II. ADJUNCTIVE PROCEDURES

II.G. Otoplasty

Ears that protrude prominently draw attention to themselves and may be a cause of distress. Otoplasty is an operation that repositions the ears to a less promi­nent position (Fig. 8).¹0 Otoplasty is often performed in patients when they are children, before they begin school, because their young classmates can be quite merciless in their teasing or taunting. Adults with prominent ears occasionally choose to have their ears repositioned as well.

Commonly referred to as "pinning back the ears," otoplasty involves an incision on the back side of the ear with removal of some skin. The cartilage of the ear is repositioned by weakening it, removing some of it, and/or suturing it, depending upon what's best for that patient's ears. Some swelling and bruising aroundthe ears is normally present after otoplasty. Generally, most patients appear quite sociably acceptable within 1-2 days after surgery because the incision is hidden behind the ear. In fact, the ears may be completely hidden if the patient's hair is long.

FIGURE 8. Otoplasty (a) preoperative, (b) postoperative. II.G. Otoplasty

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