info about ear surgery
Ear surgery or otoplasty is usually done to set prominent ears back closer to the head or to reduce the size of large ears. Ears are almost fully grown by age four, so the operation is done on children between ages of four and fourteen. Ear surgery is also possible in adults with fewer risks. You have to be clear about what and how you want your ear to be when you talk to the doctor.
Risks involved:
- When a qualified and experienced surgeon performs the ear surgery, the complications and risks involved are usually minor.
- Patients may develop a blood clot on the ear. It can dissolve naturally or it can be drawn out with a needle.
- Patients may develop an infection in the cartilage, which can cause sear tissue to form.
Planning for surgery:
The surgeon will evaluate the patient’s condition and recommend the most effective technique. Specific instructions will be given on how to prepare for the surgery as well. If the child is young, the surgery is performed with general anaesthesia so the child will sleep through the operation. For older children or adults, the surgery may be performed by using local anaesthesia combined with a sedative. The child will be awake and relaxed.
The surgery:
The surgery usually takes two or three hours depending on its difficulty. In one of the more common techniques, the surgeon makes a small incision in the back of the ear to expose the ear cartilage. Then the surgeon will sculpt the cartilage and bend it back towards the head. The stitches which are non removable may be used to help maintain the new shape. Sometimes, a large piece of the cartilage is removed to give a more natural looking fold when the surgery is complete. In another technique, a similar incision is made in the back of the ear. Skin is removed and stitches are used to fold the cartilage back on itself to reshape the ear without removing cartilage. The surgery will leave a faint sear in the back of the ear, which will fade with time.
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Posted by Denz
on Oct 11 2009. Filed under medical ideas.
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