The purpose of otoplasty is to give your ears a look that’s in good proportion with the rest of your face. Many people are familiar with the ridicule and self-consciousness that can come from ears that are too big, too small, too wide or otherwise too prominent on their face. An otoplasty procedure can provide you with a number of benefits, including:

• Increased self-confidence
• Presenting a face that’s natural and pleasant
• A brief recovery time
• An end to the bullying and teasing that children with misshapen or too-prominent ears often have to endure
• No more need to hide the ears with a hairstyle or hat

Dr. Taghizadeh performs otoplasty under local anesthesia, so you’re awake and alert during the procedure. This process eliminates the need for an overnight or longer hospital stay, which may be required for general anesthesia. The vast majority of otoplasty surgeries are handled on an outpatient basis and usually take between one to two hours. Still, Dr. Taghizadeh may elect to use a heavier sedation for children so they don’t move to disrupt the procedure.

Every case is different, but the doctor typically begins otoplasty by incising at the ear where the lobe meets the head. Dr. Taghizadeh will then remove excess cartilage and skin for a more appealing, natural ear shape. After removal of cartilage, he will permanently suture the ears to the head as necessary. If no cartilage is removed, he may use sutures to bring sections of the ear together. Once he attains your desired shape, Dr. Taghizadeh will add sutures to help the ear reform during the recovery process.

If you are seeking a reduction in size through otoplasty, the doctor will make an incision at the front of your ear, inside the ear rim. This placement, plus the use of dissolvable sutures, results in a scar-free look after your ear heals from the procedure.

For the best long-term results after an otoplasty, you should take special precautions and follow the instructions provided by Dr. Taghizadeh, including:

• Avoid strenuous physical activity
• Keep your head cool in temperature
• Don’t wash your hair with shampoo for one week after the procedure
• Elevate your head as much as possible
• Avoid sleeping on your side at night

Most insurance companies consider plastic surgery to be an elective procedure and do not offer coverage for these procedures; an otoplasty is usually excluded from policies. In order to make otoplasty and other plastic surgeries financially accessible and affordable, Arizona Facial Plastics, PC, accepts cash, check and credit cards. In addition, financing is offered through Prosper® Healthcare Lending and CareCredit®. If you have any questions about the otoplasty procedure, recovery, costs or financing options at Arizona Facial Plastics, PC, please give us a call.

Is ear surgery something that you or a loved one should consider for yourselves? Ask yourself the following questions:

• Does the way your ears look make you embarrassed or self-conscious?
• Do you find yourself trying to hide your ears with hats, elaborate hairstyles or other accessories?
• Does your child face constant teasing or bullying because of the way their ears look?

The flexibility of the cartilage allows otoplasty to be a viable option for children as young as four. Having the surgery performed at an early age can help children avoid teasing and other emotional trauma that can come from a lifetime of overly prominent ears.