Ear Surgery (Otoplasty) Westport, CT

The ears are a major facial feature, but they aren’t usually the focus of attention. It’s when they become the focus of attention because they are too large, small or prominent, or are misshapen or malformed, that troubles can arise.

beautiful woman with perfect facial features

Ear Surgery (Otoplasty)

People who are self-conscious, embarrassed, or unhappy with the way their ears look (a common concern) often try to hide them with their hair or hats or try other ways to keep their ears out of the spotlight.

The ears can be damaged by trauma, a birth defect, piercing choices you no longer desire, or other factors. If you’re unhappy with the shape, size, or prominence of your ear, ear surgery or otoplasty can resolve the situation.

WHAT IS EAR SURGERY?

Otoplasty is a surgical procedure that corrects a wide variety of ear concerns. This procedure is designed for men and women, and for children as well. There can be concerns that arise with the years from a very young age. Dr. Mark Fisher has extensive experience in working in the pediatric field of plastic surgery and uses his expertise with children who are ready to have their ears addressed.

Regardless of your age, ear surgery requires experience and exact precision. Be sure to use a specialist who has experience with reshaping, sizing, and positioning the ears perfectly to create a natural appearance. Your goal is to get the attention off of the ears so that the focus can be on the face--so the final result needs to be completely natural-looking.

WHAT EAR CONCERNS CAN OTOPLASTY ADDRESS?

Otoplasty surgery is done for a wide variety of reasons. There are a number of different techniques and approaches that are taken to correct the different types of concerns. Ear surgery is not the same procedure for every patient--it must be individualized for each person. Based on your specific concerns, Dr. Fisher will decide on the exact procedural steps to take.

Otoplasty can correct:

Ears that stick out from the head (corrected with a procedure called ear pinning)
Misshapen ears (resulting from a natural defect or traumatic injury)
Overly large, protruding ears
Small or underdeveloped ears
Sagging, elongated, or stretched ears or earlobes
Torn or split earlobes
Connected earlobes you would like disconnected
Disconnected earlobes you would like connected

Attractive woman with beautiful skin and nice ears

BENEFITS OF EAR SURGERY

Ear surgery includes the following procedures:

Earlobe repair
Ear pinning
Ear molding or reshaping
Ear reconstruction

Any one of these procedures can be life-changing for those who have felt their ears were a source of dissatisfaction or embarrassment, or for children, bullying. Benefits of the procedure include the following:

Provides a greater quality of life
Creates a more proportionate facial appearance
Enlarges or reconstructs small ears
Reconstructs and corrects ears that have congenital defects
Reshapes and reduces long, sagging, or prominent earlobes
Rebuilds the ear after trauma or injury
Provides a permanent correction to the ear
Rebuilds confidence and self-esteem
Is generally considered a safe surgical procedure
In many cases, requires a short recovery time

CANDIDATES FOR OTOPLASTY

Candidates for earlobe repair, ear pinning, or reconstruction are those who don’t like the shape or appearance of their ears. Ideal ear surgery candidates should meet the following requirements:

Have ear concerns that include the shape, size, prominence, or structure
Have experienced ear trauma
Are generally in good health
Do not smoke
Have fully formed ears (usually by age five)
Have realistic expectations about what this procedure can do for them

EAR SURGERY PROCEDURE DETAILS

With Dr. Fisher, ear surgery begins with a thoughtful consultation. During your consultation, Dr. Fisher will examine and evaluate your ears, discuss your concerns and aesthetic goals for your ears, and create a treatment plan to best achieve your aesthetic goals.

Your ear surgery may take less than an hour (torn earlobe or piercing correction), or a couple of hours (ear pinning, reduction, reconstruction). Depending on your condition and age, it may be done under local anesthesia in the office or with sedation at the surgery center.

Based on the surgical approach Dr. Fisher takes to address your ears, incisions will be made either on the back of the ears at the crease between the ear and head or hidden in the inner creases of the ears.

PROCEDURE TYPES

The following procedures may be done to correct your ears and help you achieve your aesthetic goals.

Earlobe Repair

An earlobe repair is done to correct torn, split, or disfigured earlobes. This procedure may redistribute tissue, close a wound, or resize the earlobe.

Ear Pinning

Ear pinning is done when the ears project or stick out from the sides of the head. This procedure removes a piece of cartilage to help flatten the ears more against your head, at a more flattering angle.

Ear Reduction

Ear reduction addresses overly large, prominent ears. Ear cartilage is trimmed down to make the ears smaller and more attractively shaped.

Ear Reconstruction

Congenital defects or too-small ears may need ear reconstruction. During the procedure, a piece of rib cartilage is used to rebuild the missing or misshapen part of the ear. Depending on the extent of the procedure, a one-night hospital stay may be required.

EAR SURGERY RECOVERY

Your ears will be supported and protected by bandages for a few days after your procedure. Don’t put any pressure on or allow any contact with the ears.

There will be bruising and swelling for 2-3 days after the surgery, which will ease by about 4-5 days. You will have mild to moderate pain, and some patients experience uncomfortable itchiness. Don’t scratch, and treat the pain and discomfort as needed with over-the-counter pain medications.

Patients will be able to return to work, school, or their other activities in a few days to a week.

WHY CHOOSE MARK FISHER PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY?

Dr. Mark Fisher is one of few surgeons with specialized fellowship training in craniofacial plastic surgery. He offers outstanding attention to detail, creating subtle, natural results. Dr. Fisher has specialized training and expertise in pediatric plastic surgery, which helps him care for children who need otoplasty, a fairly common occurrence. He is dedicated to helping patients of all ages to achieve the most ideal possible results for their ears and helping them attain a better quality of life.