Otoplasty
AVERAGE COSTS :
On Consultation
DESCRIPTION
Many children and adults suffer embarrassment from prominent ears. As ear growth achieves almost adult size by early school age the prominent ear deformity appears more obvious.
In children mild cases may be concealed by longer hair until the child has fully developed and a decision regarding surgery can been taken. If, however, the deformity is obvious, it may be kinder to carry out corrective surgery at an earlier age. The ears attain 80% of their final size by the age of 5 or 6 and it is therefore safe to carry out the correction from that age onwards.
This is equally a common operation requested by adults who did not have surgery during childhood. The surgery is as straight forward for adults as it is in children.
AVERAGE COST
On Consultation
LENGTH OF PROCEDURE
An hour to an hour and a half
IN/OUTPATIENT
Inpatient
ANAESTHESIA
General (children)
RECOVERY TIME
Six weeks
VISITS REQUIRED
One
RISKS
Infection is rare after otoplasty but as with any form of surgery can occasionally occur. Its risk is reduced by the routine use of antibiotics during and after surgery. Excessive internal bruising (haematoma) occasionally occurs and may require removing some stitches to wash out the bruising from beneath the skin. This has no effect on the long term outcome of surgery.
Independent of the technique used by the surgeon the "memory" of the cartilage may cause the prominence to recur in a few patients (5-7%). If this happens the procedure can safely be performed again. The incision, which is made on the back of the ear, usually heals well and is concealed. In some patients the scar may be slightly red and raised. If this occurs treatment to reduce this can be applied.
DURATION OF RESULTS
Permanent
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