Cosmetic Ear Surgery

Otoplasty, also known as ear plastic surgery, plastic surgery for ears, or ear reshaping surgery, is a procedure that reshapes, resizes, and/or repositions the ears to improve their appearance and the overall balance of your facial features. It is designed to treat overly prominent features, congenital abnormalities, or deformities resulting from physical trauma. It is a safe and transformative procedure that children, teens, and adults can undergo.

We want patients of every age to have an enjoyable and comfortable ear plastic surgery experience at Capital Facial Plastic Surgery. We use a variety of anesthetic options, depending on patient needs, to minimize discomfort. In general, however, patients don’t feel any pain or discomfort during surgery.

After the procedure, discomfort can be managed using prescription or over-the-counter pain relief. All available options will be discussed in detail during your consultation with Dr. Singleton. Pain management is especially important when the procedure is performed on a young child. Dr. Singleton works hard to ensure his smallest patients have a well-planned and carefully managed otoplasty recovery process.

Ear reshaping surgery is extremely safe. Antibiotics are used to prevent infection, while anesthesia will ensure you don’t feel any pain during the procedure. After your plastic surgery for ears, your doctor will prescribe topical ointments to reduce and prevent the risk of infection. Medications to help you manage any discomfort will be prescribed as well.

The patient should be at least six years old. It’s generally a good idea to undergo the procedure before adulthood as the ear cartilage of young people are softer and therefore easier to reshape. Having the procedure at a young age can also help with self esteem and social interactions for a young child.

Other than this, anyone of any age can undergo the cosmetic ear surgery procedure.

How long the cosmetic ear surgery will last depend on several factors, including the extent of reshaping or resizing to be done. In general however, your surgeon may be able complete the procedure between one-and-a-half and two hours.

The appearance of the ears after surgery is one of the major concerns of a lot of patients. Remember that the goal of the procedure is to improve the appearance of your ears and the overall balance of your facial features; however, the exact appearance of your ears after ear reshaping surgery will depend on your specific needs. For example, ear lobe surgery will improve the appearance of the ear lobes only, whereas ear reduction surgery will reduce the overall size of the ears. Surgery can also fix congenital abnormalities, deformities caused by trauma, or a previous surgery’s unsatisfactory results.

Another common concern for a lot of patients is whether or not cosmetic ear surgery will negatively affect their hearing. Dr. Singleton assures patients that ear plastic surgery is designed to only improve the appearance of your ears and will not affect your hearing in any way. It is not the same as ear tubes surgery and other types of ear surgery designed to improve or repair ear function.

Recovery period may differ from patient to patient as their bodies heal and recover differently. But on the average, recovery from ear plastic surgery generally takes around six weeks.

Patients can expect some swelling, bruising, and pain after the procedure. Medications prescribed by your surgeon will drastically reduce any discomfort you feel.

To allow your ears to heal properly post-surgery, you will have to wear a dressing around your ears for about a week. And for the first few weeks, you’ll also need to wear a headband and keep your head elevated during sleep. This will prevent your ears from bending or being exposed to potential trauma.

And as you are recovering from your otoplasty cosmetic ear surgery, you’ll be advised to avoid rigorous exercise. Washing your hair with abrasive shampoo, touching or massaging your ears, exposing your ears to extreme heat, and wearing clothes that are difficult to remove should likewise be avoided to minimize risk of infection and ensure that your ears are healing properly.

Since plastic surgery for ears is generally performed for aesthetic purposes, the surgeon makes sure that the incisions are made behind your ears thus effectively hiding your post-surgery scars.

As with any other surgical procedure, both medical and cosmetic, the actual cost of your ear surgery will depend on your specific needs. You will be provided with a detailed estimate during your consultation, once evaluation and assessment of your needs and goals have been performed and discussed.

A consultation with Dr. Singleton is the best way to determine if ear surgery is a good option for you. Schedule yours by calling our offices. Good candidates include those who want to change the appearance of their ears, who are in good health, and who don’t smoke.

Ear plastic surgery results are long-lasting. Many patients will never have the need to undergo the procedure again.

The cosmetic ear surgery may be performed at a surgeon’s clinic, a hospital, or an outpatient surgical facility. You will be given more details about your actual surgery during your pre-surgery consultation with Dr. Singleton.

The best otoplasty surgery in or around Chevy Chase is offered at the Capital Facial Plastic Surgery clinic located at 2 Wisconsin Cir #820, Chevy Chase, Maryland. We also serve patients in and around the Washington, D.C. Metro area.

Learn more about otoplasty in the Washington, D.C. area by scheduling a consultation with Dr. Singleton, our fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon.