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Ear surgery “Otoplasty” is a very commonly performed surgery. Adjustment of the ears can bring balance to facial front view. This surgery is commonly performed in youth, however, is still very commonly performed in adults. Dr. Paul Warner Papillion, a double board certified plastic surgeon, performs this procedure routinely. This 1 hour procedure can lead to a lifelong change in the shape and position of your ears. Dr. Papillion has answered some commonly asked questions below, keep reading to learn more.
Quick facts:
Ear Surgery
Cost: 5500-6500
Downtime: 5-7 days
Pain Scale: 6-7
Also known as: otoplasty, ear pinning, ear shaping, ear reduction
I went to Dr. Papillion to have a unique type of otoplasty done. I didn’t like that my ears didn’t have much of a fold on the top and the scapha (upper ear) appeared long, which caused them to look elf like to me. Dr. P and his staff were very kind from the start and made me feel comfortable. I was pretty nervous the day of the procedure, but they gave me a combo of mild oral medications that helped me to relax. Dr. P’s staff was wonderful and had soft music playing and covered me with blankets. I don’t remember a lot during the procedure but, do remember a sweet nurse patting my hands while getting the numbing injections, which was very comforting. The numbing injections around the ears weren’t bad at all and I had zero pain during the procedure. The first 48 hours after was the most painful, as expected, but honestly wasn’t a big deal. I didn’t even pick up the pain meds they had prescribed and just took 1 or 2 tylenol. Most of the pain was from me bumping my ears by accident.
It’s been about a month and a half now and my ears are healing well and look much more normal. The procedure has given me the confidence to go swimming without worrying my ears are showing or to wear my hair up. I would highly recommend Dr. Papillion for any procedure. He is a great surgeon!
-DD
What does a consult look like?
During your consult you will have a conversation about what your desires are for the look of your ears. You will discuss what you like and what you would like to improve upon. Dr Papillion will discuss the procedure, exam your ears, and will show you animations of the expected outcome in your ear surgery.
Will my ears go back to the way they were before surgery?
After surgery there are several factors that can influence your long term results. The big ones are how you heal after surgery and how your ears change with growth and time. With a successful surgery, your ears should remain in a stable improved appearance for a very long time. If you do have changes that cause the ear to revert to the preoperative appearance, a second surgery can be performed to correct this. It is rare for the ears to return to the preoperative appearance.
How do I sleep?
After surgery, you will need to protect the ears from being pulled or bumped. The best way to do this is to wear a head band when you are up about about and also when you are sleeping. The headband will hold the ears against the head so that they do not accidentally catch on anything that could move them. After a month, you can sleep with no headband.
Am I too old to have surgery?
The general answer is No. While this is a commonly performed surgery as a youth, I perform this surgery on many adults every year with great results. Often times my older patients have always wanted to have this procedure done, but do too life’s many reasons have never had or taken the opportunity to do so. Age typically not a factor in this surgery.
View Otoplasty Post-Operative Instructions
Otoplasty “Ear Surgery” Nashville Tennessee
These were some of the most common questions asked during an ear surgery consultation. Dr. Paul Warner Papillion would love to meet with you for a consultation to discuss your desires. Book an appointment today. We can’t wait to see you!