Prominent Ear Correction

This leaflet is about you or your child’s operation.  Please read as it will help to give you an idea of what to expect during your hospital stay and afterwards.  It also identifies some of the possible complications, although obviously this is not a comprehensive list.  If you have any questions please ask.

PROMINENT EAR CORRECTION (OTOPLASTY)

You are being admitted for a prominent ear correction operation.  In this operation the ear cartilage is folded back to allow the ear to sit in a less prominent position. To gain access to the ear cartilage an incision is made behind the ear.

The operation is usually performed after the age of 5 or 6 when the child may become embarrassed or withdrawn because of perceived difference from his/her classmates.  The operation is performed under local anaesthetic in adults and general anaesthetic in children.  For general anaesthetic the anaesthetist will see you and your child before the operation.  Discuss any queries you have about the anaesthetic with the anaesthetist.  If your child has had any difficulties during a general anaesthetic in the past make sure that both the anaesthetist and the ward doctor know about it.

There will be a scar behind the ear almost the full length of the ear.  This may be visible from behind.  Scars start off red and noticeable.  With time they tend to fade.  They will never vanish and in some people remain noticeable.

After the operation the ears are dressed in a large protective head bandage.  This stays on for a week and is then removed in the clinic.  After it is removed the ears remain tender for a week or two and contact sports or situations where they may be bumped should be avoided.  Some people feel comfortable with a soft head band over the ears to sleep for a while, usually about three weeks.

Initially the ears are bruised and swollen.  It takes about three weeks for the bruising to settle.  The swelling will not be completely gone for three months or more.

Any operation can give problems with infection or bleeding.  Simple infections settle on a course of antibiotics.  Some infections require treatment in theatre.  Bleeding is not unusual after this operation.  Most often padding the head bandage or redoing the head bandage is all that is required.  Occasionally a blood clot forms under the skin.  This has to be drained and may need to be dealt with in theatre.  Severe infections or blood clot against the ear cartilage can permanently damage ear cartilage leaving an ear deformity.  This condition is rare.

It is possible for the springiness of the ear cartilage to cause the ear prominence to recur.  If this happens a second operation may be necessary to correct the prominent ear satisfactorily.

Elaine Sassoon, AB Hons (Harvard University),
FRCS(Ed & Eng), 
MB BS (University College Hospital Medical School),
FRCS(Plast)
Diploma in Aesthetic and Oculoplastic Surgery
GASPAR ANASTASI Award, Aesthetic Society (USA) 2000

Appointments available at:

BUPA Hospital, Hill House Consulting Rooms,
Old Watton Road,
Norwich, NR4 7TD

&

Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital,
Colney Lane,
Norwich, NR4 7UY

Contact Information

Telephone / Appointments

 

Pauline Osborne (+44) 01603 279805

 

FAX

(+44) 01603 279805

 

Postal address

 

Hill House Consulting Rooms BUPA Hospital, Old Watton Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TD

 

Electronic mail

 

 pauline@the-coach-house.fsnet.co.uk
 

Send mail to ian@osborneweb.co.uk with questions or comments about this web site.