Ear size reduction surgery, a situation commonly known as a ‘soft ear’, is a type of plastic surgery that helps improve the shape and position of the ears, making them more proportional to the face.
Although this surgery is widely used to correct cosmetic changes, it can also be done to treat congenital ear canal malformations or other ear structures to improve hearing.
- In the case of prominent ears surgery can be performed from the age of 5.
- As it is when the cartilage stops growing.
- There is no risk of the problem reappearing after surgery.
- However.
- As otoplasty is usually a very specific process for each person.
- Their need should always be evaluated with the doctor.
The value of otoplasty surgery can range from 3 to 5,000 reais, depending on the complexity of the process, the surgeon chosen and the necessary tests.Surgery can also be performed for free by SUS, however, usually only people with psychological changes caused by visual ear disturbance are considered.
Otoplasty can be performed under local anesthesia, but in most cases, it is performed under general anesthesia, especially in children, to reduce stress.After anesthesia, your surgeon will:
In some people, your doctor may also need to make cuts on the front of your ear, but in these cases, cuts are usually made under the natural folds of your ear, allowing scars to remain invisible.
The results of this type of surgery are usually almost immediate and may be seen as soon as the tape that is placed after surgery is removed.
Recovery from otoplasty in most cases lasts up to 2 weeks, but it is now possible to resume daily activities and work about 3 days later.During this period, some discomfort and pain may also occur, so it is very important to take all the mediation prescribed by the surgeon.
In addition, it is always very important to keep the tape that has been placed in the surgery and it should only be removed by the doctor during one of the check-up visits that take place during the first week, therefore avoid showering or washing your hair, since this can wet the tape, and it is recommended to wash the body only.
Although the most important recovery phase is the first two weeks, the swelling of the ears will not completely disappear until after 3 months, revealing the end result, but not very different from what can already be seen after removing the tape.
This surgery is quite safe, but like any other type of surgery, it can involve some risks such as:
In addition, there is also a risk that the ears will not be completely symmetrical or as expected, especially if the tape is removed without medical advice.In this chaos, it may be necessary to undergo a second minor surgery to correct the remaining defects.