Ear Surgery (Otoplasty)
Conveniently located to serve the areas of London and Manchester
For those who have had to live through bullying, the cold taunts of classmates may still echo in their ears well into adulthood. Otoplasty is a cosmetic procedure to correct protrusion or asymmetry of the auris externa (outer ear).
Protruding ears are a burdensome source of embarrassment for 2% of the population. If it goes uncorrected, the burden will last a lifetime. Large and asymmetrical ears do not correct themselves over time. Dr Riccardo Frati is London’s plastic surgeon to the stars and he wants to help you look your most fabulous.
Dr Frati’s internationally-known plastic surgery practice, Harley Surgery, is a frequent stop for jet setting models and celebrities. He has made media appearances on ITV’s This Morning, The Times, Daily Mail, The Independent, GMTV, and 10 Years Younger. His experience and training at the University of Rome have prepared him for patients from all walks of life. Dr Frati wants to create more beauty in the world by putting his sought-after services within reach of the people of London, Manchester, and throughout the UK.
Consider a private consultation with Dr Frati. Learn more by contacting Harley Surgery at 0203 633 2619 (in London) or 0161 327 2139 (in Manchester).
Contents
About Ear Surgery
Otoplasty is a surgical procedure to improve the appearance of protruding ears. Protruding ears are medically defined as an auris externa (outer ear) that pokes beyond 2cm from the head. Genetics contribute significantly to the condition. Protruding ears are an autosomal dominant trait that one can often observe recurring through the generations in a family. The condition is usually caused by an overdeveloped concha, which is the deep hollow of the outer hear near the ear canal.[1]
Uncommonly large or asymmetrical ears can be a source of embarrassment for children and adults alike. Since the condition first appears and is, indeed, treatable during youth, school-aged children make up a large portion of otoplasty patients. Many young adults, emotionally bruised by childhood bullying, also seek out cosmetic correction with ear surgery.
Should you consider ear surgery?
Why Patients Choose Otoplasty
- Their ears protrude more than 2cm from their head
- Their ears are disproportionately large in relation to other features
- Their ears sit asymmetrically on the head
Benefits
Otoplasty will improve your appearance and enhance your self-esteem. Many people endure awkward or asymmetrical ears. Fortunately, there is a safe and simple procedure at Harley Surgery that can help.
If you are a parent who is vicariously suffering through your child’s struggles with malformed ears, then it may delight you to learn that it is safe to perform otoplasty as early as 5 or 6 years-old—whenever Dr Frati can determine that the ears have stopped growing. The genetic link to protruding ears could mean that you suffered the same pains in your youth. Perhaps you or a family member would benefit from ear surgery, as well.
Stay informed of all of Harley Surgery’s potentially life-changing procedures for you and your loved ones by keeping up with our blog.
Benefits of Ear Surgery
- Their ears protrude more than 2cm from their head
- Their ears are disproportionately large in relation to other features
- Their ears sit asymmetrically on the head
Ideal Candidates
Contact Harley Surgery at 0203 633 2619 (in London) or 0161 327 2139 (in Manchester) and set up a personal consultation to see if you qualify for otoplasty.
Candidacy for ear surgery begins when the patient’s ears have stopped growing, typically between 5 and 6 years-old. This may be advantageous for parents seeking to save their child from the gibes and jeers of insensitive classmates. Adults who did have the means or the opportunity to get their ears done when they were younger may also investigate otoplasty.
Ideal candidates are bothered by how their ears stick out from their head. They want to do something about it. If you’re ready to face the music and make a change, don’t play it by ear. Consult an expert. Dr Frati is a skilled and compassionate surgeon serving the aesthetic needs of the United Kingdom with two offices in the north and south of England.
Your Personal Consultation with Dr Frati
The offices of Harley Surgery are where your transformation story begins. Your personal consultation with Dr Frati is your opportunity to share your medical history and aesthetic goals. The doctor will perform a physical examination which will likely include making measurements and taking photographs of your ears.
At your personal consultation, Dr Frati will determine your candidacy for otoplasty and set some realistic expectations for the procedure. If there are individual preparation instructions he would like you to follow, the doctor will inform you of them at this time, as well.
Otoplasty Procedure in London
Ear surgery takes about three hours. It is an outpatient procedure, so overnight hospital stays are not necessary. Adults can have the surgery performed under local anaesthesia and patients are cleared to return home within two hours of the procedure’s conclusion.
If you correctly follow your personal aftercare instructions, the benefits of otoplasty are dramatic and long-lasting.
Ear Surgery Step-by-Step
- An incision is made behind or within both ears
- Excess cartilage and skin is removed from ears by way of incision
- Sutures are used to “pin” the ears in place
- Incisions are closed and bandages are applied
Recovery
You can count on a week of downtime following your otoplasty procedure. Adults can return to light activity after 5 days; children should wait 7 days. You should avoid vigorous movement and exercise for the first month.
Dr Frati will instruct you to keep your head elevated in the initial days of your recovery. This will minimize swelling. During this time, you may also be required to wear a headband to protect your ears from injury while they heal. You can remove the headband after two weeks but Dr Frati may instruct you to wear it to bed for longer. Dr Frait recommends that you sleep on your back while you recover.
Please keep all of your follow-up appointments with the doctor. He will monitor your progress and determine if any more corrective action may be necessary.
Harley Surgery for Ear Surgery
Big or unbalanced ears have an outsized impact on your appearance. They are difficult to cover and impossible to ignore. Some adults have lived their entire lives with malformed ears until mustering the means and the will to do something about it. Some parents want to prevent trauma and bullying of their children by taking action early in their lives.
Dr Frati’s surgical skill and artistic talent have brought him renown and esteem. Beseech Harley Surgery for the best plastic surgery in the UK.
FAQ
Why do some people’s ears stick out? Are protruding ears hereditary?
The consensus medical measurement is 2cm or less—doctors consider ears that stick out farther from the sides of the head to be “protruding.” The condition is caused by malformations in the cartilage. Most commonly, otoplasty patients have a deep concha, which is the seashell-shaped hollow at the opening of the ear canal. Protruding ears are a genetically dominant trait, so heredity plays a big role in predisposing one to the condition.
Do protruding ears fix themselves?
Protruding ears are a hereditary condition that hardly ever self-correct. In fact, 30% of children who develop protruding ears were born with proportional ears that take on an undesirable orientation as growth and environmental factors begin to play their roles in activating the trait.
What is the best age for Otoplasty?
Ear surgery can be performed as soon as the ears have stopped growing, at about the age of 5 or 6. A significant number of otoplasty patients are school-aged children whose large or asymmetrical ears have become the source of negative attention from their peer group. Another noteworthy demographic is young adults in their 20s who have recently become financially independent enough to address cosmetic issues that have long been a source of embarrassment and shame.
Ear surgery does not affect one’s hearing. The procedure reshapes skin and cartilage at the outer ear, which funnels and focuses sound energy to the inner ear. Otoplasty does not alter the inner ear, which contains structures vital to balance and auditory perception.
How long does it take to recover from otoplasty?
Recovery from ear surgery is relatively quick. You can expect 5 days of downtime for adults and 7 days for children. We recommend that you keep your ears covered by a medical headband for the first two weeks after surgery. You should sleep on your back and wear a headband at night to avoid damaging your ears while you recover. Bruising and swelling should go down after several weeks. Your final results should take shape within 3-4 months.
References
- Niamtu, J. (2018). Cosmetic Otoplasty and Related Ear Surgery. Cosmetic Facial Surgery, 473–532. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-323-39393-5.00008-x
- Otoplasty. (2018, August 14). Retrieved January 6, 2020, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/otoplasty/about/pac-20394822.