Risks and Benefits of Otoplasty (Ear Pinning) - What You Ought to Know

Otoplasty is a cosmetic surgery that can correct imperfections of the ear like enlarged lobes, non-symmetrical ears, protruding ears, antonia, microtia, and reshape ears to a client's preference who is just simply displeased with their appearance. With any cosmetic surgery, there are benefits as well as risk involved. Anyone considering receiving cosmetic surgery should be as informed of the risk as well as the benefits.

Benefits of Otoplasty
Otoplasty surgery can help both young and old have a newfound gain in self-esteem. Ear deformities, especially in children can become a target for the less caring children resulting in the child being ridiculed and teased. Children as young as four years old can have otoplasty surgery performed as the ears are fully developed by this age. This saves many school years of ridicule and teasing. The younger the patient is the more pliable the cartilage is which makes for easier manipulation and excellent results in otoplasty.

This does not mean that the adult patient cannot benefit form otoplasty and receive the same excellent results as long as postoperative care is followed closely. Older patients heal slower and do not have the parent keeping them from partaking in activities that are not productive in the healing of the surgery.

Otoplasty surgery gives the patient back the choice of how they want to wear their hair. Prior to surgery, many with ear deformities wear their hair in one style in order to hide the deformity. With otoplasty, the need to hide behind the hair is eliminated giving the patient a newfound freedom.

Risks of Otoplasty
With any surgery, there are risks and otoplasty is no different. There is always a risk of an adverse reaction to the anesthesia. If you are prone to have adverse effect to anesthesia, otoplasty may not be for you. Make sure you discuss this with your surgeon prior to setting any date.
Other complications can be:
• Infection in incision site(s) or in cartilage area
• Hematoma and seromas
• Asymmetry where ears do not match.
• Visible excessive scarring.
• Incomplete correction of prominent ears
• Overcorrection of a prominent ear
• Chondritis, a severe infection in the cartilage that may require drainage and debridement of infected cartilage. Proper postoperative care along with the appropriate antibiotics and drainage can prevent Chondritis.
• Loss of correction after otoplasty due to poor postoperative care, suture breakage, or poor suture placement.
• Patients risk increase with those who smoke or have health problems such as diabetes, or are overweight.

For more information on liposuction and tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) or facelift and rhinoplasty (nose job), it is important to locate a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania plastic surgery office to schedule a consultation.