Otoplasty is surgery of the ear and it covers a wide range of corrective procedures. It is a particularly common procedure, called ear pinning, for children to correct protruding ears. But, it is also reconstructive if there is a birth defect or injury caused by some trauma to the ear.
The ears sit prominently on the head and are very difficult to always keep them hidden with hair or hats. This leads to less socialization and a feeling of self-consciousness in public. Surgery can correct this, but you need to know the risks to decide if it is worth it.
Some of the more common risks that go along with any version of otoplasty:
* Blood clots-A common surgical risk is the formation of blood clots. If this occurs in the ear, it may dissolve on its own. If it doesn't, the surgeon can remove the clot with a syringe.
* Hearing loss-For simple ear pinning, this is not a risk. Though very rare, with major reconstructions that involve the auditory canal, there is a slim chance of losing your hearing. It is so rare that this risk should not be a deterrent to reconstructive surgery.
* Overcorrection-Because he can't look at both ears at the same time, it makes it a little more difficult to create the exact same look on both sides. It could also happen that the ears are positioned too close to the head or not enough. With reconstruction, they may not look as natural or as normal as they should. Simply getting the shape wrong could also happen. A skilled surgeon knows the intricacies of working with the ear and he has trained to avoid overcorrecting.
* Infection-Infection of the incision site is always a risk with surgery, but infection in the cartilage is also a possibility. Scar tissue may then form and additional surgery is required to remove it. Otherwise, the ear will still look malformed because of the scar tissue.
* Sutures loosen-This is a problem with young children who are rowdy and rough after surgery. It is very important to explain that they need to take it easy and to monitor their play until the ear has healed. If the sutures loosed early, the area will bounce back to its original position.
If you are thinking of otoplasty to correct or reconstruct an ear or your child's ear be sure to go to the right surgeon. Make sure he is board certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Specialization in this particular surgery is even better because of the delicate nature of the procedures especially if an extensive reconstruction is needed.
Whatever problem needs to be fixed, otoplasty can bring your child out of his shell and make anyone feel better about her appearance.
Author Resource:-
Ear surgery, or otoplasty, New York surgeon says is done to set prominent ears back closer to the head or to reduce the size of large ears. It is done on children between the ages of four and 14. To learn more about the procedure, visit http://www.drzevon.com
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