Also called ear surgery, is the procedure that allows correcting not only the size but also the shape of the same, with the purpose of transforming it into an anatomically proportioned, symmetrical ear with a very natural appearance and profile.
The most frequent are those patients with “prominent or standing”, generally due to alterations in the form of the same ones, just as many people wish to correct the lobe of the ear or even to reconstruct them after trauma or traction due to the use of very heavy earrings. Although small procedures do not make them less important and can be performed in isolation or in the same surgery.
It is important to emphasize that this surgical procedure does not improve the patient’s hearing, but their self-esteem.

Are you a good candidate?
Any person, regardless of sex, who is dissatisfied with the appearance of the ears and disproportion with the head, or if you are the object of ridicule received by schoolmates for having large ears, can be considered a good candidate for otoplasty which will restore confidence in itself.
It is recommended to practice it in children from the age of 7, at which time the total development of the adult ear has already been completed and coincides with the age before entering school. Anyone in good health with dissatisfaction of ear shape and size will benefit from this procedure.

Anesthesia and Surgical Times
For greater patients’ comfort in children it is carried out under general anesthesia while in adults it is performed with local anesthesia plus sedation, having as average time the procedure between 1 to 2 hours.

Incisions and scars
The incision is made behind the ear at the level of the fold of the same, passing unnoticed and imperceptible, and through which the cartilage is weakened or approximated by stitches, which allows to modify its shape, restoring or maintaining normal grooves and angles.

Hospitalization time
It is a procedure that is managed on an outpatient basis, and can be discharged once the residual effects of anesthesia have passed, typically 3-6 hours later.
Postoperative Care
The patient should rest relative, eat normally according to the tolerance of the same and drink plenty of fluids, take the prescribed drugs as directed and daily cleaning of the wound.
Strong activities should be avoided for at least the first 15 days after surgery.

Recovery and time
After the procedure, the patient will maintain a bandage at the level of the ears for about 3 to 5 days, after which it will be removed and replaced by bands or tennis tapes to be used for 2 weeks, which will keep the ears next to the head and at the same time prevent the patient to sleep on sides as some movement hurts them. All the sutures is removed 8 days after the intervention.
On average we can say that the recovery time is approximately 8 days, and our patient can return to their daily activities a week or even earlier.

Risks
Ear surgery like any other plastic surgery procedure involves risks, however the complications are usually minimal, and can be: infection, hematoma formation, or even alterations in healing. Therefore, and in order to decrease the frequency of their appearance, it is suggested to follow all indications both before and after surgery.