Otoplasty is the surgical procedure that reshapes the ears (by remodelling the cartilage) and sets them back with a natural appearance. This surgery can be carried out at any age from seven years onwards, as soon as the child is troubled by it. It can put an end to teasing and other disparaging remarks. At your first consultation, Docteur Lionel SALLAZ, after listening to your wishes and motivations, will examine you carefully to confirm that an operation is appropriate and will explain it precisely. He will explain what it can realistically offer you and what it cannot correct. If the operation concerns your child, he will ensure his or her genuine motivation and expectations.
Anaesthesia-Hospitalisation The operation is usually performed under local anaesthesia with premedication (to help you relax) and without pain, but sedation may be considered in cases of very marked anxiety. It will take place in the clinic’s operating theatre, a state-of-the-art environment authorised by the Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) for the performance of cosmetic surgery procedures.
Procedure It lasts about one hour. An incision is made behind the ear. The ear cartilage is shaped, plicated and sutured. The ear is then set back with more harmonious contours. The skin is closed with an absorbable suture, which will later leave only a fine, discreet scar hidden behind the ear. A light compressive dressing (headband-type) is then applied. Admission is most often as a day case and, after a few hours' observation, the patient may return home.
Aftercare Post-operative recovery is usually straightforward and not very painful. The day after the operation the dressing will be removed and you may wash your hair. Simple care will be provided, and a sports headband (headband-type) will be worn for about a week (day and night) and then for a few more days at night only.
Risks and complications These are rare; nevertheless, although performed for primarily aesthetic reasons, an otoplasty remains a genuine surgical procedure, which entails the risks associated with any medical act, however minor. By choosing a qualified, experienced plastic surgeon trained in this type of procedure, you minimise risks as far as possible, without eliminating them completely. In practice, the vast majority of operations proceed without problem and patients are fully satisfied with their result. To limit the risk of haematoma, no medicine containing aspirin should be taken in the ten days before and after the operation. To minimise the risk of infection, patients should take pre-operative showers at home with antiseptic solutions. Should an infection occur, it would be treated with antibiotics. Despite every care taken with the sutures, the scars situated behind the pinna (outer ear) can sometimes (rare cases) become inflamed and hypertrophic, or even develop keloid formation (an excessively red, bulky scar), for which treatment remains difficult. This is related to the patient's individual scarring tendency.
Overall, the risks should not be overstated; simply be aware that a surgical procedure, even one that appears simple, always carries an element of uncertainty. Consulting a qualified plastic surgeon assures you that he or she has the training and expertise required to avoid these complications, or to treat them effectively should they arise.
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