Earlobe Pinning
Length of Surgery
30 mins
Earlobe Pinning
Short and
Sweet
Price Range
Please inquire
Earlobe surgery, also known as Otoplasty, is a surgical procedure performed on individuals with prominent ears to set the ears backwards by suturing the cartilagenous portion closer to the head.
Summary of Surgery:
Otoplasty
Alternative names:
Local Anesthesia
Type of Anesthesia:
3-5 days off from work
2-4 weeks before resuming strenuous physical activity
Recovery Period:
What is Earlobe Surgery
(Otoplasty)?
Ear pinning, known as otoplasty, is a surgical procedure that adjusts protruding ears so that they rest closer to the head. This decreases the profile of the patient which patients often find aesthetically more pleasing. This procedure also offers potential safety benefits for people that work in professions or engage in hobbies where their protruded ears can causes obstruction to the hobby or their work (i.e. protruding ears that interfere with putting on safety helmets).
Suitable Candidates
Like the majority of surgeries, candidates for ear pinning surgery should be non-smokers and in overall good health. In general, people that are unhappy with the aesthetic positioning of their ears, either because of how far they protrude or because they are in some way mismatched, make good candidates for this type of surgical procedure.
If you are unhappy with the way your ears look, you should schedule a consultation with Dr. Chivers. He will be able to provide you with complete information on how ear pinning surgery can change the way you look and whether it is the most appropriate procedure to provide the outcome you desire.
Procedural Details
Ear pinning surgery is a simple cosmetic surgery procedure that is offered at the Canadian Plastic Surgery Centre in Toronto. This procedure is typically performed in the minor surgery clinic under local anesthesia. During the procedure, a small incision is made behind your ears and the shape of the cartilage is altered so that it can be positioned closer to the head with the use of permanent sutures. The scars are typically hidden by the ears and the patients hair.
Recovery
Recovery from an ear pinning procedure is very short as the procedure is typically always performed under local anesthetic as a day surgery. Patients are able to return home shortly after the procedure and will need to wear a bandage that holds the ears tightly against their head for the first week at all times. After the first week, bandages will only need to be worn at night for about 3 months times. Light activities can generally be resumed the following day, including returning to work but strenuous exercises should be avoided for 3-4 weeks time. Pain during recovery is low and easily manageable with over-the-counter pain killers.
Post-Operative Instructions at a Glance
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Post-operative pain is typically mild to moderate and over-the-counter medications can be used for pain control.
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Polysporin can be applied lightly across the stitches 1-2 times a day for the first week.
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Patients are able to walk the day after surgery.
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Incisions are to be kept dry for the first 2 days after surgery and patients can shower and wash their incisions afterwards.
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Patients are able to return to light duties at work typically after 1-2 days.
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Sutures are trimmed within 10-14 days.
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Patients are able to resume full activities and to exercise after 4 weeks.
