

After surgery, patients wear a head dressing for one night, after which they are required to wear a headband during sleep for one week. They can expect to experience swelling and discoloration of the ears for several days; however, these effects generally subside within a week, at which point the ears will appear completely natural. The skin-colored sutures used to close the incision dissolve with the aid of an antibiotic ointment that is applied over the course of two weeks.

Cosmetic ear surgery can have a profound effect on a person’s self-image and overall outlook on life. If you would like to learn more about the many benefits of cosmetic ear surgery, please contact the North Haledon plastic surgery practice of Dr. James Goodnight, serving Bergen County, Passaic County, and all of New Jersey, today.