Questions and Answers about Otoplasty

How long does Ear surgery take, and what type of anesthesia is used?
Otoplasty takes approximately 1 hour per ear, depending on the complexity of the ear abnormality. Most patients have general anesthesia and bilateral Otoplasty is performed as an outpatient surgery at Primera Surgery Center.

Is there a lot of pain afterwards and how long will it last?
Otoplasty is not painful and is associated with mild discomfort. I typically use a long-acting anesthetic to relieve pain following the surgery which wears off 8-12 hours later. There is some discomfort the first night after surgery due to the head dressing, but it is tolerable.  The head wrap is removed in the office 2 days after the surgery which allows for substantial relief from pressure.

What are the expectations?

Patients can expect temporary swelling and bruising of the ears, which lasts approximately 7 days. The results of the procedure are permanent, however, patients must wear a sports style headband during sleep for the first 2 weeks following surgery. Care must be taken to avoid injuring the ears during sleep, play, wrestling, removing motorcycle helmets, or removing tight fitting shirts over the head.

What type of anesthesia do you use for Otoplasty in Orlando/ Lake Mary?
Most commonly general anesthesia.

Is this an outpatient procedure?
Yes. Otoplasty is an Outpatient procedure at Primera Surgery Center for patients age 14 years and older.

Where are the stitches and when are they removed?

There are NO stitches to remove and I hide the incision behind the ears, which results in a completely hidden line.  I typically use dissolving suture so there is nothing to remove at the 1 week post-op visit.

What are the common side effects?
Temporary swelling, bruising around the ears, and discomfort. Some drainage and bleeding may occur from the wounds. Numbness is common and resolves in 2-3 months.

What are the risks of Ear Surgery?
Infection, asymmetry, scarring, re-protrusion of the ear (usually due to popped stitch or trauma), revision surgery, or unnatural appearance of ears (rare).

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