Why do people have ear surgery?
Ears that stick out do not cause any physical problems, but they can make people feel unhappy that the angle is out of proportion with their face. Children with this condition may be teased and become upset while adults may self-consciously wear their hair long to hide their ears.

Prominent ears can be easily treated by a procedure known as pinnaplasty or otoplasty. This is a form of surgery that focuses on the reshaping and ‘pinning back’ of the ears to bring them into proportion with the face.

Ear angles in babies under the age of six months can be easily corrected using special moulds because the cartilage so soft. However, children must wait until after the age of seven when ears stop growing to have pinnaplasty.

The aim of pinnaplasty is to correct a condition that is undermining a person’s self-confidence and dramatically improve their appearance. It is a very common procedure and the results last a lifetime.

Realistic expectations
You must have realistic expectations about what pinnaplasty can achieve for you. It will not change your personality or make people treat you differently. Everyone is individual and surgery will not transform you into someone else.

It is critical that you spend time thinking about what you want to achieve from surgery and talk about your hopes with your surgeon. You should not have surgery to please anyone else but yourself.

Everyone’s skin and ear type is different and the surgeon will discuss what you can realistically expect to achieve.

What happens during consultation?
The surgeon will examine your medical history and discuss how you want the appearance of your ears to be changed.

The surgeon will want to know why you want a specific procedure to gain a complete understanding of what you want to achieve from the surgery. It is important that you are completely honest.

During the consultation the surgeon will explain the procedures before, during and after surgery and explain what can be realistically achieved.

Getting the most out of your consultancy
Often in cases where clients are unhappy with the results of surgery it is because they did not discuss their expectations thoroughly or were afraid to talk about the outcome or risks.

You have to make an informed decision before signing the consent form so make sure you ask plenty of questions. You want to feel relaxed and confident and completely understand what will happen during surgery.

You may want to know:

• About the surgeon’s qualifications.
• How many operations of your procedure are carried out each year.
• How you prepare for the surgery.
• What realistic results can be expected and when.
• How long the results will last.
• About the side-effects and possible complications.
• How long it will take to recover.
• About the extent of scarring and how it will change in time.
• What happens if anything goes wrong.

Preparation for surgery

• Avoid alcohol, aspirin, garlic and food oils a least a week before surgery as they can cause excessive bleeding.
• Do not eat or drink anything six hours before your general anaesthetic.
• The surgeon and anaesthetist needs to know your medical history and if you are on any medication.
• You will be advised of any health checks or X-rays required before your procedure.
• Prior to surgery you will be met by your surgeon who will assess you and discuss your queries.
• Try and give up smoking a couple of weeks before your procedure as it interferes with healing processes.
• Bring an overnight bag for your stay and leave your valuables at home.

What happens during ear surgery?
Clients are placed under general anaesthetic to ensure they are asleep and experience no discomfort during the operation.

Pinnaplasty usually takes between one and two hours. The surgeon will make tiny incisions behind the ears to reveal the cartilage. The cartilage is then reshaped and, on occasions, some may be removed.

Stitches are then applied to hold the new ear shape in place and close the incision. The stitches are normally taken out a week after the operation or in some cases may be dissolvable.

After closing the incision a large dressing is wrapped around the head to cover the ears. This ‘medical headband’ is designed to keep the ears in place while they heal in their new position.

Remember, your surgeon will be more than happy to discuss all the details of the procedure with you.

After surgery

• You will wake up in a recovery room. The surgeon will visit you to advise you when you can leave.
• Most people are able to go home the same day just a few hours after the operation.
• It is usual to feel some discomfort or slight pain after surgery. This is easily treated with mild analgesic tablets such as Paracetamol.
• You should not drive for two days after the anaesthetic.
• The surgeon will advise you when you can return to work and you will be given details on how to care for your dressings.
• Enjoy plenty of rest and avoid any energetic activities that raise your blood pressure.

Road to recovery

• Continue taking painkillers if you need them.
• The head bandage must be worn for between one and two weeks to ensure the ears heal properly.
• It may be difficult to hear or to wash your hair properly, but keeping the bandage on is an important part of the healing process.
• You may experience an itching sensation under the bandages as your ears heal, but you must not scratch the irritation as this may cause infection.
• When the large dressing is removed you may be required to wear a smaller medical headband. The surgeon will advise you whether you need to wear this 24 hours a day or just at night.
• After your procedure you may have swelling or bruising around the ears.
• Depending on the extent of the surgical procedure you may experience bruising or swelling for up to two weeks. You should discuss this with your surgeon.
• If you smoke make sure you stop before surgery as it interferes with the healing of your ears.
• Do not continue sports that involve any form of contact for up to three months.

All surgery carries an element of risk
Most people believe that the benefits of pinnaplasty far outweigh the risk. However before you sign the surgery consent form you should be aware of any possible complications and side effects.

Complications associated with any type of surgery include problems healing, the danger of infection and the potential formation of clots that may be life-threatening. Excessive bleeding or bleeding under the skin, known as a haematoma, may require a return visit to the surgery. Some patients may also have an allergic reaction to anaesthesia. In a minority of cases there may be a problem with fluid loss or an excessive build up of fluid that needs to be drained.

Deciding on Pinnaplasty
It is important that you take your time to make an informed decision about surgery. Complications are extremely rare as this is a very common operation, however you must consider any potential outcome.

• After a successful operation you may feel sick due to the anaesthetic and bruises formed by the procedure may take several weeks to heal.
• There will be scars left by the incisions. Scars usually fade but do not necessarily disappear completely. This depends on your skin type.
• In some cases scars may be irritable.
• You ears may ache for the first few days after the operation and will feel sensitive for a few weeks.
• In a case of unbalanced ear placement following the procedure further surgery may be required.

Complications are rare and depend greatly on individual circumstances such a person’s health and skin type or the extent of the procedure. Your surgeon will be able to explain how the risks apply in your circumstances.