Question:
I have very large ears for a female and would like to have corrective surgery to make them smaller and also to have them closer to my head. I am curious as to what type of anesthesia is used for otoplasty and also what it the recovery time?

Answer:
Otoplasty operations for adults can easily be done with local anesthesia. Comfort is very good, and the expense and inconvenience of anesthesia can be avoided. In children, general anesthesia is preferred as they are not mature enough to tolerate the procedures happening around them.

Question:
My daughter has ears that stick out too far. My husband and I have discussed otoplasty but I am afraid that going through the surgery and having pain will traumatize her. In your practice, have you found that young children can get through the surgery unscathed? My daughter is 9 years old.

Answer:
Otoplasty is not a painful surgery, and children as young as 6 seem to fly through without complaints. The procedure is done with anesthesia for children, but adults can easily have the procedure with only local anesthesia. A good time for otoplasty is just before first grade, when other kids start picking out physical differences and exploiting them.

Question:
I have very large ears for a female and would like to have corrective surgery to make them smaller and also to have them closer to my head. I am curious as to what type of anesthesia is used for otoplasty and also what is the recovery time?

Answer:
Adult otoplasty patients are usually treated under local anesthesia. It is relatively easy to numb the entire ear, and perform the surgery without discomfort. Soreness afterwards is minimal. Children usually require a general anesthetic, so as to avoid stress and fear associated with a medical procedure. Recovery time is quick, with the swelling an/or bruising diminishing in about a week.

Question:
My daughter is seven years old and has ears that stick out from her face. She’s always being teased about her ears, and my husband and I are contemplating an ear pinning procedure for her. I heard that the younger someone is, the easier this type of surgery is. Could you please tell me if this is true or not?

Answer:
Human ears are almost fully developed at an early age, so repairs before the age of seven are appropriate and long lasting. Children who have the otoplasty procedure done early can avoid the teasing and unpleasant behavior that looking different can elicit when they reach school age.