FACIAL PLASTIC SURGEON VIRGINIA
Otoplasty
Dr. V helps patients correct prominent or misshapen ears to achieve improved facial balance, restored confidence, and naturally proportionate results.
Otoplasty
Dr. V helps patients correct prominent or misshapen ears to achieve improved facial balance, restored confidence, and naturally proportionate results.
FACIAL PLASTIC SURGEON VIRGINIA
What Can Otoplasty Address
Otoplasty is a surgical ear procedure designed to enhance the cosmetic appearance of the ears, thereby improving the symmetry, balance, and aesthetic appeal of the entire face. Both children and adults are prospective candidates for ear contouring surgery, although children should be at least 4-6 years old at the time of surgery in order to ensure that the structures of the ear have completely formed.
Otoplasty procedures often address problems stemming from congenital or injury-related structural abnormalities that have impacted one or both ears, such as:
- Misshapen ear cartilage
- Overly large ears (macrotia)
- Protruding ears - ear protrusion may present unilaterally (one ear) or bilaterally (both ears)
- Ear deformities resulting from trauma, injury, or genetics
- Ear malformations caused by a previous ear surgery
Dr. V's Real Patient Results
Explore our gallery of otoplasty patient photos to see the transformative, natural-looking results Dr. V has achieved.
The Otoplasty Procedure
Your otoplasty procedure will be performed in an outpatient setting, under a local anesthetic, IV sedation, or general anesthesia, and typically lasts between 1-2 hours. During your surgery, Dr. V will utilize a combination of cartilage scoring (cutting) and cartilage sparing techniques to reshape and reposition the ear cartilage, taking great care to ensure that the final outcome is very natural and avoids the tell-tale "pinned back" appearance. She will make small, inconspicuous incisions within the crease behind the ear, and will then use sutures to fold the ear cartilage back to a more aesthetically desirable position. When necessary, Dr. V will fortify the antihelical fold (located on the inner rim of the ear), and will carefully remove any excess conchal cartilage and skin before closing the incisions.
Ear Surgery Recovery
While every individual recovers at a unique pace, most patients are able to return to work or school 1-2 weeks after their otoplasty procedure, although it is advisable to refrain from intense physical activity for an additional 4-6 weeks. Dr. V will prescribe pain medication to alleviate any discomfort, in addition to an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. The original surgical dressing should remain in place for 24-36 hours after surgery—children may need to be monitored during this time to ensure that the dressing is not removed. Visible improvements in the shape and position of the ears will be apparent at the one-week follow-up appointment, and these results will continue to progress over the next four to six weeks, as any residual swelling abates.
The Otoplasty Procedure
Your otoplasty procedure will be performed in an outpatient setting, under a local anesthetic, IV sedation, or general anesthesia, and typically lasts between 1-2 hours. During your surgery, Dr. V will utilize a combination of cartilage scoring (cutting) and cartilage sparing techniques to reshape and reposition the ear cartilage, taking great care to ensure that the final outcome is very natural and avoids the tell-tale "pinned back" appearance. She will make small, inconspicuous incisions within the crease behind the ear, and will then use sutures to fold the ear cartilage back to a more aesthetically desirable position. When necessary, Dr. V will fortify the antihelical fold (located on the inner rim of the ear), and will carefully remove any excess conchal cartilage and skin before closing the incisions.
Ear Surgery Recovery
While every individual recovers at a unique pace, most patients are able to return to work or school 1-2 weeks after their otoplasty procedure, although it is advisable to refrain from intense physical activity for an additional 4-6 weeks. Dr. V will prescribe pain medication to alleviate any discomfort, in addition to an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. The original surgical dressing should remain in place for 24-36 hours after surgery—children may need to be monitored during this time to ensure that the dressing is not removed. Visible improvements in the shape and position of the ears will be apparent at the one-week follow-up appointment, and these results will continue to progress over the next four to six weeks, as any residual swelling abates.
The Otoplasty Procedure
Your otoplasty procedure will be performed in an outpatient setting, under a local anesthetic, IV sedation, or general anesthesia, and typically lasts between 1-2 hours. During your surgery, Dr. V will utilize a combination of cartilage scoring (cutting) and cartilage sparing techniques to reshape and reposition the ear cartilage, taking great care to ensure that the final outcome is very natural and avoids the tell-tale "pinned back" appearance. She will make small, inconspicuous incisions within the crease behind the ear, and will then use sutures to fold the ear cartilage back to a more aesthetically desirable position. When necessary, Dr. V will fortify the antihelical fold (located on the inner rim of the ear), and will carefully remove any excess conchal cartilage and skin before closing the incisions.
Ear Surgery Recovery
While every individual recovers at a unique pace, most patients are able to return to work or school 1-2 weeks after their otoplasty procedure, although it is advisable to refrain from intense physical activity for an additional 4-6 weeks. Dr. V will prescribe pain medication to alleviate any discomfort, in addition to an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. The original surgical dressing should remain in place for 24-36 hours after surgery—children may need to be monitored during this time to ensure that the dressing is not removed. Visible improvements in the shape and position of the ears will be apparent at the one-week follow-up appointment, and these results will continue to progress over the next four to six weeks, as any residual swelling abates.