Ear Pinning FAQs
Otoplasty, or Ear Pinning, is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in children and adults alike.
Here are the most common questions people have about this procedure.
Will I Need to Spend The Night In Hospital? An overnight stay in hospital is not usually required for a straight-forward ear pinning procedure.
The procedure is normally performed in an outpatients' surgery and the majority of patients get to go home a few hours after the surgery is completed.
If you do need to stay overnight, your surgeon will let you know beforehand.
What Will Happen After The Procedure? Soft dressings are applied to the ears where they must remain for a few days.
Your surgeon will let you know exactly how long you need this for.
You will probably be prescribed painkillers for the first couple of days afterwards.
Your sleep pattern may be disrupted as you are unable to put pressure on the ears for about a week after surgery.
In some cases, headbands are given to patients to wear for two weeks to help keep the ears in their new position.
If you can manage to wear the headband while working, then you can probably return to your job quickly as well.
However, your surgeon will let you know how much time you may need before returning to work or school.
Will I have Scars? There are usually no visible scars as the incision is behind the ear, where it remains hidden.
Also, the procedure does not affect your hearing as usually it's only the outer part of the ear that is treated.
The inner workings aren't touched.
If there is any unusual scarring or difficulty with hearing, report this to your surgeon immediately.
You should be fully recovered in a few weeks, but care must be taken for some months afterwards.
Infection is always a possibility if ears are not cleaned correctly, so hygiene is extremely important.
Also, bending the ears forward in the first few months after surgery can destroy even the best performed procedures, so it's crucially important to follow your surgeon's instructions rigorously.
Is My Child A Suitable Candidate? You child will usually need to be four years or older, at least old enough for the ears to have reached their full size.
Your child must also be in general good health and any history of scarring problems, such as keloids, must be discussed with your surgeon as this might compromise the outcome of the surgery.
There are other factors that need to be taken into consideration as well, something which your surgeon will go into detail on during your consultation.
What Are The Risks? The risks are minimal, but as with any surgery it's important to note that there are risks involved.
Scarring, bleeding, infection and adverse reaction to the anaesthetic are the most common problems.
In some cases, a second procedure is necessary to remove permanent stitches that have come loose and made their way towards the surface of the skin.
Fortunately though, these are rare complications and most otoplasty procedures are a complete success.
These are the most commonly asked questions but as each patient is different and can react differently to the procedure, make sure you discuss any of your concerns fully with your surgeon.
Here are the most common questions people have about this procedure.
Will I Need to Spend The Night In Hospital? An overnight stay in hospital is not usually required for a straight-forward ear pinning procedure.
The procedure is normally performed in an outpatients' surgery and the majority of patients get to go home a few hours after the surgery is completed.
If you do need to stay overnight, your surgeon will let you know beforehand.
What Will Happen After The Procedure? Soft dressings are applied to the ears where they must remain for a few days.
Your surgeon will let you know exactly how long you need this for.
You will probably be prescribed painkillers for the first couple of days afterwards.
Your sleep pattern may be disrupted as you are unable to put pressure on the ears for about a week after surgery.
In some cases, headbands are given to patients to wear for two weeks to help keep the ears in their new position.
If you can manage to wear the headband while working, then you can probably return to your job quickly as well.
However, your surgeon will let you know how much time you may need before returning to work or school.
Will I have Scars? There are usually no visible scars as the incision is behind the ear, where it remains hidden.
Also, the procedure does not affect your hearing as usually it's only the outer part of the ear that is treated.
The inner workings aren't touched.
If there is any unusual scarring or difficulty with hearing, report this to your surgeon immediately.
You should be fully recovered in a few weeks, but care must be taken for some months afterwards.
Infection is always a possibility if ears are not cleaned correctly, so hygiene is extremely important.
Also, bending the ears forward in the first few months after surgery can destroy even the best performed procedures, so it's crucially important to follow your surgeon's instructions rigorously.
Is My Child A Suitable Candidate? You child will usually need to be four years or older, at least old enough for the ears to have reached their full size.
Your child must also be in general good health and any history of scarring problems, such as keloids, must be discussed with your surgeon as this might compromise the outcome of the surgery.
There are other factors that need to be taken into consideration as well, something which your surgeon will go into detail on during your consultation.
What Are The Risks? The risks are minimal, but as with any surgery it's important to note that there are risks involved.
Scarring, bleeding, infection and adverse reaction to the anaesthetic are the most common problems.
In some cases, a second procedure is necessary to remove permanent stitches that have come loose and made their way towards the surface of the skin.
Fortunately though, these are rare complications and most otoplasty procedures are a complete success.
These are the most commonly asked questions but as each patient is different and can react differently to the procedure, make sure you discuss any of your concerns fully with your surgeon.
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