Otoplasty Archives - The Manchester Private Hospital

Does Ear Pinning Work And Is It Successful Long Term?

For many people, they don't think twice about the way their ears look. But to some, the ears is all they focus on.

Despite being small in comparison to the overall size of a person's body, the ears play a crucial and influential role in not only our outer selves, but inner selves too.

People with misshapen or protruding ears notice every millimetre of their ears and as little as a 1cm can be the difference between ears that look proportionate to their head and ears that stick out.

For many years, the method used to combat sticking out ears is 'ear pinning' - also known as otoplasty.

Cosmetic surgeons can reshape or pin the ears so that they do not stick out as much. This is achieved by repositioning the ear to a 'better' position and held in place with stitches.

If the patient does not require a change in the size of the ear, then cartilage within the ear would not need to be removed or reshaped and the procedure would be carried out with just ear pinning on its own.

The procedure takes between one to two hours to perform and the results can truly be life changing.

Not only can it change the appearance of your face and overall look, but it can also positively impact the mind and open up doors of opportunity to new hairstyles, socialising and boost confidence.

The good news is that otoplasty results are permanent, especially when the procedure is performed in adulthood.

Once the ear has grown to its full size, it is unlikely that any natural changes will occur to ears. Therefore, the post surgery look achieved after your operation will be one that can last a life time.

Here are a few points about otoplasty that you can bear in mind when considering this surgical procedure:

1. Otoplasty can be performed at any age with good results.

When a child reaches the age of 5, their ears are over 80% developed. This means that any age beyond this will see little change it how the ears look. Ear pinning and other procedures can be performed at any age with good results.

2. There is little pain.

Unlike some other surgeries, otoplasty is known for causing little pain.

Procedures are performed under anaesthetic, which means no pain is felt during the procedure and only minimal pain during recovery that can be managed with painkillers.

3. Perfect asymmetry is rare

The ears in general are not symmetrical and will always have minor differences in their projection and size. Whilst surgery can make ears be as close as possible to each other, they will never be exactly the same. The natural folds and contours will always be slightly different even if you do not undergo surgery.

4. Full recovery takes a couple of months.

Some people are misinformed on otoplasty procedures and the after-care involved. Some online communities mention that recovery can take as little as days and weeks. However, full recovery and results will take a couple of months. Following surgery, patients will be required to wear a bandage around their head - covering the ears - for up to one week. After this the bandages can be removed but a headband is required both day and night for up to one month, then at night only for another month after.

5. Whilst results are permanent, stitches can undo.

In most cases, ear pinning results are permanent. However, in some minority cases a stitch can come undone and require a follow up procedure to correct it.

6. Avoid high contact activities.

High contact activities and sports such as wrestling, grappling and mixed martial arts can have a negative impact on the ears post surgery and patients risk their stitches coming out when engaging in such activities.

7. Ensure you choose the right surgeon.

Due to the intricate nature of the procedure, otoplasty is a highly skilled procedure that takes years of training and experience to perfect. It's important to research your surgeon and arrange a consultation so that you can view before and after photos of past ear correction procedures they have performed. Every millimetre counts. For more details about otoplasty, please visit: https://manchesterprivatehospital.com/cosmetic-surgery/ear-correction/

Otoplasty Is A Popular Cosmetic Surgery Procedure

In the United Kingdom, cosmetic surgeons all over the country are seeing a rise in the number of people undergoing otoplasty.

Whilst the general public have always favoured procedures such as boob jobs, lip surgery and butt lifts, the last 10 years has seen steady growth in a completely different body part - the ears.

Otoplasty, which includes pinning back the ears, has dramatically risen in the number of surgical procedures being performed.

Whilst once limited to children with symptoms that affected their hearing, the surgery has consistently become one of the most common in the UK for adults who are unhappy with the way their ears look.

The Effects of Protruding Ears

Being unhappy with a body part can make people feel self conscious, lack in confidence, become anxious and even suffer depression because of the way they look.

Having protruding ears can sometimes be more problematic in men, due to the fact that the average hair cut for a man does not 'hide' or cover the ears.

Whereas women can hide features more easily such as using their long hair to cover ears that stick out.

For this very reason, otoplasty has become one of the most popular cosmetic procedures amongst men and is in the top list of surgeries overall, along with rhinoplasty, liposuction and facelifts.

Why Otoplasty Procedures Have Risen

One of the reasons why ear correction surgery has risen in popularity is because the procedure became more readily available and more affordable in recent years.

When cosmetic otoplasty came on to the scene, it was very limited on where it was available and expensive.

However, when the costs of procedures decreased and more clinics were able to offer the surgery, the word spread.

Now in 2018 there are a lot more people choosing this surgical procedure and each year the numbers are rising.

Maybe the way in which society has evolved has also played a part.

Many people are very sensitive about their features and appearance, especially as more photos are taken due to the selfie generation.

In addition, due to this increase in technology, such as social media, it is very easy to get offended by a back handed comment and insults are something that can run deep and stick around for a very long time.

Furthermore, once a high profile or semi-high profile figure has undergone surgery, they speak about it online and in magazines. This also brings more awareness and gives the impression to others who may have doubts that things don't have to be the way they are. And things can change for the better, thus improving self confidence and reducing anxiety.

About Otoplasty in the UK

People of all adult ages can undergo ear correction surgery.

However, as we age, changes naturally occur in our body, such as hair loss, which makes camouflaging protruding ears more difficult.

For those considering correction surgery, should know that it is a relatively simple procedure that involves a number of different techniques, such as stitches, tissue removal and cartilage scoring.

Overall the surgery can take around one hour to perform on both ears and in some cases does not require general anaesthetic.

General anaesthetic was a contributing factor to why many people were discouraged from having the procedure.

However, some patients can now be treated using local anaesthetic and treated as an out-patient, with no overnight hospital stay required.

The cosmetic surgery industry is no longer dominated by women.

More and more men are opting for surgery in modern times, from liposuction to ear correction and the trend does not show any signs of slowing going in to 2019.

Pick up the phone and give us a call for a friendly chat about otoplasty and get all your questions answered.

There's no better way than to speak direct with a specialist who can advise you personally on your individual circumstances and the options that you would be an ideal candidate for.

Put the negative thoughts and insults to the back of your mind and understand that just because you may feel the way you do, doesn't mean you should, especially not for the rest of your life. For more details about otoplasty, please visit: https://manchesterprivatehospital.com/cosmetic-surgery/ear-correction/

Myth Busting Otoplasty

Being a child or adult with protruding ears can be tough.

Often children grow up with some experience of being bullied because of the way their ears look.

This then has a negative impact on adult life and can make people feel self conscious about their appearance.

Being self conscious also leads to low self confidence and low self esteem.

Some people are affected so badly that they feel the need to cover up their ears on a daily basis.

Many men and women hide their ears with headwear such as hats, headbands, jewellery such as large ear-rings, and their hair.

Feeling self conscious about your ears can also dictate what type of hairstyle you opt for at the salon / barbers and limits what you can do in terms of how you look, such as constantly wearing your hair down.

Otoplasty is a surgical procedure that can take away these negative feelings and give people a new lease of life.

However, there are many myths surrounding ear correction surgery that puts people off.

The result of this is that they continue to feel self conscious and miserable.

Here are some common myths that surround the procedure, which we are keen to bust.

Myth 1 - Otoplasty is a complex procedure.

Many people are scared by the thought of 'messing with their ears' because of the complex surgery involved.

However, otoplasty can actually be a simple procedure with a short recovery time and high success rate.

Depending on your circumstances, sometimes all that is needed is some straight forward 'pinning' to stop the ears from sticking out.

Myth 2 - Otoplasty is very painful.

As with all surgical procedures, there are variations in how much pain a patient will feel during the recovery stage of otoplasty.

However, surgery is performed under general anaesthetic, or local anaesthetic in some cases, and recovery is relatively painless.

Mild pain and discomfort can be managed with simple painkillers, but patients in most cases do not experience lots of pain.

Myth 3 - Otoplasty won't change my mood.

Whilst this is a difficult point to measure, as each person has different personalities and emotions, otoplasty does have a high success rate.

This includes both how the surgery corrects the protruding ears and how the patient feels post surgery.

A number of studies have been performed, including those on children, that show a majority increase in happiness and self confidence following an otoplasty procedure.

Myth 4 - My protruding ears might correct themselves.

Unfortunately, ears reach the majority of their adult size (around 80%) by the time a child is 5 years old.

Therefore, even as a young adult your ears will be how they look now and in the future.

However, it is also true that growing in height and putting on weight may alter your appearance and make parts of your body more proportionate.

But overall, otoplasty is usually the only way to permanently fix protruding ears.

Myth 5 - Otoplasty takes years for results to show.

Whilst there are a number of different procedures available for ear correction, including some being more extensive than others, patients usually see their full results of surgery within a maximum time frame of 12 months.

However, results will be noticeable within 2 weeks and if there is swelling, a large percentage of it will subside within 6 weeks.

Myth 6 - Otoplasty requires a lengthy hospital stay.

The majority of patients undergoing ear correction surgery spend a maximum of 1 day in hospital depending on the extent of their procedure.

However, most patients return home the same day. This mean that the surgery is performed as a day case and after observation post surgery, patients can return home for rest and recovery.

If you or someone close to you is seriously considering otoplasty but has doubts and hesitations, the best way to get answers to questions is to speak with an expert.

Arranging a consultation for otoplasty will allow you the opportunity to not only find out more about the procedure, but receive advice that is specifically tailored towards you.

It is important that you obtain all the necessary information so that you can make an informed decision on whether or not to proceed with ear correction surgery. For more details about otoplasty, please visit: https://manchesterprivatehospital.com/cosmetic-surgery/ear-correction/