Otoplasty: Cosmetic Ear Surgery

Here at Riverview Aesthetic Surgery, we perform the latest techniques in otoplasty and correction of prominent ear deformity. Many children who are born with prominent ears suffer a good deal of teasing, and lack of self confidence as they get older. Many patients do come in as young adults who just never had their prominent ears corrected. The cartilage is usually fully formed by age five, and at the age of four or five, the cartilage is malleable enough to be able to perform a procedure to pin the ears back into a more aesthetically pleasing position. The scars for an otoplasty position are small and hidden on the back side of ear. We correct the deformities of the ear that involve cartilaginous structure that is abnormal. Sometimes there's an overhanging top of the ear, or a floppy ear. Sometimes the folds of the ear are underdeveloped. Using stitches and carving out the cartilage and filing it down, we recreate a normal structure to the ear that the kids feel much more confident to look at on a daily basis. The ears get pulled back with a minimum of discomfort or tenderness. We make children feel very comfortable in the office, make sure that they don't feel pressured to have the surgery, but make sure that we perform the surgery with their needs in mind, and answer all of their questions with regard to surgery. Recovery for an otoplasty procedure takes two to three weeks, and kids return to sports after three to four week. But, they can go back to school and other activities after two weeks. For the younger babies, we offer something called the EarWell Device, where if the prominent ear deformity is caught within the first three to four weeks of life, a nonsurgical corrective device may be applied. Insurance typically covers this procedure, and the device is gentle, put on with adhesives made of a soft malleable plastic, and stays on for four to six weeks, achieving a 95% correction rate of prominent ear deformity.