Protruding ears - Otoplasty

The course of otoplasty

Ear surgery is performed in most cases under local anesthesia and takes approximately 1 hour. The principle of the procedure is to restore the correct angle between the cartilage segments of the auricle that are incorrectly positioned relative to each other. In the most commonly performed procedure—ear pinning—the incision is made in the fold behind the ear. The resulting scar is very discreet and hidden from normal view. In the retroauricular area, excess skin is first removed, followed by preparation and release of the auricular cartilage. If the incorrect positioning of the ears is also associated with deformities of the auricular contour, cartilage reshaping is performed as well.

Postoperative care

Immediately after surgery, the patient’s head is wrapped in an elastic bandage padded with cotton. The ears may be significantly painful during the first few days after surgery; this can be alleviated with pain-relieving medication. Children generally tolerate the postoperative course well, as the soft and flexible cartilage of children’s ears causes less pain.
During the first days after ear surgery, the patient should ideally sleep on their back to prevent more pronounced lateral swelling and the associated discomfort. Physical exertion is also not recommended. The first dressing change is usually performed on the second day after surgery, with another approximately one week later. About 12 days after otoplasty, the head bandage is removed and the sutures behind the ears are taken out. The patient can then gradually return to normal daily activities.
After removing the bandage, it is necessary to wash the hair, which should then be washed daily for several days, preferably with a mild baby shampoo. For the next 2–3 weeks, increased caution is required, and we recommend securing the ears at night with a scarf, bandage, or headband. For one month, the ears must be protected from injury and participation in contact sports should be avoided. During winter months, exposure to cold should be avoided. In summer, swimming in public pools or ponds is not recommended.
Full return to physical and sporting activities is recommended only after 2 months following ear surgery, once the wound has healed sufficiently. For 3 months after surgery, sun exposure of the face and ears is not recommended.