Otoplasty or the bending back of prominent ears as well as rhinoplasty for the improvement of the nose are very common and sought-after procedures in plastic surgery. Like anything else in medicine, we first begin with the diagnosis if the diagnosis is accurate then the designed operative procedure should be beneficial and correct.
The ears achieve their maximum adult size and configuration in the prepubertal stage of life. The nose however requires completion of puberty before it can be viewed as have reached its adult size and configuration. Therefore, ear surgery can be performed at an earlier stage perhaps 8 to 10-year-old. The procedure requires general anesthesia. And, depending upon the issue present several different techniques and procedures are utilized to reduce the prominence of the ear cup. For example, set it back closer to the head and the creation of the normal folds of the ear.
Otoplasty
Postoperatively, head dressing is a requirement to minimize the chance of undoing the procedure during sleep. Dressing is worn for a week and then a headband to hold ears in during bedtime. There will be sutures behind the ear that will be required to be removed at some point in the postoperative period.
The nose however is a different story with respect to anatomic maturation. The rule of thumb for rhinoplasty for females is two years following the first menstrual cycle. For boys I prefer to wait until they’re 18 as they may continue to mature in late puberty.
Most patients who seek rhinoplasty can identify a period around 10 to 12 years old when they begin the notice that they do not like the nose. The otoplasty Patient usually is bothered by bullying and ridicule from classmates. Both procedures when done for the right reasons can be performed under general anesthesia as outpatient. It’s recommended that patients examine before-and-after galleries to get an idea of what services we offer.
THOMAS TREVISANI, MD
BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON
MEMBER AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AESTHETIC PLASTIC SURGERY
